You don't need to serve a five-course meal when you entertain. Instead, borrow the concept from choose-your-own-salad spots like Washington, D.C.–based Sweetgreen. "The secret to a satisfying salad is balance," says Nicolas Jammet, cofounder of
Sweetgreen. "For example, combine an interesting protein, like spicy shrimp, and a crunchy topping, like crushed tortilla chips, with avocado and lettuce for a 'guacamole' salad." To serve eight, you'll need about two pounds of greens and two cups each of the other ingredients you offer.
Step 1: Shop for your choice of greens and add-ins.
Lettuce: Chopped romaine, mesclun, mizuna, arugula, Bibb
Vegetables and Fruit: Asparagus, snap peas, green beans, red onion, shallots, beets, radishes, corn, bell pepper, carrots, avocado, grape tomatoes, broccoli, basil, mint, cilantro, apple, grapefruit, grapes, watermelon,
balsamic strawberries
Grains and Beans: Quinoa, chickpeas, black beans, shelled edamame
Cheese: Feta, goat cheese, Cheddar, Parmesan
Meat and Protein: Spicy shrimp,
baked falafel,
roasted portobello mushrooms, roasted chicken, hard-boiled egg
Crunch: Roughly crushed tortilla chips, pita chips, and crackers; wasabi peas; roasted nuts, like almonds, walnuts, and macadamia; seeds, like pumpkin and sunflower; toasted whole spices, like cumin, coriander, and fennel
Step 2: Make dressings.
Ginger-Scallion Vinaigrette Recipe
Lime-Cilantro Dressing Recipe
Balsamic Yogurt Dressing Recipe
Miso Dressing Recipe
Master Mixes
Fruit and Goat Cheese
Bibb +
balsamic strawberries + basil + shallots + goat cheese + roasted almonds +
balsamic yogurt dressing
Guacamole Salad
Mesclun + avocado chunks + grape tomatoes + red onion + cilantro +
spicy shrimp + crushed tortilla chips +
lime-cilantro dressing
Apple-Ginger
Bibb + apple + asparagus + green beans + quinoa + goat cheese +
roasted portobellos + crushed crackers +
ginger-scallion vinaigrette
Asian
Chopped romaine + cilantro + shallots + edamame + carrots +
spicy shrimp + wasabi peas +
miso dressing
Broccoli-Cheese
Arugula + roasted broccoli + basil + shaved white Cheddar +
roasted portobello mushrooms + macadamia nuts +
balsamic yogurt dressing
Southwestern
Romaine + grape tomatoes + sweet corn + shaved strips of sharp cheddar + black beans + tortilla chips +
lime-cilantro vinaigrette
Shrimp and Feta
Mizuna + carrots + radishes + red onion + Feta +
spicy shrimp +
ginger-scallion vinaigrette
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