Spinach Salad with Chicken, Egg and Artichoke

Start with spinach, raw spinach makes a mild base. Keep it going with hard-cooked egg, this bland but hearty protein blends with the simple flavor of the dark green veggie. Accent it with parmesan, its attention-getting saltiness works to heighten the other flavors. Add artichoke hearts, it gives this tangy mix-in elevated excitement. Bring it all together with balsamic vinaigrette, this salad has a lot going on, so a lightly sweet dressing brings out the best in all of the contrasting ingredients.

You're a fan of parmesan? Give these strong cheeses a whirl instead: blue, feta, pecorino-romano or grana padano.