Wondering what to put in your salad? We have it all for you! We rounded up 149 ideas for additions and toppings for your inspiration.
Check out our list of leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, grains, pastas, legumes, meats, cheeses, nuts, oils, vinegars, dressings, and herbs for the most delicious salad.
- Romaine lettuce
- Boston lettuce
- Bibb lettuce
- Leaf lettuce
- Iceberg lettuce
- Fresh spinach
- Baby spinach
- Radicchio
- Rocket
- Kale
- Beet greens
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Tatsoi
- Belgian endive
- Curled endive (frisée)
- Watercress
- Little gem lettuce
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Cherry, cocktail, and grape tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Pickles
- Grilled zucchini
- Bell peppers
- Longhorn peppers
- Chili peppers
- Pickled jalapeños
- Leeks
- Green onions
- Red, yellow, and white onions
- Pickled red onions
- Shallots
- Roasted garlic
- Green, black, Sicilian, Spanish, Kalamata, and dry Greek olives
- Roasted carrots
- Baby carrots
- Sautéed asparagus
- Canned or roasted artichoke hearts
- Cooked eggplant
- Broccoli
- Radishes
- Mushrooms
- Beets
- Avocado
- Sweet corn
- Green peas
- Sweet potatoes and yams
- Squash
- Canned chickpeas
- Canned navy, kidney, black, and fava beans
- Canned lentils
- Italian pasta
- Greek kritharaki
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Croutons
- Tortilla chips
- Pita bread
- Lavash bread
- Noodles
- Smoked tofu
- Tempeh
- Seitan
- Boiled eggs
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Steak
- Ham
- Bacon
- Prosciutto
- Salami, pepperoni, and chorizo
- Grilled salmon
- Lax, smoked salmon
- Herring fillets
- Anchovy fillets
- Crab cakes
- Scallops
- Canned tuna
- Shrimp
- Parmesan, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, and Fontina cheese
- Fresh or dried mozzarella cheese
- Gorgonzola cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Stilton cheese
- Brie, Camembert, and Reblochon cheese
- Bleu d’Auvergne, Roquefort cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Queso Blanco
- Manchego cheese
- Feta cheese
- Kashkaval cheese
- Apples
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Green and black grapes
- Oranges
- Grapefruits
- Lemons and limes
- Kumquats
- Pomegranates
- Pineapple
- Figs
- Melon and watermelon
- Dates
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Dried goji berries
- Prunes
- Dried apricots
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Cashew nuts
- Hazelnuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Peeled pistachio nuts
- Pine nuts
- Walnuts
- Avocado oil
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Walnut oil
- Apple cider, red wine, white wine, and balsamic vinegar
- Creamy dressing
- Caesar salad dressing
- Greek yogurt dressing
- Honey mustard dressing
- Ranch dressing
- Raspberry balsamic dressing
- Tahini
- Thai peanut dressing
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Kimchi
- Pureed vegetables
- Pureed fruits
- Flaky sea salt, Himalayan salt, and smoked salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper, pink pepper, and mixed pepper
- Lemon zest
- Basil leaves
- Parsley leaves
- Torn dill
- Fresh mint
- Snipped chives
- Cilantro
Just mix and match some of these ingredients and you’ll make a salad that’s so good, that you won’t need to add anything.
How to Build the Perfect Salad
A good salad consists of several components: Leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, carbs, and proteins. To make the salad more hearty, aromatic, and flavorful, it is dressed with oils and acids and seasoned with salt, spices, and fresh herbs.
To make your salad delicious, add variety to it. Add more than one type of leafy green. Use heirloom and cherry tomatoes. Get your hands on as many in-season fruits and vegetables as you can afford. When choosing ingredients for your salad, try to have all the colors of the rainbow represented.
Variety is also important when it comes to the texture and taste of your salad. The crunchiness of the croutons makes it more interesting. The creaminess of the cheese makes it more decadent. The zest of the lemon and the flavor of dill and pickled jalapeños make it funkier.
Finally, the dressing. Oil and vinegar ameliorate the salad by helping to meld the aromas and flavors of all the ingredients together. The salt brings these aromas and flavors out, and the pepper adds a pleasant pungency to excite the palate.
