5 Tips to Make Your Salad More Attractive and Flavorful

October 2020 – Salad is part of the daily routine for many people who care about their health and like to enrich their menu. It can be prepared with different types of vegetables, making it rich in nutrients. Besides being light, refreshing, and versatile, it’s a great option for the warmer weather typical of this time of year.

With the idea of bringing more creativity to daily meals, the Umami Committee, an organization responsible for promoting the fifth taste of the human palate, has prepared tips to make any salad mouthwatering. Check them out:

Swap the Basics for the Tastier

Instead of sticking to conventional lettuce-based recipes, how about innovating? You can combine traditional leaves with cheeses, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, for example. Try adding parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes to your salad. In addition to being rich in umami, the cheese adds a gourmet touch to the meal, while the tomato makes the salad more appetizing and colorful.

Vary the Dressings

Vinegar and olive oil are not always favorites, so varying the dressings can be a great option. One suggestion is to use lemon juice with grilled peach, chives, and cream. The lemon adds a citrusy touch to the dish, while the peach balances the fruit’s acidity. Another umami-rich option is mixing soy sauce with olive oil, lemon juice, and grated ginger.

Choose Colorful Preparations

The more colorful the dish, the more nutritious and flavorful it will be. Among leafy options, the most versatile are lettuce, napa cabbage, endive, arugula, watercress, and kale. You can also enhance the recipe with thinly sliced vegetables and tubers such as carrot, beetroot, sweet potato, and even parsnip. These combinations make the preparation colorful and even more attractive.

Invest in Health Too

It’s possible to create completely new dishes with less common ingredients that, besides protecting the body, add plenty of flavor. Mushrooms and corn, for instance, are natural sources of umami and enhance the taste of any salad. In addition, mushrooms contain beta-glucan, which stimulates the immune system, while corn is a powerful antioxidant with a high fiber content that supports intestinal health.

Add Protein

Including protein in salads is a great way to complete the dish in a balanced manner while adding a touch of culinary sophistication. Try adding shredded chicken breast, tuna, salmon, sardines, or even lean cuts of red meat to give the dish a special touch. In addition to being low in fat, they make the salad more complete and balanced.

UMAMI

It is the fifth basic taste of the human palate, discovered in 1908 by Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda. It was scientifically recognized in 2000, when researchers at the University of Miami confirmed the existence of specific receptors for this taste in the taste buds. The amino acid glutamic acid and the nucleotides inosinate and guanylate are the main umami substances. The two main characteristics of umami are increased salivation and the persistence of taste for a few minutes after ingestion. To learn more, visit www.portalumami.com.br.