To me, salads are less of a recipe, and more of a formula. A basic green salad can feel lackluster, so I have a standard go-to formula that I rely on to make my salads stand out. This is a combination of flavors and textures can be adapted for all seasons and dietary needs. Use the following as a guide and switch out or remove elements as you please.

SWEET ONION KALE SALAD

By: Christy Bray Graves

INGREDIENTS

  • Green base – Kale
  • Vegetable – Caramelized red onions
  • Cheese – Smoked blue cheese
  • Fruit – Dried cranberries
  • Nuts – almond slivers
  • Protein – bacon crumbles
  • Dressing – Balsamic vinaigrette

NOTES

For the base, I prefer to use hearty greens that are vibrant in color such as kale or spinach (sometimes even both!)

Use any or all veggies that are in season that you enjoy! They can be raw or cooked as with my caramelized onions.

Cheese is, of course, optional, but can offer a great compliment in texture. Depending on the other featured flavors, I generally use blue cheese, feta, parmesan or shredded mozzarella.

Fruit options are most fun in the summertime (I love fresh blueberries, strawberries and grapes) but dried options are a great alternative in the colder months.

Nuts are also optional but are great for crunch and heart texture. Almonds and pecans are my go-to choices.

Proteins and meats can be used to turn a salad course into an entrée! Simply adding grilled chicken will make your salad a complete meal, or use garbanzo beans as a vegetarian option. Here I’m using bacon more as a garnish and to deliver a salty balance to the sweet onions.

Use additional garnishes to bring in visual interest if you feel the salad is lacking. Think of colors that may be missing and finish with those. Shredded carrots, radishes, red onions, corn kernels and bell peppers are great ways to bring in color!

In the spirit of my regular Make It Snappy column, I’m sharing my favorite salad shortcut: store-bought Marzetti Simply Dressed Balsamic Vinaigrette. Making your own salad dressing is a breeze, but my family loves this line of dressings, found in the refrigerated salad aisle at the grocery store!

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