Such a large part of our food enjoyment is visual, it’s no surprise that restaurants take a great deal of effort in choosing their crockery, and chefs understand that food needs to look good as well as taste good. Please don’t think that I’m saying theses salads are all style over substance, but I do think that our culinary experience is improved when our food looks it’s best.
This is another of my recipes that are not really recipes; more of an assembly process. My original inspiration was Amelia Freer’s first book Eat. Nourish. Grow. But I’ve made them my own and I encourage you to do the same. If you can get hold of large killer style jars or pots then they make these layered salads look pretty and your colleagues or flat mates will have lunch envy when they spot them in the fridge.
As with many of my assembly type recipes there are a few rules then you can freestyle at will. You can put the dressing in a separate container, but I tend to just put it at the bottom and then shake the jar vigorously before eating, if you put the protein on the bottom then it will sit and marinate in the dressing which can never be a bad thing! Remember that the juices from things like tomatoes will run into anything below, and if you are using delicate leaves such a s rocket I recommend you put them at the top. Try to include both protein and carb (grains, potatoes, pasta) this will make sure your salad jar isn’t a zoolander salad and has some substance to keep you sated all afternoon. Just like my Posh Noodles in a Jar I try to theme my salads, but more often than not they are just made up from whatever ingredients I happen to have in at the time. Here are some ideas from ones I’ve created.
Asian style beef and noodles
- Crunch shredded iceberg lettuce
- Thinly sliced cucumber
- Cooked noodles dressed with olive and sesame oil
- Chopped tomatoes
- Cooked baby sweetcorn
- Slices of cooked beef (I used pastrami which works really well)
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
beef noodle salad
Tomato salad vegan jar
This one was born when I had a load of tomato salad and mixed grain salad leftover from a barbeque
- Tomato salad (mixed heritage tomatoes, spring onion, olive oil, sherry vinegar)
- Tinned sweetcorn
- Sliced beetroot
- Grains (any mixed cooked grains, this was quinoa, couscous and rice with olive oil and fresh chopped herbs)
- Salad leaves
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Vegan overnight oats and Vegan tomato salad jar
Feta and giant couscous
- Couscous (cook according to instructions then dress with good olive oil and chopped fresh mint)
- Chopped tomatoes
- Diced feta
- Chopped red pepper
- Chopped cucumber
- Salad leaves
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Italian pasta and ham
- Chopped ham
- Cooked pasta dressed with pesto
- Chopped tomatoes
- Rocket or other peppery leaves
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Ham coleslaw – serve with crusty bread
- Mix 2 tsp mayonnaise 1 tsp grainy in the bottom of each jar
- Chopped ham
- Grated carrot
- Shredded cabbage
- Finely sliced red onion
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Ploughmans
Put a slug of olive oil and a dash of sherry vinegar in each jar
- Chopped ham
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chopped cucumber
- Diced cheddar
- Sliced pickled onions or a few baby silverskins
- Baby gem lettuce
- Half a boiled egg
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Ham and potato
- Slug of olive oil and 1tsp grainy mustard in each jar
- Chopped ham
- (In the picture I used quinoa as I had some in the fridge but I wouldn’t always bother!)
- Cooked chopped baby potatoes
- Cooked green beans
- Chopped tomatoes
- Mixed salad leaves
- Half an egg
ham and potato
Layer from bottom to top, shake to distribute dressing/juices before eating
You can make several they will keep for a few days in the fridge
Let me know what your favourite combination is!
