Transform Your Boring Salad With These Unexpected Toppers

June is here! We made it! And with that, summer has, in my view, officially started. Hot days, picnics in the park, long evenings sitting with friends with a drink in hand – and salads. Summer salads. I like a good salad any time of the year, but they have a special allure between June and August, not least because they offer cool salvation on balmy days. 

Videos by Sporked

But – here’s the rub – salads can be so, so boring. When you make them for yourself, they can end up looking and tasting the same. The solution might be closer than you think: Using an unexpected topper can give salads a new lease of life, with absolutely no effort required. Here are some of my favorites. 

Wasabi Peas

Don’t knock this one ‘til you’ve tried it. Wasabi peas have, in my opinion, an unexpectedly dynamic flavor profile: Sure, they’re spicy, but they’re also sweet, savory, and salty at the same time, while having a crunch that remains even when doused in a sauce or dressing. 

These qualities make them perfect for salads, and not just those made with Asian-inspired flavors. They can be surprisingly effective on salads based around mustard dressings, thanks to wasabi’s same nose-tickling heat, and they can give a surprising jolt to creamy pasta salads. Plus, their jade green color is right at home amongst salad leaves. 

Granola

Granola can take several forms on a salad, and all of them (if done correctly) can make things a lot more interesting. Low-sugar or sugar-free granolas, which have an imperceptible or nonexistent sweetness, can provide crunch to salads without distracting with powerful flavors (although bear in mind that if you opt for a keto granola, they may have sweeteners added). Berry granolas can also complement salads well, giving a fruitiness and light sugariness that can complement savory notes.

Conversely, you can make a savory granola at home very easily, which works for almost any salad. Bake a combo of oats and your favorite nuts and seeds tossed in spices, salt, and olive oil, until everything’s browned and crispy. Pop it in a mason jar, and scatter a handful over any salad you choose. 

Za’atar

This Middle Eastern spice blend can give boring salads some much-needed vigor. Its aromatic flavor profile amplifies the flavors in most salads without distracting from them, and the herbs in za’atar provide a lot of freshness. The secret weapon here, though, is sumac: This citrusy component brightens any dish, and in salads, it has the effect of making everything taste way more vibrant.  

Nori

Nori can give salads a gloriously subtle taste boost, while also delivering a lovely light crunch. Nori’s flavor slots in neatly with salad leaves and other vegetables, but its salinity allows it to stand out. Its toothsome quality, which combines crispiness with a slight chew, also creates an additional texture in your salad. A lot of good seaweed snacks also come with additional flavors that can make things even more interesting.