Salad
Salad is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient. They are often dressed, and typically served at room temperature or chilled, though some can be served warm.
Garden salads use a base of leafy greens such as lettuce, arugula/rocket, kale, or spinach; they are common enough that the word salad alone often refers specifically to garden salads. Other types include bean salad, tuna salad, fattoush, Greek salad (vegetable-based, but without leafy greens), Israeli salad, and sōmen salad (a noodle-based salad). Salad originates from the medieval Eastern Mediterranean near the Levant. The earliest attestation of the word is in a 13th-century Arabic culinary text by Ibn Razmah.
The common components of salads are greens, vegetables, fruits, cheese, or eggs. Most salads are composed primarily of raw ingredients. Even though restaurants often have salad on the menu, the word "salad" may also refer to a dish prepared with any combination of raw or cooked ingredients. Salads are typically eaten at room temperature or chilled, with notable exceptions such as south German potato salad which is served warm.
Raw vegetables are commonly used in salads. These may be chopped and dressed with oil, vinegar, lemon juice, or other dressing prior to the addition of the salad ingredients. Vegetables in a salad may also be cooked and served hot, as in a warm chicken and spinach salad.
The phrase "salad days", meaning a time of youthful inexperience or innocence is recorded from 1887. The origin of the term 'Salad Bowl' for this type of dressing has variously been attributed to Charles Dickens (1838) and Washington Irving (1809).
A garden salad uses a base of leafy vegetables such as lettuce, arugula (rocket lettuce), kale, spinach, or mizuna. It may include additional chopped vegetables or ingredients and be served with a dressing of oil and vinegar, lemon juice, or any number of popular commercial dressings. Cheese is also commonly added on top of garden salads.
Salads are typically composed of any combination of vegetables, fruits, cheese, cooked meat, eggs, and nuts. Seafood salads are also common. They are often served at room temperature or chilled; dressings such as vinaigrette are common. Salad originates from the medieval Eastern Mediterranean near the Levant. The earliest attestation of the word is in a 13th-century Arabic culinary text by Ibn Razmah.
Raw vegetables are typically used in salads as they are more palatable when fresh. These may be leafy greens (such as lettuce and spinach), croutons, peppers, cucumbers (including pickles and pepinos), radishes (including daikon and mooli), tomatoes, carrots, celery, chives, herbs such as cilantro and parsley, onions (including spring onions and scallions), mushrooms, cucumber
A wedge salad is made from a head of lettuce (such as iceberg or romaine) halved or quartered, with a choice of toppings. The simplest version is made with thick French dressing and often served in the United States during summer as "summer salad" or "German potato salad" (a sour cream-based dressing).
Global salad production
Salads are a big part of global food production. They are produced in countries all over the world, with the top producers being China, the United States, and India. These three countries account for nearly 60% of the world's salad production.
In recent years, there has been a shift in the types of salads that are being produced globally. There is a growing demand for healthier, more nutrient-rich salads. This has led to an increase in the production of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables. The global salad market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. This growth will be driven by the increasing demand for healthy and convenient food options.
In terms of global salad production, China is the clear leader. In 2016, they produced nearly 26 million metric tons of salad, which accounted for over a third of the world's total production. The next closest country is the United States, which produced just over 9 million metric tons that same year. Other major salad-producing countries include Mexico, Turkey, and Italy. Combined, these six countries account for over 80% of the world's salad production.
While salad is widely consumed all over the world, there are some regional variations in what types of salad are popular. In the United States, for example, iceberg lettuce is by far the most common type of lettuce used in salads. Other popular ingredients in American salads include tomatoes, carrots, and croutons. In Europe, on the other hand, lettuce varieties such as Romaine and mesclun are more popular. European salads also often include ingredients such as olives, feta cheese, and beans.