Skewers Are All You Need To Amp Up Your Salad Game This Summer

With brighter, warmer days comes the excellent refreshing taste of raw summer ingredients. That can only mean one thing; salad season is on its way. Ham and pineapple on a stick has had its day, and while you may have already tried getting creative with cucumber boats, there's a new salad kid on the block. This summer, salad on a stick will be your go-to for those hot days.

You no longer need to awkwardly struggle with spearing and scraping the wayward parts of your salad bowl. Salad skewers are the perfect finger food, eliminating any mess and the need for cutlery at a party. With salad sticks, you can layer colorful ingredients for a platter that's as visually appealing as it is delicious. These customizable salad sticks are the perfect dish for any social gathering (summer or not). Time to amplify your salad game; the only limits are your imagination.

Salad on a stick is best made with ingredients that will spear, for which there are many. Think cucumber, cherry tomatoes, hard or soft cheese (that will keep its shape), hard-boiled eggs, crunchy salad greens, olives, and deli meat. You can then quickly drizzle a dressing that complements the salad as you serve. These skewers can be presented on a platter for guests to grab and go quickly. Caprese salad on a stick is a great place to start with this: just thread mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, and basil onto sticks and drizzle with olive oil — the perfect summer punch.

While you may have heard of wedge salad boards as a great way to please a crowd, how about making these boards more accessible by presenting wedge salad on a stick? Layer bacon, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion on a skewer and drizzle with a blue cheese dressing. Add crumbled blue cheese over the top for a more appetizing aesthetic. This also works for Caesar salad too. You can easily thread a crouton, grilled chicken, parmesan, and lettuce onto skewers and finish with that iconic anchovy dressing. As you can tell, these skewers can be completely personalized.

Don't stop at traditional salad sticks; branch out to pasta salad sticks too. You should maximize the flavor of your pasta salad by adding dressing immediately after cooking the noodles, and you can then thread these onto skewers for the perfect event appetizer. Great if you're looking for a healthier carb option and if they'll be some drinks flowing. First, you can try a simple combination of cooked cheese tortellini, grape tomatoes, olives, and fresh mozzarella. It's fun and easy to prepare.

Another suggestion is to make crispy gnocchi by threading pre-cooked gnocchi onto skewers with chopped peppers and, after grilling or barbequing, serving with a lemony pesto dressing. These vegan skewers are great if you want a warm pasta salad vibe. While the skewers can be premade, once they've been grilled, they should be eaten immediately as the gnocchi will start to harden. With many options, there is no reason not to try salad on a stick. It makes salad at a party more accessible and ultimately reduces post-meal cleanup.