Sharing some recommendations on how one can 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 a beautiful morning thus far! I’ve a lot happening! I’ll report again with the entire 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 at this time’s put up, I needed to share a meal prep staple that I completely love, particularly in case you have a busy schedule and routine: the mason jar salad! Critically 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 you can put together them days prematurely, so that they’re an incredible meal prep possibility. I’m dedicating this put up to share sensible suggestions 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 possibly can 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 possibly can 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 components. I wish to have a mixture of recent greens (rotate sorts 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 properly in these) and any extras (like dried fruit, cheese, olives, pickles or pickled veggies, and so on.) Then you may add these components 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 best water content material and most dense choices and ending with the greens. I’d 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’d carry on the aspect in slightly reusable bag or container so that they don’t get soggy within the combine.
Step 3
Preserve your dressing on the aspect. You need to use a do-it-yourself dressing or your favourite store-bought possibility. I like Primal Kitchen, which we order from Thrive Market. I’ve some suggestions under relating to salad dressings.
How To Eat Mason Jar Salad
When you’re at residence, 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!
When you’re consuming your salad on-to-go, simply ensure 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 normally 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 compounds involved along with your meals because it’s sitting. You additionally wish to keep away from having plenty 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 components you employ, salad in a mason jar can last as long as 5 fives. You can also make positive the salad stays recent by making certain your salad greens are fully dry earlier than you add them to the jar.
Mason Jar Salad Concepts
I like that mason jar salads let you layer recent components, which helps preserve every thing crisp and recent once 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 below are some mason jar salad concepts to encourage your subsequent creation! Hope you’re not hungry, as a result of these are positive to make your abdomen growl in starvation.
Mediterranean Salad in a Jar
Layer the next components: 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 aspect. That is my secret favourite salad-in-a-jar recipe.
Cobb Salad in a Jar
Layer the next components: cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, chopped hard-boiled egg, feta, chopped turkey bacon, hen, and romaine. Add Ranch dressing earlier than serving.
Buffalo Rooster 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 components: 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 recent sourdough.
Beet, Goat Cheese, and Basil Salad
Layer the next components: cooked beets, crumbled goat cheese, protein of alternative, recent 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’d 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 precise dressing. Mason jar salad dressings are an excellent superior and sensible option to put together recent, flavorful dressings prematurely. The mason jar not solely serves as a option to shake and blend your components, but it surely additionally makes storing and pouring simple with minimal mess. Plus, the compact dimension 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 enable you profit from your mason jar dressings.
Layer components in the precise order.
When making your dressing in a mason jar, begin by including the thicker components, like mustard, honey, or garlic, on the backside. Then you may layer your oils, vinegars, and seasonings on prime. This can make it simpler to shake and mix the dressing collectively.
Shake, shake, shake!
After including your whole components 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 easy, scrumptious dressing. For finest outcomes, attempt to shake for no 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 employ it helps the flavors to come back collectively and develop a extra balanced style. This resting time additionally helps any strong components 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 at liberty to retailer it for later. Shake once more earlier than every use to make sure every thing stays blended and recent. If you’re operating out of time to eat good meals, prepping them forward of time can severely make your life simpler.
So inform me, associates: how typically do you meal prep? Do you want mason jar salads? When you’re a fan, please share your favourite combo! I’m at all times searching for scrumptious new salads and dressings so as to add to my armory of recipes!
xo
Gina