Salads - Nuts

cjmcork

hi,

I'm on a weight-loss drive at the moment and have started taking salads to work with me every day - it's only been a fortnight, but I'm getting bored - I've thought of introducing some nuts into the salad - what are the nuts that are traditionally put into Cesar Salads? (I think there might be a spelling issue on that one!).

Any other suggestions would also be welcome.

Thanks,

CJM.

PS - I don't cook, so don't suggest anything that could take up my precious tv-watching time!!!

oblivious

pine nuts i think, best of you lightly toast them in the pan before hand

noby

Traditionally, none. But you could use pine nuts. Walnuts might be nice too.

cjmcork

do i get those in a normal supermarket?

oblivious

Just letting you know Cesar Salads are generally not good for weight loss especially if it comes with croutons, but they are tasty:)

there is the other option of the classic 70's waldorf salad

oblivious

Generally the big one should or a health food store they can be a little pricey but are very nice

cjmcork

i only have a bog standard salad - egg / lettuce / tomato / a spoon of light mayo / ham / cheese - i'm so bloody bored with it though........have chicken for the next few...........

oblivious

you could try this, nothing really exotic in it

Waldorf Salad Recipe


Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped, slightly toasted walnuts
1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup red seedless grapes, sliced (or a 1/4 cup of raisins)
1 sweet apple, cored and chopped
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Salt
Lettuce

paperclip2

You could try some seeds as well, sunflower, sesame or flax can be nice over a salad. A nice one that I like is sunflower seeds, avocado and raw spinach. Yum!

cjmcork

think i'll incorporate seeds in so..........thanks for the suggestions all.

olaola

Tesco have started doing a range of 'ingredients' which seem to be fairly good quality. They do a large range of nuts - even in the smaller stores.

paperclip2

Just a thought OP but if you ditch the mayo for a while and try making up some of your own dressings you might enjoy the salds a bit more.

Tesco have a huge range of flavoured oils which can be great for making up dressings. I know you are on a weight loss program but a tablespoon of a well-flavored oil dressing can go a lot father than the same amount of mayo and it isn't that much more expensive calorie wise.

You can also play with flavour combinations. I find that if i use big flavours like wasabi paste in a dressing i really enjoy it but eat less of it. Balsamic vinegar, chopped lemon flesh (de-pitted), diced chillies are all great in this. (Not necessarily at the same time though!) They're really easy to make as well. I usually put the oil, vinegar salt and pepper into a clean jam jar and shake like crazy for a few seconds. Then just pour over the salad.

Also if you take a look at Japanese cooking you might get a few ideas as well, there's loads of flavour and fewer calories in lots of oriental recipies. And its not all Sushi and seaweed!;)

WindSock

paperclip2 wrote: »

You could try some seeds as well, sunflower, sesame or flax can be nice over a salad. A nice one that I like is sunflower seeds, avocado and raw spinach. Yum!

+ Pumpkin seeds.


Another salad I like to eat spinach leaves is chopped garlic in a bit of olive oil drizzled over the leaves with some chopped dates.

The strong garlic + sweet dates play a nice tune together in my mouth. not recommended if people are going to be within 5 feet of you though

hairymolly

For homemade dressing always use 6 tablespoons of oil to 1 tablespoon of vinegar, you con double,triple the quantities. Add finely choped garlic, oregano, and black peppeer. Enjoy