Salad toppings add color to otherwise bland salads.
Toppings add flavor and texture to the standard side or dinner salad. Topping ingredients can be either savory or sweet, crunchy or soft. The topping chosen depends on the other ingredients in the salad, including the dressing. The best toppings complement the flavor of the salad without overwhelming it.
Croutons
These dried bread cubes can be made out of nearly any bread, from a white loaf bread to a dark rye. Croutons are made from plain bread baked until hard, or they can be tossed in oil or butter before baking for more flavor. The bread is often seasoned with a variety of herbs or with plain salt.
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts and other nut meats provide both flavor and crunch to a salad topping. They are used on their own or in combination with other topping ingredients such as dried fruits or croutons.
Bacon Crumbles
Bacon crumbles add both crunch and a distinctive smoky flavor to salads. Real bacon crumbles are made from crisply cooked bacon pieces. Artificial crumbles provide most of the flavor of real bacon but instead are made of soy, salt and other seasonings.
Cheese
Shredded fresh cheese is often used as a topping on its own. Cheddar, feta and blue cheese shred or crumble well, adding a distinctive flavor to salads. Shredded or powdered hard, low-moisture cheese, such as Parmesan and Romano, coat other toppings, such as croutons or nuts, or are used as a topping on their own.
Dried Fruits
While most salad toppings are added for a savory, crunchy flavor, dried fruits are used to add chewiness and sweetness. Raisins, dried cranberries, orange slices and other dried fruits work well when combined with nuts and seeds in salad topping mixes.
Tags: dried fruits, flavor salads, made from, used topping