Something often required by salads is decoration (8)
I believe the answer is:
dressing
This clue could be a double definition.
'something often required by salads' is the first definition.
I know that 'salads' relates to this answer.
'decoration' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dressing that I've seen before include "Salad sauce; a bandage" , "the early-morning routine" , "Mustard" , "Sauce - protection for wound" , "Saucy thing" .)