Sharing some recommendations on easy methods to make an ideal mason jar salad + a few of my favourite combos and mason jar salad recipes!
Hello hello, associates! How are you? I hope you’re having an exquisite morning thus far! I’ve a lot occurring! I’ll report again with all the enjoyable I’ve been having on my journeys by sharing some tales on IG! I’ve simply been having the most effective time recently.
Anyway, for right this moment’s submit, I wished to share a meal prep staple that I completely love, particularly when you have a busy schedule and routine: the mason jar salad! Significantly good!
These are a easy but handy option to pack in a nutrient-dense and satisfying meal and so they’re nice for wholesome packed lunches. Considered one of my favourite issues about them is that you could put together them days upfront, in order that they’re a tremendous meal prep possibility. I’m dedicating this submit to share sensible ideas to assist ya put together mason jar salads which might be scrumptious (and never soggy!).
How To Make A Mason Jar Salad
Why Put Salad In A Mason Jar?
- It’s a single-serve lunch possibility
- You may customise these salads to fit your preferences
- You can begin with the identical base after which add taste variations, so that you’re not consuming the very same factor all week
- It’s a handy option to get in vitamins, veggies, protein, and wholesome fat
- You can also make them a full-sized lunch or a aspect salad
- You may have a ready-to-eat meal everytime you please
How To Layer A Mason Jar Salad
Step 1
The very first step is to organize your whole substances. I wish to have a mixture of recent greens (rotate varieties to get completely different vitamins and advantages), roasted veggies, protein (hen, tuna, tempeh, lentils, leftover steak or salmon, hardboiled eggs, something you want), a wholesome starch (cooked rice, beans, quinoa, candy potato or any squash, and so on), wholesome fat (nuts/seeds work effectively in these) and any extras (like dried fruit, cheese, olives, pickles or pickled veggies, and so on.) Then you’ll be able to add these substances everytime you please since you merely have them available.
Step 2
Now you can begin to layer! The important thing to mason jar salads is to layer every ingredient, beginning with the very best water content material and most dense choices and ending with the greens. I might do beans first, pickled veggies, roasted veggies, protein, starches, and greens on prime. Something that provides further taste or crunch (like nuts/seeds, croutons), I might carry on the aspect in just a little reusable bag or container in order that they don’t get soggy within the combine.
Step 3
Hold your dressing on the aspect. You should utilize a do-it-yourself dressing or your favourite store-bought possibility. I like Primal Kitchen, which we order from Thrive Market. I’ve some ideas beneath relating to salad dressings.
How To Eat Mason Jar Salad
If you happen to’re at house, I like so as to add my mason jar salad to a bowl, prime with dressing, after which use a pizza cutter to cut it up. From right here, I can add any extra seasonings or herbs on prime and luxuriate in!
If you happen to’re consuming your salad on-to-go, simply be sure to have wide-mouth jars. Add your dressing and toppings to the jar, add the lid, shake it up, after which take away the lid and eat!
What Measurement Mason Jar For A Salad
I often use jars which might be 32 oz and have a large mouth for a pleasant, hefty salad. I additionally love utilizing glass jars as an alternative of plastic for meal prep, so that you don’t have to fret about plastic chemical substances involved together with your meals because it’s sitting. You additionally wish to keep away from having a lot of further area within the jar, as a result of further oxygen could cause meals to spoil extra rapidly.
How Lengthy Does Salad Final In A Mason Jar?
Relying on the substances you utilize, salad in a mason jar can last as long as 5 fives. You can also make certain the salad stays recent by guaranteeing your salad greens are fully dry earlier than you add them to the jar.
Mason Jar Salad Concepts
I like that mason jar salads can help you layer recent substances, which helps preserve every thing crisp and recent whenever you retailer within the fridge till you’re able to eat. Whether or not you’re making ready a fast lunch, a hearty dinner, or a picnic dish, listed here are some mason jar salad concepts to encourage your subsequent creation! Hope you’re not hungry, as a result of these are certain to make your abdomen growl in starvation.
Mediterranean Salad in a Jar
Layer the next substances: chickpeas, feta, hen, pepperoncini, feta, kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, and chopped romaine. High with purple wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano earlier than shaking and having fun with! Serve with pita bread on the aspect. That is my secret favourite salad-in-a-jar recipe.
Cobb Salad in a Jar
Layer the next substances: cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, chopped hard-boiled egg, feta, chopped turkey bacon, hen, and romaine. Add Ranch dressing earlier than serving.
Buffalo Hen Salad
Right here is the recipe! Add the hen and feta first after which prime with salad greens and cilantro. Add your dressing earlier than shaking and serving.
Mexican Chopped Salad
Layer the next substances: cooked black beans, cheese, salsa, rice, hen, bell pepper, cilantro, purple onion, and greens. Earlier than serving, add cilantro-lime French dressing (store-bought or do this recipe) and chopped tortilla chips.
Tuna Salad
We love tuna and hen salad in our home. Right here’s my go-to tuna salad recipe! Add some to the underside of the jar, and prime with celery, olives, and salad greens. Add dressing and chopped avocado earlier than serving. I’d have this with a chunk of recent sourdough.
Beet, Goat Cheese, and Basil Salad
Layer the next substances: cooked beets, crumbled goat cheese, protein of selection, recent basil, and salad greens. High together with your favourite balsamic French dressing earlier than having fun with.
Curry Chickpea Salad
That is my go-to recipe! I might add this to the underside of a jar and salad greens on prime. I’d serve it with Primal Kitchen dressing and Easy Mills crackers.
Mason Jar Salad Dressing Suggestions
Ahh, no good salad is full with out the suitable dressing. Mason jar salad dressings are a brilliant superior and sensible option to put together recent, flavorful dressings upfront. The mason jar not solely serves as a option to shake and blend your substances, nevertheless it additionally makes storing and pouring straightforward with minimal mess. Plus, the compact dimension makes it very straightforward so that you can make small batches that can be utilized all through the week. Whether or not you’re making a traditional French dressing or a creamy dressing, the following tips will make it easier to profit from your mason jar dressings.
Layer substances in the suitable order.
When making your dressing in a mason jar, begin by including the thicker substances, like mustard, honey, or garlic, on the backside. Then you’ll be able to layer your oils, vinegars, and seasonings on prime. It will make it simpler to shake and mix the dressing collectively.
Shake, shake, shake!
After including your whole substances into the jar collectively, seal it tightly and provides it a great ol’ shake. Shaking ensures that the oil and vinegar (or another liquids) emulsify and mix right into a clean, scrumptious dressing. For finest outcomes, attempt to shake for at the least 20-30 seconds!
Let it sit earlier than utilizing it.
Letting the salad dressing sit for about 10-Quarter-hour earlier than you utilize it helps the flavors to return collectively and develop a extra balanced style. This resting time additionally helps any stable substances like herbs or garlic to infuse the liquids.
Make some further and retailer for later.
One of many nice advantages of utilizing a mason jar is the power to retailer your dressing few days within the fridge! Merely pour any leftover dressing again into the jar, seal it, and be at liberty to retailer it for later. Shake once more earlier than every use to make sure every thing stays combined and recent. If you’re working out of time to eat good meals, prepping them forward of time can significantly make your life simpler.
So inform me, associates: how usually do you meal prep? Do you want mason jar salads? If you happen to’re a fan, please share your favourite combo! I’m all the time on the lookout for scrumptious new salads and dressings so as to add to my armory of recipes!
xo
Gina