Stop Making Boring Salads This Summer

Let's be honest. Most of us are making the same salad on repeat. Romaine, maybe some cucumber, bottled dressing from the door of the fridge. It's fine. But it's also not something you'd bring to a cookout and feel good about.

This time of year I start reaching for these six combinations constantly. They're simple, they work on basically everything, and they make ordinary ingredients taste a lot better than they have any right to.

You don't need a recipe. You need good oil, good vinegar, and something to put it on.

Basil Olive Oil + Strawberry Champagne White Balsamic Vinegar

The Basil Olive Oil is herby and fresh. The Strawberry Champagne White Balsamic is sweet but not over the top. Together they're really good on anything with fruit in it.

Mixed greens, fresh strawberries or blackberries, candied nuts, goat cheese. Drizzle this combination over the top. People will ask you what's in the dressing and you can be appropriately vague about it. Your secret...

Rosemary Olive Oil + Lemon White Balsamic Vinegar

This is my go-to for a quick dinner salad that actually fills you up. Romaine, leftover rotisserie chicken, slivered almonds, shredded parmesan. The Rosemary Olive Oil is savory and the Lemon White Balsamic brightens everything up so it doesn't taste heavy.

It also works well as a marinade. Chicken, vegetables, whatever you're grilling this weekend. Mix the two together, let things sit for a bit, and you're done.

Tahitian Lime Olive Oil + Peach White Balsamic Vinegar

Lime and peach together just works. This combination is really good over grilled peaches, salmon, fresh corn, and cherry tomatoes on mixed greens.

That salad is easy. If the salmon is already cooked and you have leftover corn, it takes about ten minutes. Good enough for dinner, good enough to bring somewhere.

Meyer Lemon Olive Oil + Mango Pulp Vinegar

I started putting this on shrimp salad. The perfect combo. The Meyer Lemon Olive Oil is light and clean. The Mango Pulp adds a sweetness that works really well with seafood.

Fresh mango, avocado, red onion, shrimp, whatever greens you have. Pour this over the top and you have a real summer meal without a lot of fuss or work.

Greek Seasoning Olive Oil + Lemon Cucumber White Balsamic Vinegar

This one is for the days when you need lunch fast and you don't want it to be depressing. Chop up some tomato, red onion, avocado, and feta. Drizzle this combination over everything. That is the whole recipe.

The Greek Seasoning Olive Oil is lemony and herby. The Lemon Cucumber White Balsamic is clean and a little bright. One of our most popular combinations for salad. 

Tuscan Herb Olive Oil + Traditional Balsamic Reduction

This is the combination that lives in my home. I use it on salads, as a marinade for chicken, as a bread dip when people come over, drizzled over bruschetta on a random Tuesday.

If you're only going to try one combination on this list, start here. Makes a great hostess gift too!

All six are in the shop and at oliveandbasket.com. If you're local, come in and taste first. If you're not, the descriptions on the site are honest and I'm happy to answer questions at info@oliveandbasket.com.

Have a combination you love that isn't on this list? I want to know. Email me at info@oliveandbasket.com.