I don’t know about you, but I find it challenging to eat cold salads when the weather cools down. Sometimes I’ll reach for warmer comfort foods, like this Sweet Potato Noodle Casserole or Instant Pot Vegetarian Bolognese, but I don’t want to avoid leafy green salads all winter long. That’s why I’ve been trying to find some more comforting salad options. If you ask me, great salads are really all about the toppings, so here are some cold-weather salad toppings to help make your next salad a little more hearty and satisfying.
Roasted root vegetables (warm or cold, they feel heartier) Sautéed veggies (like mushrooms or fajita veggies) Cooked grains, like quinoa or wild rice Beans or lentils Gingery salad dressing (ginger is a warming spice!) Sriracha or red pepper flakes, for an extra kick
This make-ahead salad recipe features several warming salad toppers, including oven roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, and a spicy orange-ginger dressing. The combination is totally addictive, and you can prepare all the cooked toppings ahead of time for a convenient option all week long.
Something to keep in mind when making salads ahead of time, is that the order you layer them in is important. Here’s the order I use for adding ingredients to my mason jars:
Salad dressing goes in first, so it stays at the bottom of the jar Sturdy vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, or celery, which won’t get soggy in the dressing Cooked grains Roasted vegetables Leafy greens go on top, so they won’t touch the dressing until ready to serve
Recipe Notes:
This salad is VERY filling if you only make 4 jars. I think these ingredients could make up to 6 salads, depending on your appetite. (Here are the meal-sized mason jars I use.) If you love the taste of ginger as much as I do, use the full 2 tablespoons. It makes the salad a lot more warm and spicy! However, if you’re hesitant about ginger, start with just half that amount, or even less depending on your taste buds. As written, this recipe is properly combined. However, feel free to add any other extra toppings you like, such as dried fruit, nuts, or seeds.
As always, if you make a modification to this recipe, please leave a comment below letting us know what worked for you. We can all benefit from your experience! — Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite salad combination when it’s cold outside? I also love this Holiday Salad, which I make at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this Brussels Sprouts Salad! Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Samsung. They sent us the amazing Family Hub fridge that you see in the video above. (We’re obsessed with it!) SaveSave SaveSave
