How to Season Salad Without Dressing

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Sometimes you might want a healthier alternative to a store-bought dressing or you might not have all the ingredients on hand to make a homemade dressing. If this is the case, you’re probably wondering what you can do to spruce up your salad and make it taste good without dressing. Luckily, you probably have plenty of ingredients around your home that you can use to season your salad. Try out some different combinations to find a flavor you like and don’t be afraid to get creative! Who knows, you might decide you never need to buy or make an actual salad dressing again.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making Your Own Dressing

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  1. Add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 mL) of tahini to your salad. Toss the salad using tongs or a salad spoon and fork until it is coated evenly.
    • Tahini has a very strong flavor, so it’s a good idea to start with a little bit and see how your salad tastes. You can always add more if you want a stronger flavor.
    • Tahini is made of ground sesame seeds.
    • Hummus gets a lot of its flavor from tahini. You could also try using a couple spoonfuls of hummus as a creamy dressing if you have some handy.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Slice 1/2 or 1 whole avocado and put the slices on top of your salad in a sealable container. Put the lid on the container and shake it gently to cover the salad ingredients in creamy avocado flavor.
    • You could also try mashing the avocado if you want it to coat the salad ingredients even more.
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  3. Scoop 1 or 2 spoonfuls of olive tapenade into your salad. Stir the ingredients around with salad utensils to distribute the tapenade evenly.
    • Olive tapenade can be made out of all types of olives, so you can choose a variety that you like. For example, if you want a stronger flavor you could use kalamata olive tapenade. If you want a milder flavor you could try black olive tapenade.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Splash approximately equal parts extra virgin olive oil and good balsamic vinegar onto your salad. Toss the salad with tongs or salad utensils to coat the ingredients in the oil and vinegar.
    • Olive oil and balsamic vinegar form the base of many different salad dressings. You can pretty much add any other wet or dry toppings and seasonings to this base to create quick homemade dressings.
    • Olive oil can actually make your salad more healthy because it is a healthy fat and your body needs fats to absorb the most nutrients from your salad’s ingredients.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Cut a lemon in half and squeeze 1 of the halves all over your salad. Toss the salad to coat everything with the lemon juice. [1]
    • You could also use another citrus fruit like lime or an orange instead of a lemon. Feel free to experiment!
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Slowly pour 1 ⁄ 2 –1 US tbsp (7.4–14.8 mL) of coconut oil over your salad ingredients. Toss everything together to coat it all in coconut flavor. [2]
    • Coconut is another type of healthy fat that can add an energy boost to your salad.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Drizzle about 1/2 a cup (118 mL) of plain Greek yogurt over your salad. Toss everything together to coat all the salad’s ingredients in the creamy, tangy yogurt. [3]
    • Greek yogurt is also full of protein, healthy probiotics, and other vitamins, so your salad will get an extra nutritional boost.
  8. Pour about 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of your favorite salsa into your salad. Toss the salad thoroughly to distribute the salsa throughout and mix it in with the salad’s ingredients. [4]
    • This could be a good option if your salad contains other "Southwesty" ingredients, such as beans and corn.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Tasty Ingredients and Toppings

