Silly question about chopped salads

[Pony500]

So, since the only applicance I have right now is a cutting board and a knife (seriously!) I have made some chopped salads. There is something about chopping the ingredients that just makes them better for me, I can't explain it. My mom used to make a tomato, onion, cucumber salad and I never really liked it, but yesterday, I made a chopped salad with those three things and added in a chopped green pepper, added in some Asian dressing and a little agave and it was awesome. I also chopped my salad greens and cabbage the other night and again, I really enjoyed the chopped salad. So my question is, can you do any chopping with a food processor or is there really no way to make a chopped salad other than just plain chopping with a knife and cutting board?

Since I do need to get some applicances, I was considering getting a food processor and didn't know if A) Is it necessary to really be able to prepare many raw foods? and B) Can I use it to chop some of the ingredients for my chopped salads?

[LynieD]

I'm the same way! I love chopped salads and will eat a lot of foods I wouldn't otherwise.

About the food processor, although it isn't necessary it is SOOO very helpful. I love mine as much as it is proper to love an inatimate object (perhaps a little more.)

Again, it is not necessary to be raw. There are, however, some foods that are virtually impossible to make without it or some other blending device (such as nut meats, soups or blended salads.) And yes, it can chop the veggies for your salad in about 2 seconds, as opposed to the time necessary for manual chopping.

If you can afford it, buy it. It'll be worth every cent! (I use mine every day.)

[annavon]

Food processor works well for chopping as long as you start with pieces that are not too large, say quarter the onion and you do short pulses. You may want to chop tomotoes separately though as the get juicy. I use the processor to make salsa too. I really like to use the grating disk for making slaws too. I make slaws with all kinds of things like the broccoli stems (peel tough outer layer first), beets and carrots as well as the traditional cabbage slaw. Have fun!:D

[Emma-Liza]

If I could only have one appliance, it would be a stick blender that comes with a mini chopper cup attachment. I have a Braun, but there are lots of brands. These cost 20-25 dollars. With the blender, you can make smoothies, salad dressings, purees, and puddings; and with the chopper, you can chop nuts, onions, garlic, herbs, any small thing. I also use it to pulverize pills into powders. It doesn't burn out like a mini food processor tends to do. And it's far easier and quicker to wash than a large food processor.

I like chopped salads a whole lot! They're really versatile. I wouldn't make them in my big food processor, partly because it cuts the pieces too small and not uniformly, and partly because I really think it's more work to chop the pieces down to a certain size, put them one by one in the food processor, and keep taking the lid off and on.

A very inexpensive mandolin might be helpful, but I still don't think it is any less work than the basic chopping with a knife. If you have 1 each small and large, very sharp knives, plus 1 each small and large serrated knives, you have what you really need! The more you chop, the faster you'll get!

[Gittel]

I love, Love, LOVE this chopper: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14556052

It has two blade inserts, one for larger dice and one for smaller dice. I use it all the time.

Gittel

[Eva]

I chop with my knife and cutting board. Works fine, but the FP would be easy too.

My one appliance at the moment is a combo blender (sort of like a magic bullet) that also has a coffee grinder and juicer attachment. It cost about $50 and does the trick when I want soup, a smoothie, ground flax, etc. I haven't used the juicer part yet, but I feel like no matter what this was a good deal.

In the States, I had a VitaMix and a dehydrator. I wouldn't take back making either of those purchases! So if you have the funds available, those and a good food processor would be helpful -- but NOT necessary unless it's important for you.

Sounds like you're doing great already, but it's good to be able to make the "fancier" stuff when you want it.

[Pony500]

Hmmm, these are all things to think about. I did see this little gadget the other day and wondered if it would be as useful as it looks: http://www.silvermk.com/product_detail.cfm?id=1&v=1 I see what some of you are saying about using a FP--it almost seems like it is just as easy to stick with the knife and cutting board method....although I still will probably end up getting a FP at some point though and then I could try it and see which way is better...

I do need to get a blender--my Waring blender just died, so I am without a blender and no smoothies! That will be the first thing I will get and I need to get it like yesterday! Then, I will think about the dehydrator...

[EZ rider]

My favorite salad has only 4 ingredients:
1) Romaine lettuce - cut on board with a knife
2) tomato - cut into chunks on board with a knife
3) onion - thin sliced using a hand held veggie slicing tool
4) salad dressing - varies from day to day for variety