What is Salad?
So much variety exists among salads that it is somewhat difficult to give a comprehensive definition of this class of foods.
In general, however, a salad is a food mixture either arranged on a plate, or tossed, and served with a moist dressing. It could also be a dish of green herbs or vegetables, sometimes cooked, and usually chopped or sliced, sometimes mixed with fruit or with cooked and chopped cold meat, fish, etc. Salads are usually served with a dressing. They can be either hot or cold.
The selection of salad ingredients depends upon seasons. Salads are unique. They can either accompany a main course, act as an appetizer, be served as an extra party dish, or just plain served alone. A high-protein salad, such as lobster salad, replaces the meat course, whereas, a light salad of vegetables or fruits may be used as an additional course.
For the most part, salads take their name from their chief ingredient, as, for instance, chicken salad, tomato salad, pineapple salad, etc. Just what place salads have in the meal depends on the salad itself.