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  1. Begin by putting fresh mixed greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula. Add depth to your salad with other fresh vegetables like sliced or grated carrots, sliced tomatoes or baby tomatoes, corn, beans, and anything else you like. [5]
    • The fresher and better the ingredients, the better your salad will taste. If you have a local farmer’s market nearby, this is a great place to get your salad’s base ingredients.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Try adding berries like strawberries, blueberries, or cranberries for little bites of sweetness. Experiment with adding wedges of larger fruits like pears, peaches, and apples for some more texture and sweet flavor. [6]
    • Other fruits you can try for adding sweetness and interesting flavors to your salads are raspberries, blackberries, plums, nectarines, grapes, and oranges.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Just like with other types of foods, salt and pepper are the most basic seasonings that help to bring out the flavor of the ingredients. Sprinkle or shake salt and pepper on to taste. [7]
    • For the best flavor, use fresh-ground pepper. You can also try using special salts like sea salt flakes.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Mix in different combinations of fresh and dried herbs and spices to achieve different flavors. Try fresh oregano, basil, and thyme for an Italian-style flavor, or cumin, coriander, and sumac for a Middle Eastern vibe, for example. [8]
    • Mint and basil go well together in summery salads. Try combining these herbs with a splash of lemon or another citrus fruit to create a really bold summer flavor.
    • Be careful not to overdo it with strong dried spices. Sprinkle on a little bit at a time and taste your salad as you go until you find the flavor you want.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Grate or crumble Parmesan cheese or another type of savory cheese over top of a freshly-made salad to add a flavor boost. Feel free to use pre-grated or pre-crumbled cheese if that’s more convenient. [9]
    • For example, you could crumble blue cheese onto a salad as an alternative to using a blue cheese salad dressing or you could use feta cheese for a Greek-style salad.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Try adding a handful of walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or any other type of nut you like into a salad. Toss the salad to mix the nuts in with all the ingredients, so you’ll get a nutty crunch in every bite. [10]
    • Remember that you can combine different kinds of dry ingredients for big flavor boosts. For example, walnuts and blue cheese go really nicely together.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Season Salad Without Dressing
    Hard boil 1-2 eggs, depending on how much you want in your salad. Grate the egg if you want smaller pieces or chop it with a knife if you want bigger chunks. Put the egg bits on top of your salad or toss them in with the other ingredients. [11]
    • Hard-boiled egg will add protein to your salad and make it more filling. If you want a salad to be the main course, adding some grated or chopped hard-boiled egg can be the way to go.
  8. Try mixing whole grains like couscous, barley, and quinoa into your salads. Sprinkle seeds like sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or chia seeds on top of salads. [12]
    • Other ideas for seeds and whole grains you can use are flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, farro, and cracked wheat.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What else can I use to season my salad?
    Stephen Servis
    Private Chef
    Stephen Servis is a Private Chef and the Co-Owner of Servis Events Fine Dining along with his twin brother, Nicolas. Based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Stephen and Nicolas focus on using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, building close relationships with farmers and community members, and educating people on how to cook and eat more seasonally and sustainably. Servis Events operates at the intersection of health-focused meals and luxury dining, offering both private dinner parties and event catering services. Stephen and Nicolas graduated from the Culinary Arts program at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology and received their associate degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Bucks County Community College.
    Stephen Servis
    Private Chef
    Expert Answer
    Another flavorful option is apple cider dressing, a favorite sauce in our kitchen that we love to use frequently. To create an apple cider salad dressing, whisk together equal parts apple cider and olive oil in a bowl. Add Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. For sweetness, incorporate a touch of honey or maple syrup. Drizzle the finished dressing over your salad and toss for a delightful blend of flavors before serving.
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      Tips

      • Try different combinations of wet and dry toppings and seasonings to bring your salads to life. You can create flavors as good as or even better than salad dressings this way.
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      • Fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables go a long way toward building a tasty salad. If you start with good salad ingredients, the amount of seasoning you need to do should be minimal.
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      Warnings

      • Always start by adding a little bit of a seasoning ingredient at a time, mix it in, and taste your salad before you add more. That way, you won’t ruin your salad with too strong of a flavor.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/simple-green-salad-with-lemon-dressing/
      2. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/how-to-eat-coconut-oil-4-yummy-ways-to-add-it-to-your-diet-benefits-and-recipes-1908729
      3. ↑ https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/greek-yogurt-dressing.html
      4. ↑ https://www.vegkitchen.com/salsa-and-olive-oil-salad-dressing/
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-the-perfect-simple-salad-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-173111
      6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/quick-tip-add-fresh-fruit-to-g-86622
      7. ↑ https://minimalistbaker.com/5-minute-detox-salad-no-mix-dressing/
      8. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/141877/mistis-dried-herb-salad-seasoning/
      9. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chopped-salad-blue-cheese-dressing
      1. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chopped-salad-blue-cheese-dressing
      2. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/salad-ideas
      3. ↑ https://www.theleangreenbean.com/spice-it-up-salad-topping-idea/

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