Swiss Salad from the cuisine of Switzerland, is distinctly known for the generous use of melted cheese. Some famous Swiss salads are Rotkraustsalt (which is a red cabbage salad), Gurkensalat (which is a cucumber salad) and sauerkraut salad, made with the addition of ham.
Ingredients Used to Make Swiss Salad
Ingredients commonly used for the Swiss salad recipe include lettuce leaves, vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, onions, potatoes, spinach, etc. and seasonings like mustard, mayonnaise, pepper, basil, vinegar or special sauces. Bacon, ham and cheese are other important ingredients.
Serving Swiss Salads
The salads are served as appetizers before the main course of a meal. Sometimes they may also be served as a full meal in themselves.
Popular Swiss Salad Recipes
• Sauerkrautsalat mit Schinken: The salad is made of sauerkraut, ham, grapes and salad dressing.
• Gruyere Salad: The salad consists of Gruyere cheese marinated in white wine and mixed with vinaigrette.
• Gourmet Salad: It is made with egg yolks, peanut oil, walnut oil, mayonnaise, mustard, pepper, salt and sugar. Chicken broth along with vinegar and basil are added to it once the salad is prepared.
• Amish Homemade Salad: This Swiss salad recipe suggests laying of a bed of lettuce on which a salad dressing has been poured.
• Potato Salad with Beer Dressing: It consists of boiled, peeled and sliced potatoes, fried pieces of bacon, celery, onion, and a dressing made with beer, Tabasco sauce, butter, flour and mustard. Salt is added to taste.
Health and Nutrition Facts about Swiss Salad
Swiss salads are an excellent blend of taste and nutrition. Fresh vegetables contained in the salad supply many essential vitamins and nutrients. Lettuce, an important ingredient in these salads, is rich in beta carotene which helps in battling diseases like heart disease, cancer and cataracts. Cheese, which is also a common feature of the salads, is a rich source of calcium which is essential for bone and dental health, though it also contains a considerable percentage of fat. Different types of seasonings and sauces suggested for use by various Swiss salad recipes are known to stimulate digestion.
