Most disappointing salads fail for the same few reasons: wet leaves, a dressing added too early, and nothing crunchy. All of them take minutes to fix.

• Dry the leaves properly. Water on the leaves dilutes the dressing and makes everything limp.
• Salt tomatoes and cucumber a few minutes ahead, then drain them. They taste twice as much of themselves.
• Make the dressing in the bowl, then add the leaves on top and toss only at the table.
• Add something crunchy: toasted seeds, nuts or a handful of croutons.
• Finish with something sharp or salty: a squeeze of lemon, a few olives, crumbled cheese.

A good everyday dressing is three parts oil to one part vinegar or lemon, a little mustard to hold it together, salt and pepper. Shake it in a jar and keep it in the fridge for the week.