How to Make an Easy Plant-Based Salad Bowl

A simple formula for putting together a vibrant and delicious plant-based salad bowl, filled with nourishing ingredients, varying textures, rainbow colours, and satisfying foods.

Have you ever been to those salad places, where they Chipotle-style put together a bowl packed with greens and goodness, chopping and tossing it all together for you? (I’m thinking of places like Tossed, Chop’d, Salad Box, etc.). I love going to these spots for an occasional healthy lunch out, but I can’t afford to go every time I get a craving for a big salad bowl! Fortunately, it’s not too difficult, and is definitely cheaper, to throw together your own salad at home – and it doesn’t have to be boring! Here is a quick guide on how I have been making vibrant rainbow plant-based salad bowls this summer.

Start with Greens

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of greens you can use as the foundation for your plant-based salad bowl. And yet I can often get into a rut of only using spinach leaves. Not to say that doesn’t work. But it can liven up your salad bowl considerably if you mix a few different varieties together, or at least switch up which greens you use from bowl to bowl. The ones I usually go for are:

• Fresh spinach leaves
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Red/Ruby Chard
• Arugula/Rocket

Budget-shopping tip: Look out for salad mixes that are reduced or on offer. This is an easy way to get pre-made mixes (which are often washed and ready to eat, score!) for less.

Add Extra Veggies

You can go wild with this step! This is where you can really get your rainbow, so I try to go for as many different colours as I can, to get more nutrients (and aesthetics) into my bowl. Some of my budget-friendly go-to veggies are:

• Carrots
• Sweet peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Radishes
• Celery
• Roasted sweet potato or butternut squash

Budget-shopping tip: Shop seasonally with veggies, and always look out for those reduced bargains as well, which can help you discover new varieties to try!

Add a Protein Source

There are loads of fantastic plant-based sources of protein which can make your salad bowl much more satisfying and filling. Some of my favourites are:

• Beans
  • Chickpeas (roast for even more flavour and crunch)
  • Black beans
  • Red kidney beans
  • Edamame beans
• Lentils – you can buy tinned/canned or make your own big batch from dried
• Tofu/Tempeh – baked or fried
• Quinoa
• Roasted peas (I love the ones by Brave)
• Falafels – you can make your own, or buy vegan/plant-based ones
  • I’ve been loving Nutreelife’s burger mix for making falafels

Add a Healthy Fat

Adding a whole plant-based source of fat will also make your salad so much more satiating. Plus, healthy fats are really important in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, so I try to add a fat source to every meal. Some of my faves:

• Avocado
• Nuts and seeds:
  • Almond slices
  • Cashews
  • Walnuts
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds
• Tahini, drizzled on as a dressing

And speaking of dressings…

Bonus – Add a dressing!

For many of you, adding dressing to your salad isn’t a bonus, it’s a necessity. For me, I grew up never using salad dressings because, well honestly, I can happily eat spinach leaves on their own (I know, I’m so vegan). But, if I’m feeling fancy I do love to drizzle on a mix of apple cider vinegar and/or balsamic vinegar. And tahini. Always tahini.

Bonus 2 – Add some extra pizazz

These fun extras add further pops of variety in texture and flavour, to spice up your salad bowl even more:

• Fruit and dried fruit – literally a game changer! Have you tried this out?! A diced apple or a sprinkling of cranberries can add a lovely sweetness to the bowl.
• Crisps or flavoured nuts – Chika’s have a bunch of snacks that I like to add to salad bowls. Their baked chilli chickpea crisps added a great crunch to this salad bowl.

How do you feel about salads? Do you ever get into a rut of having the same boring salad bowl? I’ve definitely been there. Do you have any favourite salad ingredients, or any dressings that I need to try?! I’d love to hear, leave me a comment below!