134 ingredients

What Should I Put in a Salad

One press deals a leaf, a vegetable or fruit, something filling, a crunch and a dressing.

All 134

Baby spinachGood with strawberries, goat cheese and poppy seed dressing.Leaf
StrawberriesGood with spinach, almonds and poppy seed dressing.Vegetable or fruit
Grilled chickenSlice it. Good with romaine, croutons and Caesar dressing.Something filling
Sliced almondsGood with strawberries or mandarin oranges.Crunch
Poppy seed dressingGood on spinach with strawberries or apple.Dressing

Next step Not a salad day? Draw a lunch instead Or let the food wheel decide

All 134 ingredients

Leaves 18

Arugula Peppery. Good with pear, walnuts, and lemon and olive oil.
Baby spinach Good with strawberries, goat cheese and poppy seed dressing.
Butter lettuce Soft leaves for a light dressing. Good with avocado, radishes and fresh herbs.
Endive Leave the leaves whole. Good with blue cheese, walnuts and pear.
Fresh herbs Parsley, mint or dill by the handful, in among the leaves. Good with cucumber and feta.
Frisée Good with bacon, a soft egg and mustard vinaigrette.
Green cabbage Shred it fine. Good with carrot, peanuts and sesame ginger dressing.
Iceberg lettuce Cut it in wedges. Good with blue cheese dressing, bacon and cherry tomatoes.
Kale Rub the dressing in with your hands first to soften it. Good with apple and cheddar.
Little gem lettuce Halve the heads. Good with green goddess dressing and toasted breadcrumbs.
Napa cabbage Good with mandarin oranges, crispy wonton strips and sesame ginger dressing.
Radicchio Bitter, so give it something sweet: pear, dates or balsamic vinaigrette.
Red cabbage Shred it fine. Good with apple, pecans and honey mustard.
Red leaf lettuce Good with cucumber, shredded carrot and ranch.
Romaine Good with croutons, shaved Parmesan and a creamy dressing.
Shaved Brussels sprouts Slice them thin and raw. Good with Parmesan, almonds and lemon.
Spring mix Good with dried cranberries, pecans and balsamic vinaigrette.
Watercress Good with orange segments, avocado and citrus vinaigrette.

Vegetables and fruit 40

Apple Slice it thin. Good with cheddar, walnuts and kale.
Artichoke hearts Good with olives, salami and provolone.
Asparagus Shave it raw or boil it briefly. Good with egg, Parmesan and lemon.
Avocado Add it last so it stays in pieces. Good with tomato, corn and lime.
Bell pepper Cut it in strips. Good with chickpeas, olives and feta.
Blueberries Good with spinach, feta and sliced almonds.
Broccoli florets Raw and small. Good with cheddar, sunflower seeds and a creamy dressing.
Celery Slice it on the slant. Good with apple, grapes and walnuts.
Cherry tomatoes Halve them. Good with cucumber, red onion and feta.
Cucumber Good with tomato and dill, or with sesame seeds and miso dressing.
Dates Chop them. Good with arugula, almonds and goat cheese.
Dried cranberries Good with spring mix, pecans and goat cheese.
Edamame Good with cabbage, carrot and sesame ginger dressing.
Fennel Shave it thin. Good with orange segments and olives.
Grapes Halve them. Good with chicken, celery and pecans.
Green beans Boil them briefly and cool them. Good with potatoes, egg and tuna.
Kalamata olives Good with cucumber, tomato and feta.
Mandarin oranges Good with Napa cabbage, almonds and sesame ginger dressing.
Mango Good with black beans, avocado and lime.
Mushrooms Raw and sliced with spinach, or cooked and still warm over arugula.
Orange segments Good with fennel, or with beets and goat cheese.
Peaches Fresh or grilled. Good with arugula, burrata and balsamic vinaigrette.
Pear Good with blue cheese, walnuts and arugula.
Pepperoncini Good with romaine, salami and provolone.
Pickled red onions Good over anything rich: avocado, steak or black beans.
Pomegranate seeds Good over kale or roasted butternut squash.
Radishes Slice them thin. Good with butter lettuce, snap peas and fresh herbs.
Red onion Slice it thin. Good with tomato, cucumber and almost any dressing.
Roasted beets Good with goat cheese, walnuts and orange segments.
Roasted butternut squash Good with arugula, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese.
Roasted cauliflower Good with chickpeas, dates and tahini dressing.
Roasted red peppers Good with white beans, arugula and feta.
Roasted sweet potato Good with kale, pecans and maple dressing.
Shredded carrot Good with cabbage and peanuts, or with dried cranberries and sunflower seeds.
Snap peas Good with radishes, mint and citrus vinaigrette.
Strawberries Good with spinach, almonds and poppy seed dressing.
Sun-dried tomatoes Good with spinach, white beans and Parmesan.
Sweet corn Good with black beans, tomato and cilantro lime dressing.
Watermelon Good with feta, mint and lime.
Zucchini ribbons Shave them with a peeler. Good with lemon, mint and Parmesan.

