Salad Bar

Putting together a simple salad bar takes any party or event to the next level. With many different salad recipes and ingredients, there are plenty of options for all of your guests so there will be a little something for everyone.

Thank you to Taylor Farms for sponsoring this post.

I love putting together a simple salad bar with a variety of delicious chopped salads! They are great for any gathering whether large or small. Plus, a fresh salad bar is always a great option for those with specific dietary needs.

You can also serve up our red cabbage salad, BEST cucumber salad and hazelnut oil beet and goat cheese salad. Our gluten-free croutons go really well with these salads.

Make your salad bar SUPER simple on yourself with pre-made salad kits from Taylor Farms.

They have a variety of flavors inducing…

• Avocado grilled chicken
• Strawberry Rose’
• Thai Chili Mango Chopped Kit
• Salsa Ranch
• and they even have an Everything Vegetable Tray that goes great with it as well! 

Each kit comes with everything you need for your salad including the greens, dressing and toppings. I LOVE this new Strawberry Rose’ salad because it is both beautiful on it’s own or atop our beet tacos.

The vinaigrette is so delicate yet delicious in flavor. This salad is a blend of green leaf lettuce, kale and radicchio tossed with a light berry ROSÉ vinaigrette—made with real berries. It is then sprinkled with strawberry infused cranberries and roasted sliced almonds. It really is a WOW factor salad!

Plus, it is gluten and dairy free as well as vegetarian and vegan making it the perfect beet taco topping! Find out where you can get a bag using this store locator.

The key to a great salad bar is to choose a variety of salads so your guests have plenty to choose from. Serve them all up in separate bowls for a pretty, yet simple presentation.

I love a mixture of wood, clay, and glass bowls. You can also serve up the salads with different spoons like wood, gold flatware, and tongs.

Toppings are another great thing to keep in mind for your salad bar, especially if you aren’t going to be using pre-made kits. Here are some of my favorite salad toppings…

• Tortilla strips
• Shredded cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Beans
• Corn
• Beets
• Cottage Cheese
• Red onions
• Healthy proteins (I love chicken in my salad)
• Fresh fruits

• Peas
• Jalapeños
• Carrots
• Bacon Bits
• Shaved Parmesan
• Eggs
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers

Crunchy quinoa and dried fruit like you find on this delicious Taylor Farms Thai chili mango chopped salad also make great toppings. Adding other veggies like shaved Brussels sprouts also take salads to the next level.

A variety of beans and cheeses can give your salad more of a Mexican flare or Mediterranean vibe depending on who ones you use. No matter which salads you serve or which toppings you set out, everyone is sure to love the option to create their own spectacular plate!

Why this recipe works

Salad bars are a fun way to display a salad at a party. You are still able to serve a salad, but you don’t have to worry about making a large enough salad for everyone.

Guests love to customize the food to their preferences. By having a salad bar, they are able to make a salad they know they will enjoy.

Our salad bar beet tacos are perfect because they introduce a new taco recipe and they are topped with an awesome salad. Usually you will add lettuce to a taco, so why not a whole salad?

Serving these tacos with a salad bar is a great combination and a unique idea. Your guests will love the mix of flavors and the fun, creative idea.

INGREDIENTS

Beets- You will need 4 beets for this recipe. Make sure to allow time to cook the beets as they can take a bit to cook.

Corn Tortillas- Corn tortillas are great because they are great for tacos and because they are gluten-free. I am a big fan of corn tortillas because I am able to still have tasty tacos.

Taylor Farm’s Strawberry Rose Salad Kit- This strawberry rose salad kit takes these tacos to the next level. I find that the strawberry rose salad mixes well with this recipe for beet tacos.

Veggie Tacos

These vegetarian tacos are so full of flavor without the meat! They are both beautiful to serve and so good for your body. And because they don’t have meat, they are great for a healthy lunch that you can throw in a lunch box.

You don’t have to worry about food safety and keeping the meat cool. Adding healthy salads on top of your tacos will help your immune system too! There are so many benefits to veggie tacos.

How to make salad bar beet tacos

This recipe comes together quickly and is incredibly delicious. To start, gather the rice and rice cooker.

STEP 1: COOK THE RICE

Grab your rice cooker and some white rice, but instead of cooking the rice with water, we are going to use vegetable broth. You get a tastier flavor of rice when you cook it this way.

The key when cooking rice is to do a 2:1 ratio. So for every cup of rice, you will want to use two cups of vegetable broth or whatever liquid the recipe calls for.

STEP 2: TOSS THE BEETS IN A BOWL

While the rice is cooking, toss the beets in a medium size bowl. You will want to cook and peel the beets before you do so.

The mixture your beets will be coated in is 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of dill. You can season as much or as little if you want, but these are the measurements I recommend.

STEP 3: TOSS THE CORN IN A BOWL

Just like we did with the beets, you are going to toss the corn. You can toss them in a small bowl, but make sure the corn is cooked before doing so.

Toss the corn with the remaining salt and olive oil. This amounts to 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil.

STEP 4: COOK THE TORTILLAS

After the corn and beets are prepared, you will want to cook the corn tortillas. Spread a bit of butter on each side of the tortilla to start.

Then, place them on the frying pan for 30 seconds per side. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they are the perfect texture.

STEP 5: MAKE THE TACOS

Now is the fun part: making the tacos! Top the warmed tortillas with the beets, corn, and rice.

Make sure that you don’t fill them up too much because you still need to add the salad. Finish the tacos by topping them with tossed Taylor Farms Strawberry Rose Salad.

RECIPE FAQ

How should I store the leftovers?

You can put the leftover toppings in an airtight container and leave them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The salad won’t last as long, as it already has the dressing on it.

For the tortillas, you will want to wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container or plastic bag.

How many types of salad do I need for a salad bar?

It is completely up to you. You can have as many or as few, depending on how many people you are planning to serve. I find that it’s good to have some options so there is a bit for everyone.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Add edible flowers on top of the tacos for presentation
• Make sure the entire tortilla is covered in butter before cooking for the perfect texture
• Have different sized shaped bowls with fun textures and colors to add to the display of your salad bar

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Salad Bar

4.80 from 5 votes

Putting together a simple salad bar takes any party or event to the next level. With many different salad recipes and ingredients, there are plenty of options for all of your guests so there will be a little something for everyone.

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Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Course: side dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beet, salad bar, tacos

Servings: 8 tacos

Calories: 187kcal

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup white rice
• ▢ 2 cups vegetable broth
• ▢ 4 beets, cooked and peeled
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt, divided
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dill
• ▢ 1 cup corn, cooked
• ▢ 8 corn tortillas
• ▢ 1 bag Taylor Farms Strawberry Rose Salad Kit

Instructions

• Cook the rice in a rice cooker with vegetable broth
• Meanwhile, toss the beets in a bowl with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and all the dill
• In another bowl, toss the corn with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• In a frying pan, cook corn tortillas that have been smeared with a bit of butter for 30 seconds per side
• Top warm tortillas with beets, rice and corn
• Finish with tossed Taylor Farms Strawberry Rose Salad
• Optional: Add edible flowers for presentation

Notes

How should I store the leftovers?

You can put the leftover toppings in an airtight container and leave them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The salad won’t last as long, as it already has the dressing on it.

For the tortillas, you will want to wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container or plastic bag.

Nutrition

Serving: 1taco | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

This was originally posted on December 4, 2020, but has been updated with new information and tips on November 13, 2022.