Sharing some tips about the way 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 happening! 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 these days.
Anyway, for right this moment’s put up, I wished to share a meal prep staple that I completely love, particularly if in case you have a busy schedule and routine: the mason jar salad! Severely good!
These are a easy but handy strategy to pack in a nutrient-dense and satisfying meal they usually’re nice for wholesome packed lunches. Considered one of my favourite issues about them is you could put together them days prematurely, so that they’re a tremendous meal prep possibility. I’m dedicating this put up to share sensible ideas to assist ya put together mason jar salads which can 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’ll be able to 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 strategy to get in vitamins, veggies, protein, and wholesome fat
- You can also make them a full-sized lunch or a facet salad
- You’ll be able to have a ready-to-eat meal everytime you please
How To Layer A Mason Jar Salad
Step 1
The very first step is to arrange all your substances. I prefer to have a mixture of contemporary greens (rotate sorts to get totally 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 many others), wholesome fat (nuts/seeds work properly in these) and any extras (like dried fruit, cheese, olives, pickles or pickled veggies, and many others.) Then you may add these substances everytime you please since you merely have them readily 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 additional taste or crunch (like nuts/seeds, croutons), I might carry on the facet in slightly reusable bag or container so that they don’t get soggy within the combine.
Step 3
Hold your dressing on the facet. You need to use a selfmade 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
In the event you’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 revel in!
In the event you’re consuming your salad on-to-go, simply be sure you 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 can be 32 oz and have a large mouth for a pleasant, hefty salad. I additionally love utilizing glass jars as a substitute of plastic for meal prep, so that you don’t have to fret about plastic chemical compounds in touch along with your meals because it’s sitting. You additionally wish to keep away from having a lot of additional house within the jar, as a result of additional oxygen could cause meals to spoil extra shortly.
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 contemporary 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 permit you to layer contemporary substances, which helps preserve every thing crisp and contemporary if 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. Prime with pink wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano earlier than shaking and having fun with! Serve with pita bread on the facet. 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, pink 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 bit of contemporary sourdough.
Beet, Goat Cheese, and Basil Salad
Layer the next substances: cooked beets, crumbled goat cheese, protein of alternative, contemporary basil, and salad greens. Prime along 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 Ideas
Ahh, no good salad is full with out the correct dressing. Mason jar salad dressings are a brilliant superior and sensible strategy to put together contemporary, flavorful dressings prematurely. The mason jar not solely serves as a strategy to shake and blend your substances, however it additionally makes storing and pouring simple with minimal mess. Plus, the compact measurement makes it very simple 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 pointers will show you how to benefit from your mason jar dressings.
Layer substances in the correct 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 may 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 all your substances into the jar collectively, seal it tightly and provides it a superb ol’ shake. Shaking ensures that the oil and vinegar (or every other liquids) emulsify and mix right into a clean, scrumptious dressing. For greatest outcomes, attempt to shake for not less than 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 come back 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 additional 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 happy to retailer it for later. Shake once more earlier than every use to make sure every thing stays combined and contemporary. Whenever you’re working out of time to eat good meals, prepping them forward of time can critically make your life simpler.
So inform me, associates: how typically do you meal prep? Do you want mason jar salads? In the event you’re a fan, please share your favourite combo! I’m all the time in search of scrumptious new salads and dressings so as to add to my armory of recipes!
xo
Gina
