A simple salad can mean many things, from mixed leaves to cucumber and tomato. Many times, an upgrade to a simple salad means adding a dressing or bread-related topping, making the salad heavier and not as healthy. We gathered a few ideas for a simple upgrade you could add to your salad to give it an extra something without taking away from its health value. These are all vegan-friendly as well.
Seeds
This is just great for any kind of simple salad, each seed brings its own specific flavor, but they all introduce a lovely crunchy texture. Try sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds. If you want to make a statement, go for nigella seeds, which are less common but make a great addition to your salad.
Grilled Tofu
Using tofu is actually a fantastic way to introduce any sort of flavor you want into your salad without letting it take over. Tofu absorbs flavors very quickly and stays light. Simply squeeze the tofu from some of its liquid, cube it, and marinade in your choice of flavors (for example mix lemon, paprika, and salt). After 15 minutes give it a quick grill for crunchy edges and throw it into the salad.
A special vegetable
Upgrading can happen by adding one extra vegetable with a different color, taste, or texture. A few small radishes would do the job, a cubed avocado, or even steamed asparagus spears.
