Lately, I’ve been posting some salads on the blog. It’s no secret that they are healthy, and, I’ve been incorporating them into my diet. I’ve posted recipes for the simple side salad and a dinner salad. But, there’s more to it than that, there are so many different variations, and, it has a long history, that’s, what this post is about. Where the salad came from, and the different types, so, please come with me on a journey, which is the ballad of the salad.
The word salad actually comes from the Roman word salata, salata translates to salted. During roman times the salad greens were sprinkled with either brine or vinegar and brine, and the name stuck. It’s interesting that modern nutritionists have found that dressing a salad with vinegar helps the body to absorb the calcium in the leafy greens. But, the salad didn’t really start in Rome. We can go back to Ancient Greece, salad greens, like lettuce were usually the first plants to be ready to harvest in the spring, hence spring greens. So a salad would be made to celebrate the shift from winter to spring. The Greek philosopher Hyppocrates believed that eating a salad as an appetizer would help with digestion of the meal. It turns out, there is some truth to that idea, and, even today, some nutritionists believe it to be true.
From that humble plate of spring greens so much has become of the salad. Today there are literally hundreds of different variations, with regional differences from around the world. Some are served mixed, and some, is just a plate of chopped vegetables you mix yourself. But, they can be broken down into essentially 5 different Groups;
Green or Garden Salads
It is exactly as it’s name implies, lots of greenery, leafy greens such as lettuce or spinach may be the primary component, however, if using less leafy greens, it becomes a garden salad. To that could be added other garden vegetables such as radishes, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots. Eggs and cheese can also be added, but, if more protein is added, it becomes a dinner salad. A garden or green salad can be served as and appetizer or to accompany the main course. Check my simple side salad, it comes together easy and is delicious.
Bound Salads
Bound salads, are salads that are “bound” together by another ingredient. Usually this is mayonnaise. Examples are egg salad, macaroni salad, potato salad. The advantage is that these salads hold their shape when served, therefore are easier to eat with a single utensil, hence they are popular at back yard barbecues. Coleslaw is a bound salad, it goes great with my turkey burgers. Bound salads also can be used in a sandwich, like an egg salad sandwich.
Dinner Salad
Dinner salads are exactly what they say they are, the main course. It is essentially a garden salad with protein and cheese added. The most common protein is steak, chicken or salmon. However, plant based protein like tofu an be added to keep the dish vegetarian. The cheese added is dependent on the type of salad. Roquefort cheese for a Cobb salad, and, Cheddar for a Chef salad. I have a delicious dinner salad with chicken as a protein
Fruit Salad or Cocktail
Although I put them under the same heading, and, they are both essentially a fruit salad, the preparation and serving is different. A fruit cocktail is usually from a can, and served in a sweet syrup. By definition it contains peaches, pears, pineapple and cherries. And, was first commercially sold in California in the 30’s. It can be served as desert or appetizer. Just be aware of the sugar content. A fruit salad, on the other hand, is fresh, not from a can, and is made from any fruits available, taking into consideration regional and seasonal differences. This may be served with a topping of cream, and is a desert
Desert Salads
Desert salad. As the name implies, is served as a desert. But is a little more complex than just a fruit salad that is served as a desert. It can include, fruits, Jello, cream and cake. My Mother used to serve me Trifle when I was young. A Trifle has layers of Jello, ambrosia, fruit and cake and is a traditional English desert.
Salads come with toppings or dressings. Usually desert salads have toppings, like cream, ambrosia or ice cream. Garden salads and dinner salads come with dressings, and the possibilities are endless, and cover any taste or dietary requirement. My personal favorite is a decent squirt of lime juice and some cracked pepper, I really like the citrus notes, and I enjoy the flavors of the vegetables
And that, is the ballad of the salad. But, it is not the whole story, everyone knows salads are good for you. Although salad ingredients are healthy and give essential vitamins, minerals and roughage. It’s not so much what a salad brings to the table as a whole, it’s as much what a salad doesn’t bring that’s important; fat, carbs and processed foods. Studies have shown that eliminating these from your diet is essential to staying healthy. I hope this article was helpful and informative, thank you for reading