" SALADS "

Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes, including vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, eggs, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They may include a mixture of cold and hot, often including raw vegetables or fruits.

Green salads include leaf lettuce and leafy vegetables with a sauce or dressing. Other salads are based on pasta, noodles, or gelatine. Most salads are traditionally served cold, although some, such as south German potato salad, are served warm.

Green salads including leaf lettuces are generally served with a dressing, as well as various garnishes such as nuts or croutons, and sometimes with the addition of meat, fish, pasta, cheese, eggs, or whole grains.

Salads may be served at any point during a meal. They may be:

Appetizer salads, light salads to stimulate the appetite as the first course of the meal.

Side salads, to accompany the main course as a side dish.

Main course salads, usually containing a portion of protein, such as chicken breast or slices of beef.

Palate-cleansing salads, to settle the stomach after the main course.

Dessert salads, sweet versions usually containing gelatine or whipped cream.