Something filling 23

Bacon Crumble it. Good with egg, tomato and ranch.
Black beans Good with corn, avocado and salsa.
Boiled potatoes Good with green beans, egg and mustard vinaigrette.
Brown rice Good with edamame, carrot and miso dressing.
Chickpeas From the can and rinsed, or roasted until crisp. Good with cucumber and feta.
Couscous Good with chickpeas, dates and fresh herbs.
Falafel Good with cucumber, tomato and tahini dressing.
Farro Chewy. Good with roasted butternut squash and kale.
Grilled chicken Slice it. Good with romaine, croutons and Caesar dressing.
Ham Cut it in strips. Good with egg, Swiss and iceberg lettuce.
Hard-boiled egg Quarter it. Good with bacon, avocado and blue cheese.
Lentils Good with roasted beets, goat cheese and mustard vinaigrette.
Pasta Short shapes. Good with olives, tomato and Italian dressing.
Quinoa Serve it cold. Good with cucumber, tomato, parsley and lemon.
Salami Good with pepperoncini, olives and provolone.
Salmon Flake it. Good with spinach, cucumber and yogurt and dill dressing.
Shredded chicken Good with cabbage, peanuts and sesame ginger dressing.
Shrimp Good with avocado, corn and cilantro lime dressing.
Sliced turkey Good with dried cranberries, pecans and spring mix.
Steak strips Good with arugula, blue cheese and cherry tomatoes.
Tofu Bake it or crisp it in a pan. Good with cabbage and peanut dressing.
Tuna Good with white beans, red onion and lemon.
White beans Good with tuna, or with sun-dried tomatoes and arugula.

Crunch 18

Cashews Good with mango, or with cabbage and sesame ginger dressing.
Crispy onions Good over steak or a wedge of iceberg lettuce.
Crispy wonton strips Good with Napa cabbage and mandarin oranges.
Croutons Good with romaine and any creamy dressing.
Hazelnuts Good with pear or roasted beets.
Parmesan crisps Good in place of croutons on romaine.
Peanuts Good with cabbage and peanut dressing.
Pecans Good with apple, dried cranberries or sweet potato.
Pine nuts Toast them. Good with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.
Pistachios Good with beets, orange segments or watermelon.
Pita chips Break them up. Good with cucumber, tomato and lemon.
Pumpkin seeds Good with butternut squash, black beans or avocado.
Sesame seeds Good with cucumber, cabbage or edamame.
Sliced almonds Good with strawberries or mandarin oranges.
Sunflower seeds Good with broccoli or shredded carrot.
Toasted breadcrumbs Good over kale or shaved Brussels sprouts.
Toasted walnuts Good with pear, beets or blue cheese.
Tortilla strips Good with black beans, corn and avocado.

Cheese 14

Blue cheese Good with pear, steak or a wedge of iceberg lettuce.
Burrata Tear it open over peaches or tomatoes.
Cheddar Good with apple, broccoli or ham.
Cotija Good with corn, black beans and lime.
Cottage cheese A spoonful on top. Good with tomato, cucumber and black pepper.
Feta Good with cucumber, tomato and olives, or with watermelon.
Fresh mozzarella Good with tomato, fresh herbs and olive oil.
Goat cheese Good with beets, strawberries or dried cranberries.
Halloumi Fry or grill it until golden. Good with tomato, cucumber and mint.
Manchego Good with dates, almonds and arugula.
Pepper jack Good with black beans, corn and tortilla strips.
Provolone Cube it. Good with salami, olives and pepperoncini.
Shaved Parmesan Good with arugula and lemon, or with romaine.
Swiss Cut it in strips. Good with ham and turkey.

Dressings 21

Apple cider vinaigrette Good on kale, apple and pecans.
Balsamic vinaigrette Good on spring mix, tomatoes or strawberries.
Blue cheese dressing Good on a wedge of iceberg lettuce, with bacon.
Caesar dressing Good on romaine or kale, with croutons and Parmesan.
Cilantro lime dressing Good on black beans, corn and avocado.
Citrus vinaigrette Good on fennel, avocado or watercress.
Green goddess dressing Good on butter lettuce, cucumber and avocado.
Honey mustard Good on chicken, apple or cabbage.
Italian dressing Good on pasta, salami and pepperoncini.
Lemon and olive oil Good on arugula, zucchini ribbons or chickpeas.
Maple dressing Good on sweet potato, butternut squash or pecans.
Miso dressing Good on cabbage, edamame or brown rice.
Mustard vinaigrette Good on potatoes, green beans or lentils.
Peanut dressing Good on cabbage, tofu or shredded chicken.
Poppy seed dressing Good on spinach with strawberries or apple.
Ranch Good on iceberg lettuce, carrot and cucumber.
Salsa In place of a dressing. Good on black beans, corn and avocado.
Sesame ginger dressing Good on cabbage, carrot and edamame.
Tahini dressing Good on kale, chickpeas or roasted cauliflower.
Thousand Island dressing Good on iceberg lettuce, egg and tomato.
Yogurt and dill dressing Good on cucumber, salmon or potatoes.

How it works

What should I put in a salad besides lettuce and tomato? Build one from 134 ingredients: 18 leaves, 40 vegetables and fruits, 23 fillings, 18 crunchy things, 14 cheeses and 21 dressings.

Read the full guide

When the five do not go together

Keep the one you want to eat and read its line: it names what we would put with it. Watermelon wants feta and mint, roasted beets want goat cheese and walnuts, and Napa cabbage wants mandarin oranges and sesame ginger dressing.

What goes on last

Toss the leaves in the dressing first. Then add the heavy things, and put the crunch and the cheese on top at the table, so the croutons are still crisp when you eat them.

Kale and cabbage can be dressed ahead. Butter lettuce and spring mix get their dressing at the table.

Questions and answers

What should I put on my salad?

A crunch such as croutons, toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds, a cheese such as feta or shaved Parmesan, and a dressing.

What are good things to put in a salad?

Beyond lettuce, tomato and cucumber: roasted beets or sweet potato, a fruit such as pear, strawberries or orange segments, chickpeas or a hard-boiled egg, and toasted nuts or seeds.

What leafy greens should I put in a salad?

Romaine and iceberg lettuce for crunch, butter lettuce and spring mix for soft leaves, arugula and watercress for pepper, and kale or cabbage for a salad that has to wait. A crisp leaf mixed with a peppery one works well.

Should I cut grape tomatoes in half for a salad?

We would. A halved tomato takes up the dressing, stays on the fork and does not roll off the leaves.