The basic garden salad—raw vegetables tossed with salt and herbs, and dressed with some olive oil—has been a part of our culinary heritage since ancient Rome, but it’s branched off into a myriad of styles since then. Salads are usually a handy way to eat a dish that’s primarily composed of vegetables and healthy oils. They can be hot but are usually cold, and adorned with some sort of meat, cheese, or grain, and can feature things like fruit or nuts. They fit handily into a Mediterranean diet but can reflect flavors and food preferences from all over the world.