Not so Green: Salads You're Going to Love

a bowl filled with different types of food on a table

June 24 - Written by Crystal Andino

If you go by the books, a salad is mostly a cold dish made by combining raw or cooked vegetables and other pieces of food (such as meat, fruits, or pasta) served with a dressing. The word 'salad' is derived from 'Sal,' a Latin word meaning salt that was presumed to be the most important dressing ingredient. Thankfully, today's salads can be made from any and all of your favorite ingredients.

Here are five elements to make a salad you're going to love:

1. GREENS

Greens play a key role in most vegetable salads for adding flavor; for example, arugula is used for its spicy flavor. You can try the Arugula Salad or Heirloom Tomato Salad at Pangaea Grill to enjoy the divine taste of baby arugula.

The dark color of the green leafy vegetable indicates a high nutritional value — however, iceberg lettuce has little nutritional content. Hence romaine lettuce wins the race for the most nutrient-dense lettuce.

2. DRESSING, OF COURSE

This can make or break your bowl. Dressings comprise different types of vinegar, herbs, spices, and just a hint of sweetness to really tingle the taste buds.

Bathe your taste buds in creamy Greek dressing from Pangaea Grill's Greek Salad.

3. SWEETNESS

Savory combinations can very well benefit from a dash of sweetness. To incorporate sweetness into your salad, try dried, canned, or fresh fruits.

Care for some caramelized pecans? Try the Beet Salad at Pangaea Grill to satisfy your craving for something sweet.

4. CRUNCHINESS

What makes a salad not so bland is the CRUNCH. Don't limit yourself to the crunch from the greens; instead, try other crunchy vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, croutons, and any other edible you have in hand.

Try the Crunchy Chicken Salad at Pangaea Grill — here, we've made use of peanuts, a fried wonton, romaine, and kale for that extra crunch.

5. CREAMINESS

Not that you've added the crunch, it's time to contrast it with creaminess to introduce a smooth texture into the bowl. One of the most preferred options is a form of cheese, but avocado, too, does justice to the creaminess.

Feast on the Deluxe Caesar Salad at Pangaea Grill to experience creaminess — this salad includes asiago cheese and creamy Caesar dressing that compliments the crunchiness of all the other ingredients in the bowl.

SALADS WE'RE SERVING AT PANGAEA GRILL

For lunch, Pangaea Grill serves house spring mix salad, deluxe Caesar salad, Greek salad, arugula salad, heirloom tomato salad, beet salad, tempura shrimp salad, and crunchy chicken salad. As for dinner, in addition to beet salad and heirloom tomato salad, we're also serving a special dinner salad and dinner Caesar salad.

Make your reservation now if you're headed to Pangaea Grill with six or more guests. This breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant in Carmel, CA, will soon become your most preferred Asian fusion restaurant. After all, we're serving the best grills in Carmel by the Sea and the bar that follows.