Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Breaking Down the Parts of a Salad 5 Chapter 1: Salad Basics 7 Types of Salads in This Book 8 Bursting with greens 8 Starchy stars 8 Keeping it fresh and fruity 9 Building salad bowls 10 Pairing the plate with simple sides 10 Crafting party platters 10 Composed salads 10 Sweet salads 11 Building a Salad Formula 11 Greens 11 Grains 11 Protein 12 Toppings 12 Dressing 12 Seasonal Considerations 12 Chapter 2: Tools and Techniques 15 Time-Saving Tools for Building the Perfect Salad 15 Plating a Beautiful Salad 17 Sharpening your knife skills 18 Making garnishes 19 Styling a salad or a bowl 20 Chapter 3: Going Shopping 23 Considering Your Options 23 Making a List, Checking It Twice 24 Part 2: Making a Plan 29 Chapter 4: Boosting Nutrition with Salads 31 Recognizing the Nutritional Benefits of Salads 32 Packing a Lunchtime Punch 34 Chapter 5: Making Salad-Inclusive Meal Plans 35 Savoring Seasonal Goodness 35 Spring 36 Summer 36 Fall 37 Winter 37 Adding Foreign Flair with Salads from around the World 38 Planning Meals When you Follow a Special Diet 38 Mediterranean 39 Gluten-free 39 Lower carbohydrate 40 Allergen-free 40 Part 3: Jump-Starting Your Salad Journey 43 Chapter 6: Dressings 45 Chapter 7: The Classics 63 Chapter 8: Weeknight Side Salads 79 Chapter 9: Going Global 95 Chapter 10: Going Bold with Bowls 119 Chapter 11: Plant-Forward Protein Salads 133 Chapter 12: Crowd Pleasers 149 Part 4: Getting Creative with Salads 163 Chapter 13: Pantry Stars 165 Chapter 14: Starchy Salads 173 Chapter 15: Fruity Concoctions 187 Chapter 16: Sweet Salads 205 Part 5: The Part of Tens 215 Chapter 17: Ten (or So) Tips for Building Salads in a Jar 217 Start with the Dressing 217 Know Which Vegetables Can Touch the Dressing 218 Protect Delicate Ingredients with a Layer of Grains 219 Pack a Protein Punch 219 Use Nuts and Seeds to Separate the Protein Foods from the Toppings 220 Think Crunchy for Toppings 220 Choose Hardy Greens 221 Finish the Salad with Cheese 221 Chapter 18: Ten Homemade Salad Kits 223 Cobb Salad 224 Caesar Salad 224 Cranberry and Pecan Salad 225 Rancher''s Delight Salad 225 Southwestern Salad 226 Mediterranean Salad 226 Thai Salad 227 Harvest Salad 227 Carrot Crunch Salad 228 Orange Poppyseed Salad 228 Chapter 19: Ten Fun Ways to Add Crunch to a Salad 229 Croutons 229 Crispy, Fried Onions 230 Sweet or Savory Nuts 230 Seedy Wonders 231 Roasted Garbanzo Beans 231 Parmesan Crisps 231 Crunchy Noodles 232 Dried Fruit 232 Crushed Chips 232 Crisped Bacon 232 Chapter 20: Ten Common Types of Produce and How to Keep Them Fresh 233 Greens 234 Tomatoes 234 Cucumbers 234 Mirepoix 235 Herbs 235 Berries 236 Tubers 236 Green Beans 236 Citrus 237 Salad Toppings 237 Part 6: Appendixes 239 Appendix A: Metric Conversion Guide 241 Appendix B: Food Storage Guide 245 Appendix C: Food Safety Guide 249 Food Temperature 249 Cross-Contamination 250 Index 253.