Mixing everything together in a bowl is fine when it’s just you, the salad, and your empty, trembling stomach. But using that big messy bowl (or eating directly out of the salad spinner—I’ve been there) may not be the best approach when serving guests you want to impress, or when bringing along that salad for lunch or a picnic.
LAYERED SALAD
One of my favorite ways to serve salad for nice dinner parties or just casual meals with friends is to layer the undressed ingredients on dinner plates or in bowls. Start with the fluffy greens or shredded veggies, top with more substantial fare (tempeh, beans, sliced apples, etc.), and then scatter dry toppings in a visually pleasing way. Be a salad artist! Pour the dressing into little individual serving cups and let your friends sauce up their meals.
SALAD IN A JAR
Once just the domain of food bloggers, packing salads into big wide-mouthed Mason jars is the new old thing. Glass is the ultimate salad vehicle: it keeps in the cold and keeps out weird plastic mojo, and old-timey jars give you a rustic foody pioneer vibe.
The secret to salad jar success is to pour a layer of dressing into the jar first. Then “seal” it with a layer of crunchy or firm vegetables (shredded carrot, diced radishes, roasted sweet potatoes) and lastly, top with delicate, easily wilted greens. Come time to eat, either shake the jar or dump it all into a big bowl to cover everything with tasty dressing goodness.
BENTO BOXED
The ultimate in cute! There’s a colorful, shiny world of elegant multicompartment lunch boxes. Metal or plastic (BPA-free is all the rage), find one that fits your lifestyle. Start with www.reusit.com for cute lunch containers that will make you the envy of kindergarteners everywhere.