Spice Up Summer Salad With Tips From 'Food Network Star's' Nikki Martin

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — The competition in this season's hit series "Food Network Star" is heating up! Chef Nikki Martin is still in the running to win the ultimate prize: their own Food Network show. She stopped by KCAL9 Thursday to spill secrets from the show.

This year, returning stars Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis move from behind the judge's table to square off with culinary favorite Alton Brown for a three-way team competition to find the next Food Network Star.

Bobby, Giada and Alton, all television producers in addition to being culinary superstars, lead the charge to find and develop the new talent by each hand-selecting a team of five finalists, who they will produce and mentor through the 'Star' experience to find one winner who possesses personality and kitchen chops.

Nikki's Summer Salad:

- Add grilled fruit to a salad to boost depth and flavor
- Easy Vinaigrette: Use flax oil instead of extra virgin olive oil or use apple cider vinegar
- Use the same vinaigrette for a flavor-packing marinade for grilled protein, whether it be shrimp, chicken, or tofu

To learn more about "Food Network Star," click here.

For more information about Nikki Martin, check out her website.