Salad in a Jar: The Perfect Socially Responsible Picnic Food
Small family and friends picnics in your favorite park are a good option for socializing in a responsible way. Pre-made salads in a jar go a step further in keeping everyone safe while optimizing nutritional content and getting your leafy greens in. Everyone can make their own version at home and bring it to the soiree to enjoy. Here are a few suggestions and recipes, but choose your ingredients based on your preferences.
The Jar
First make sure you pick the right jar. A wide-mouthed jar is easiest to use. Use pint jars for side salads, quart jars for individual meal-sized salads and two-quart jars for more servings.
The Process
The secret to the perfect Mason jar salad is all in the way you stack the ingredients.
The dressing. Keep all the wet ingredients at the bottom of the jar so that everything else stays dry until you’re ready to eat.
The hearty vegetables like cherry tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers.
The protein, grain or anything else big and chunky. This will create a layer between the wet items and more delicate items.
The fixings. This level is for the little things like cheese, raisins or nuts.
The greens. The lettuce goes in last to keep it dry the longest. And when you flip over your jar into a bowl, the leaves will be on the bottom!
You can DIY your own Mason jar salad or try one of these delicious individual meal-sized recipes. Just remember: wet ingredients on the bottom and dry ingredients on the top!
Mexican Salad
Top: Romaine lettuce
Middle: Quinoa, cheese, tomato, avocado, corn
Bottom: One to four tablespoons of salad dressing. Suggested: Creamy cilantro lime dressing.
Greek Salad
Top: Romaine lettuce
Middle: Chicken, feta cheese, cucumber, tomato
Bottom: One to four tablespoons of salad dressing. Suggested: Vinaigrette.
Mandarin Salad
Top: Mixed salad greens
Middle: Chicken, sliced almonds, mandarin oranges, edamame
Bottom: One to four tablespoons of salad dressing. Suggested: Ginger vinaigrette.
Spinach Salad
Top: Spinach
Middle: Goat cheese, walnuts, cranberries or pomegranate
Bottom: One to four tablespoons of salad dressing. Suggested: Vinaigrette.
Sprouts Salad
Top: Sprouts
Middle: Pine nuts, edamame, carrots, tomato, garbanzo beans.
Bottom: One to four tablespoons of salad dressing. Suggested: Vinaigrette.