Understanding Arranged Salads

A complex salad in arranged presentation, or arranged salad, is a complex salad consisting of several separate food elements placed on the plate in a precise, planned design. Another term for an arranged salad is composed salad, a direct translation of the French salade composée. European and North American cuisines include quite a few classic and well-known arranged salads, such as Salade Niçoise and Cobb Salad. In addition, modern garde manger chefs are constantly creating new salad combinations, arranged in striking, contemporary designs. Indeed, the possibilities for creating spectacular constructions are virtually limitless. However, it is important to remember that when you are creating arranged salads, as with any dish, flavor must come before presentation. No matter how fantastic an artfully arranged salad might appear, its true worth is measured by its taste.