Find inspiration for mix-and-match layered salad lunches that are perfect for taking to school or the office. We’ve got plant-based dressings to try, too!
Salad in a jar 101
1 Black and Blue Arugula Salad
Blue cheese dressing delivers a satisfying balance of texture and tang, and is a great choice for salad ingredients that are boldly flavoured or offer hearty texture – or both! Here is a delicious salad combo that is perfectly matched to this classic flavour:
Black and Blue Arugula Salad
- 2 tbsp Compliments Blue Cheese Plant-Based Dressing or regular Compliments Blue Cheese Dressing, then add:
- 6 oz (175 g) Plant-based meatballs or grilled steak (cut into bite-sized chunks)
- ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/3 cup Compliments Peaches & Cream Corn, cooked according to package directions
- ¼ package Compliments Baby Arugula
- 2 tbsp Compliments West Coast-Style Blend Salad Topper
2 Taco Ranch Salad
Ranch dressing can make a wide range of salads sing. It’s a fresh contrast to Mexican-style ingredients such as spiced beef and kidney beans, and is equally as satisfying when bringing together a vegetarian mixture of chickpeas, sweet peppers and mesclun mix. Here's one surefire combo to try:
Taco Ranch Salad
- 2 tbsp Compliments Ranch Dressing Plant-Based or regular Compliments Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup Ground beef, spiced and cooked as you would for your favourite tacos or ½ cup Compliments Dark Red Kidney Beans (or a combination)
- ½ package Coleslaw mix
- 1/8 package Compliments Mixed Baby Greens
- ¼ cup Compliments Mild Chunky or Medium Chunky Salsa
- 2 tbsp Compliments Mexican-Style Salad Topper
3 Grilled Chicken Kale Caesar Salad
Richly flavoured with garlic and spices, Caesar salad is a crowd pleaser, but Caesar dressing can be used for many combinations beyond routine romaine! The options are seemingly endless, but you can start here:
Grilled Chicken Kale Caesar Salad
- 2 tbsp Compliments Caesar Dressing Plant-Based or regular Compliments Caesar Dressing
- 6 oz Compliments Fully Cooked Chicken Strips or Compliments Plant-Based Chicken Strips, prepared according to package directions; or grilled chicken breast
- ¼ package Baby kale
- ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/3 cup Compliments Lightly Seasoned Croutons
- 1 tbsp Compliments Simulated Bacon Bits
TIP
When making a layered salad, start with the dressing – at the bottom of the jar. Then add your heavier ingredients and finish with lighter lettuces and greens at the top. Screw on lid and shake to mix all ingredients when ready to eat, or bring a small bowl and empty contents into it, toss and enjoy.

