Salads can be elevated to main dish status by incorporating thoughtful ingredients beyond traditional greens. To qualify, salads should have a source of protein—meat is not mandatory, as alternatives like beans and eggs can suffice. Additionally, salads should feature a mix of vegetables, hearty additions like fruits and nuts, and strong cheese flavors. The role of dressings is crucial, too, allowing for creativity beyond basic vinaigrettes. These guidelines position salads not just as sides, but as satisfying meals in their own right.
To be considered a main course, the salad should have protein, but it doesn't have to be meat. Seared steak and roast chicken are great, but canned black beans, a boiled egg, tinned fish, and whole grains can also tap in.
A meal-worthy salad should also include some hearty mix-ins such as fruit, nuts and seeds, and bold cheeses like feta or blue.
A dinnertime salad should be thoughtful, considered; could you add grilled chicken to a Caesar salad and call it a day? Sure, but where's the fun in that?
Lettuce doesn't necessarily have to be involved, but it must include some vegetables, either raw or cooked—and they can be hot off the stove or chilled.
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