Sharing some recommendations on the way to make an ideal mason jar salad + a few of my favourite combos and mason jar salad recipes!

Hello hello, buddies! How are you? I hope you’re having an exquisite morning to this point! 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 one of the best time these days.

Anyway, for at present’s submit, I needed to share a meal prep staple that I completely love, particularly when you have a busy schedule and routine: the mason jar salad! Critically good!

These are a easy but handy strategy to pack in a nutrient-dense and satisfying meal and so they’re nice for wholesome packed lunches. One in all my favourite issues about them is that you could put together them days upfront, in order that they’re an incredible meal prep choice. I’m dedicating this submit to share sensible suggestions 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 choice
• 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 strategy to get in vitamins, veggies, protein, and wholesome fat
• You can also make them a full-sized lunch or a facet 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 arrange your whole 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 effectively in these) and any extras (like dried fruit, cheese, olives, pickles or pickled veggies, and many others.) Then you possibly can 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’d do beans first, pickled veggies, roasted veggies, protein, starches, and greens on high. Something that provides additional taste or crunch (like nuts/seeds, croutons), I’d carry on the facet in a bit of reusable bag or container in order that they don’t get soggy within the combine.

Step 3

Preserve your dressing on the facet. You need to use a home made dressing or your favourite store-bought choice. 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

Should you’re at house, I like so as to add my mason jar salad to a bowl, high with dressing, after which use a pizza cutter to cut it up. From right here, I can add any extra seasonings or herbs on high and luxuriate in!

Should you’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 can 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 in touch along with your meals because it’s sitting. You additionally need to keep away from having plenty of additional house within the jar, as a result of additional oxygen may 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 will let you layer contemporary substances, which helps maintain all the things crisp and contemporary if you retailer within the fridge till you’re able to eat. Whether or not you’re getting 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 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 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 high 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 high with celery, olives, and salad greens. Add dressing and chopped avocado earlier than serving. I’d have this with a chunk of contemporary sourdough.

Beet, Goat Cheese, and Basil Salad

Layer the next substances: cooked beets, crumbled goat cheese, protein of selection, contemporary basil, and salad greens. High 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 high. 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 fitting dressing. Mason jar salad dressings are a brilliant superior and sensible strategy to put together contemporary, flavorful dressings upfront. The mason jar not solely serves as a strategy to shake and blend your substances, nevertheless it additionally makes storing and pouring straightforward with minimal mess. Plus, the compact measurement 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 pointers will aid you profit from your mason jar dressings.

Layer substances in the fitting 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 possibly can layer your oils, vinegars, and seasonings on high. 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 superb ol’ shake. Shaking ensures that the oil and vinegar (or some other liquids) emulsify and mix right into a easy, scrumptious dressing. For finest 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 strong substances like herbs or garlic to infuse the liquids.

Make some additional and retailer for later.

So inform me, buddies: how typically do you meal prep? Do you want mason jar salads? Should 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