Insalata: A Healthy Way to Start an Italian Meal

[ 1 ] August 17, 2018 | Collaborative Post

Misticanza Salad

Every time I am in an Italian restaurant in Manhattan, such as Scarpetta, I always start my meal with a salad. It is my favorite appetizer and always makes a good first impression. Their insalata, which is the Italian word for salad, is to die for! They are a fitting welcome to their mouthwatering mains!

Looking for a healthy salad that will go well with your meal? The rest of this post briefly identifies some of the best.

Kale Salad

In only about five minutes, you can already prepare a delicious and healthy kale salad. The secret of this salad is to use thinly-cut or tender kale. As much as possible, use Russian kale or curly kale. Stay away from black-leaf kale. In a bowl, mix the kale with cheddar, apple, and almonds. After mixing the main ingredients, whisk it with olive oil, garlic, salt, and juice. Drizzle the salad with parmesan and enjoy!

Risotto Salad

In Italian, this is known as insalata di riso. Because it is already quite heavy since it contains rice, this is one of the best salads that you can order for a brunch in Nomad. First, you will have to cook the rice in a saucepan. Set it aside and let it cool down. In a big bowl, mix all other ingredients, which will include black and green olives, oregano, thyme, artichoke hearts, pickle, corn, button mushrooms, Swiss cheese, prosciutto cotto, and olive oil. Mix it with rice and enjoy!

Caprese Salad

This is a simple Italian salad that has been reinvented in many ways. Nonetheless, if you love Italian food, nothing beats the traditional recipe, which includes only fresh mozzarella, basil, and sweet tomatoes. To make them flavorful, olive oil and salt are used for seasoning. The salad features all of the colors of the Italian flag, which makes it a common option for an insalata.

Chopped Italian Salad

To make this simple Italian salad, you will need to chop antipasto ingredients. The main ingredients that you will need include romaine lettuce, pepperoni, onion, pimiento, artichoke hearts, and olives. Slice and dice the ingredients before mixing them in a bowl. To make it ooze with flavor, add parmesan, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper. Toss for the flavors to combine.

Panzanella

If you are looking for authentic Italian salad, a panzanella will make a great pick. It is a chopped salad that originates from the Tuscan region, which is popularly enjoyed during the summer. Traditionally, onion is its base. In the 20^th century, the base became tomatoes. To prepare this salad, first, you have to heat oil in a pan. When it is ready, add the bread and salt. Toss it for about ten minutes until the bread is brown. In a bowl, mix all other ingredients, which usually include capers, basil, red onions, yellow pepper, red pepper, cucumber, and tomato. Add the bread. Use salt and pepper sparingly.

Start your meal the right way with the salads that have been mentioned above. Their texture and flavor will surely make every meal more memorable.