What Are the Most Popular Types of Salad?

According to the USDA’s Food Surveys Research Group, on an average day, 20 percent of Americans eat salad. Women lead the way, and older Americans are likelier to choose a salad than someone under 60 years.

Salads have countless benefits, making them an important option to add to your diet, but with all of the types of salad available, it can sometimes be daunting to choose one to try. If you would like to make salads a staple of your diet, read on to learn which are the most popular choices.

Types of Salad: Tossed Salad

A tossed salad is usually what people imagine when they picture a salad. Making a salad of this kind involves tossing ingredients and dressing until they are mixed evenly. Let us look at some of the most popular types of tossed salad.

Caesar Salad

This is one of the most popular and well-known salad options. For many people, it is one of the top best salads, period. Caesar Cardini invented the salad in the 1920s and to ask for one at a restaurant meant the chef would come to your table and toss it in front of you.

These days, you can find Caesar salads in most restaurants, grocery stores, and diners. It is made up of Romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese tossed with a dressing made of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and in some cases, Worcestershire sauce.

Leafy Green Salad

Leafy green salad, also known as green salad, is any tossed salad made with leafy greens like arugula, spinach, or iceberg lettuce. To make these kinds of salad, you need a base of any of those greens. You can then add the dressing you prefer, as well, since there is no set option.

A popular option in restaurants is to add fruits like strawberries to a leafy green salad.

Greek Salad

Another popular type of tossed salad is Greek salad, or as the Greeks themselves call it, Horiatiki salad. It dates back to the 19th century when tomatoes became hugely popular in Greece.

It is a basic combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, olives, and feta cheese which is tossed with olive oil and oregano. There are other common ingredients you may find in a Greek salad, including bell peppers, capers, and berries.

In America, Greek salad may have lettuce, but it is not a typical ingredient. In fact, an authentic Greek salad will not contain any leafy greens.

Fattoush

This Levantine salad is growing in popularity because of the texture and flavors it can offer. It is made from toasted or fried pieces of Arabic flatbread called khubz and mixed greens and other vegetables, including radishes and tomatoes.

Fattoush also has herbs and spices, including sumac, which is a spice from the Middle East with a sour taste. Some recipes also use pomegranate molasses to balance the sumac. Most Mediterranean restaurants will offer this salad option and it is becoming a staple in many other restaurants, as well.

Composed Salads

Unlike tossed salads, where the dressing is thrown together with the ingredients, composed salads are carefully arranged. There is a structure in mind when creating a composed salad. Here are some of the most popular composed salads.

Niçoise Salad

Niçoise salad originated in Nice, France. It is traditionally served on a large platter and made of tomatoes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, tuna, and a dressing made with olive oil.

You can find many variations on this salad, including some made with bell peppers, shallots, and even artichoke hearts. For a heartier meal, some restaurants add steamed new potatoes.

Cobb Salad

This filling salad is a staple of many diners and restaurants. Its name is Cobb salad because it was created in a Hollywood restaurant owned by Robert Howard Cobb. Some people claim its creation happened in the 1920s, while others say it was in the 30s.

A Cobb salad is made of iceberg lettuce and Romaine lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon, avocado, a crumbly cheese like blue, cheddar, or Roquefort, and a vinaigrette dressing. Some can even contain grilled chicken. The lettuce will be on the bottom with the other ingredients arranged on top.

Insalata Caprese

Insalata Caprese, or Caprese salad, began on the Italian island of Capri. It is a recipe that dates back to the 1950s. Its first ingredients included mozzarella made with cow’s milk, fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, salt, and olive oil.

The Caprese salads you come across today are faithful to the original.

Bound Salads

Bound salads are salads that are held together with an ingredient like mayonnaise or a very thick dressing. Vegetables are generally not a requirement.

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a simple dish made with shredded chicken and mayonnaise. You may find other ingredients, like grapes, hard-boiled eggs, onions, and even pickles. For a bit more flavor, chicken salads can also contain mustard.

Waldorf Salad

Waldorf salad gets its name from the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York where it was created. It is a fruity and nutty salad made with grapes, celery, apples, walnuts, and mayonnaise. Some restaurants serve it on a bed of lettuce while others do not.

Try Something New

With all of the types of salad options available, why not try something new the next time you dine out? Go for the exotic flavor of the Fattoush salad or add a bit of crunch to your meal with a Waldorf salad. And, of course, you can never go wrong with a classic Caesar salad.

You can learn more about your favorite foods and get inspiration for your next meal by reading out Food page.