There are hundreds or even thousands of salad types being served worldwide, and it can be quite overwhelming to choose which is which. One of the most popular salad types in the world is chef salad. So, what is a chef salad? If you don’t know what a chef’s salad is, then you are in for a treat.
Chef salad has been around for hundreds of years now. This popular salad has various styles that incorporate different kinds of ingredients to complement different kinds of palettes. So, if you want to know what is in a chef salad, then grab a seat as you will learn a quick and easy recipe on how to make one.
Know More About Chef Salad
As one of America’s more popular types of salads, a chef salad incorporates major key ingredients such as hard-boiled eggs, a cold type of meat, tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, and various leafy greenies.
As mentioned a while back, there are a lot of variations to this type of salad. Whichever road you take, it must include its foundation of ingredients which consists of lettuce, eggs, cheese, and a type of meat.
Origins of the Chef Salad
The origin of the chef salad is still a topic of debate up to this very day. Some historians pointed out that the chef salad originated in England and was called salmagundi – a recipe that consists of stewed vegetables, sliced meat, and other key ingredients and assembled all into one plating.
On the other hand, historians have also accredited Victor Seydoux, a chef who worked around a Buffalo, New York hotel. His wife later stated that customers back in the day were ordering this specific type of salad which also consists similarly to that of England’s salmagundi. So, it was one of the most popular requests of customers that it was soon included on the restaurant’s menu.
Regardless of which country or person the chef salad originated from, one thing holds: people around the world have come to love this type of salad. The ingredients on this salad are incorporated very well, and people were fond of it. Now that it’s clear to you, “what is a chef salad?” let’s find out how it is prepared and served.
How to Serve a Chef Salad?
Whether you are making one for yourself or the entire family, the chef salad is a versatile salad to make. However, it is noted that one of the best ways to serve the chef’s salad is in a big bowl or platter. After that, each member of the family or guest gets their fair share of chef salad.
Quick and Easy Recipe of Chef’s Salad
This recipe is specifically made for beginners, but the results will taste as a professional chef made it. It is also diverse in the sense that you can add your imagination to the entire salad. Just don’t forget about the important ingredients. To understand more what is a chef salad, here’s how to do it:
Ingredients: Dressing
- Mayonnaise – ½ cup
- Salt and Pepper
- Paprika – ½ tsp
- Sugar – ½ tbps
Ingredients: Salad
- Lettuce – romaine or Boston lettuce will do.
- Bacon – cooked until golden brown, 4 to 6 ounces.
- Eggs – 2 to 3 pieces, hard-boiled.
- Ham – thinly chopped, 4 to 6 ounces.
- Veggies – carrots, green onions, tomatoes, and cucumber.
- Cheese – shredded, parmesan or cheddar, 3 ounces.
Steps on How to Make a Chef Salad
For the dressing:
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk until all of which are incorporated well together. Let it sit on the fridge for around 30 to 45 minutes for a flavorful burst to achieve desired results.
For the salad:
Add all the salad ingredients up and mix everything in a large mixing bowl. Once mixing is done, pour in your salad dressing all over the bowl and whisk. Drizzle as much dressing as you would’ve liked to achieve a more delicious outcome. Serve and enjoy!
Important notes:
Now that you know what is in a chef’s salad, there are some points you need to consider. First, if you don’t want your hard-boiled eggs to crack while boiling, adding a little bit of vinegar to the water does the trick.
One of the best things about chef salad is it can be eaten and stored for around five days. This means making your chef salad for the entire family is a good thing. Not only does it makes the flavors rich, but it is also a good addition for picnics and snacks throughout the week.
Always chop your greenies into bit size. In this way, they are tastier than they look and complemented with various flavors on the bowl.
If you find yourself putting more leafy greenies that are crunchy, it will also impact the flavor and overall texture of the product. To balance it out, put something in the bowl that is soft and chewy. In this way, the textures that pop in your mouth are diverse enough to make you crave more.
Don’t be afraid to season it over and over again. Every ingredient in your bowl needs a flavor for everyone to be liked. If it’s still not up to your standards, sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper to taste. Then, try and try again until you have achieved your preferred taste.
A good way to add some style and flavors to your bowl is topping it off with a grated hard-boiled egg. Add in a few sprinkles of parsley and cheese to finish it off. Expect a bowl that is filled with vibrant colors that are truly palatable to the mouth.
Conclusion
A chef salad is a good way to start your day or even going for some picnics as it can just be really quick to prepare one. Learning what is a chef salad all about not only gives you a better understanding of how this salad is prepared but can also be a good addition to any menu. Lastly, a chef’s salad can be more impressive if you let your creativity and imagination take over. Find out for more salad recipes here!