1. Time for fresh summer salads
The first spring vegetable harvest is already bursting with vitamins and fresh flavors, so it's time for the summer salad season. Salads are truly a universal dish, with endless variations and to suit a wide variety of tastes, because when making them, we can improvise and combine different ingredients every time. Here are some tips that will be useful to everyone who makes salads.
2. Seasonal vegetables
A simple but really valuable tip: use as many seasonal vegetables as possible in your salads to feel true freshness and naturalness. Just visit the market and see what kind of fruit crops are displayed on the farmers' stalls.
3. Harmony of flavors
If you use something soft and creamy in your salad, such as avocado or goat cheese, be sure to add something crunchy to the salad: nuts, toast.
4. Sauces
The dressing should help the flavors of the salad unfold, not overwhelm them, so don't overdo it. Drizzle the salad lightly and don't be afraid to mix it with your hands. Classics for fresh salad dressings: olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar.
5. Wash the ingredients well.
Always make sure to thoroughly wash the vegetables you’re going to use in your salad. Sure, it takes time to thoroughly wash each lettuce leaf, but it’s worth the effort to avoid gritty bits or bugs on your plate (especially if you picked your lettuce from the garden). Fill a large bowl with water and soak the vegetables for a few minutes. Then, gently wring them out and remove them from the water. Drain the water and repeat.
6. Combine herbs
Herbs can help create special flavors and aftertastes. Just don't overdo the strong-flavored herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or sage. But definitely don't skimp on parsley, mint, basil, or tarragon.