Superfoods Salad

Here's my take on a Superfoods Salad - big, hearty, and full of clean, healthy ingredients This salad recipe is crunchy and delicious as an entree or side dish.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

No matter the time of year, don't we all want to feel a little healthier, especially after (in my case) months of indulging?

I've certainly eaten my share of caramel corn and sugary snacks recently, so maybe a gentle reset with for my immune system with nutrient-rich food that's really delicious is in order!

• This is a hearty and filling salad with lots of healthy ingredients

• Lots of clean flavors going on here, nothing processed. Eat seconds, if you want!

• This recipe is easily adaptable for your tastes, so there's lots of flexibility too.

• This salad is easy to put together, and is absolutely delicious with my juicy homemade lemon vinaigrette (recipe below) drizzled over the top.

  

  Turns out "Superfoods" are sort of a marketing word that describes nutrient-rich foods that are healthy to eat. Stuff like dark leafy greens, berries, yogurt, green tea, eggs and legumes.

  This also includes heart-healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil and dressing ingredients like balsamic vinegar and maybe some fresh lemon or lime juice to keep it tangy.

For the full recipe and ingredient list, just scroll down to the recipe card below.

• Greens: So may to choose from, and I like a blend of a couple varieties for their color and texture. For this salad, we're using Romaine and also fresh kale. Any dark, leafy green will work here.

• Blueberries: For great texture, blueberries do the job. Try raspberries and other fresh fruits too!

• Radicchio: Sharp and a little bitter, this cabbage-like veg gives some balance to all these flavors, and I love the color it adds on the plate.

• Broccolini: Smaller and softer than regular broccoli, the whole thing can be eaten, stems and all.

• Brussels Sprouts: High in fiber, minerals and antioxidants, and surprisingly good (and crunchy) thin sliced and raw.

• Fennel: Mild, sweet and crunchy, fennel is wonderful when thinly sliced in salad and has a very mild licorice flavor.

• Lemon Vinaigrette: Super easy to make and shake in a jar, this juicy vinaigrette makes practically anything taste delicious.

Cut the vegetables in bite-sized shreds or slices before adding to the bowl

This recipe comes together quickly after a few easy steps:

1. Prep the Veggies : You'll be doing a little washing, drying and cutting. A large bowl is helpful, too.

2. Make a Simple Vinaigrette: This one is bursting with fresh lemon juice, so good.

3. Assemble and Plate: This is such an easy salad! Gather your ingredients, prep them, plate and enjoy!

• Use Ingredient Swaps: Make your own combinations, and change up the broccoli florets for green cabbage or thin-sliced zucchini, and raspberries or blackberries instead of blueberries. Shaved brussel sprouts, roasted sweet potato, kale leaves, and bell pepper are also great add-ins or swaps.

• Add-In's: Thinly sliced and warmed chicken breast or grilled shrimp make a satisfying addition to this salad. So does creamy avocado or grilled tofu chunks.

• Make it a Party: This is one of those salad recipes that's easy to scale up for more people. For a large gathering, I set out a large serving platter or two, and serve the dressing on the side.

• Meal prep or make it in advance: You can prep all these ingredients and store them separately in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble. These can be done as a meal prep too, just keep the dressing separate in both cases until you're ready to eat.

• Sprinkle on some optional chia seeds or pumpkin seeds for extra nutrition too.

FAQ’s

Can I add cheese and other vegetables to this salad?

Absolutely. I like hard cheeses like white cheddar or Parmesan, but goat cheese would be delicious too. On the savory side, add some thin sliced green onions and colored bell pepper too.

Can I use other nuts than what is in the recipe?

Yes! Use nutrient-rich peanuts, almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts...and don't forget sunflower seeds. Use a combination, too, like 1/4 cup walnuts and a 1/4 cup pecans.

Can I use greens other than kale?

Yes! Use all romaine lettuce as an example or a combination of any two greens you like such as romaine and arugula. Or, make the whole thing a kale salad! And don't forget other hearty veg like red cabbage and Napa cabbage. Both add texture and crunch, and are easy to find at the grocery store.

What can I substitute for honey in the salad dressing?

Maple syrup would be perfect, or skip it altogether for a tangier dressing.

Superfoods Salad

Big & hearty Superfood Salad is filling and delicious.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• ▢ FOR THE SALAD

• ▢ 3 cups Romaine Lettuce, washed, dried and sliced into one-inch (1") strips

• ▢ ½ Radicchio, sliced into thin ribbons

• ▢ 3 Kale (curly)washed with spine removed and torn into small pieces

• ▢ 1 Carrot, cut thinly or shaved in ribbons with a vegetable peeler

• ▢ Broccolini, sliced in half to make thin strips

• ▢ 2 Green Onions, washed, trimmed and thinly sliced length-wise

• ▢ 1 Avocado, sliced in one-inch 1" chunky pieces

• ▢ 6-8 Brussels Sprouts, ends trimmed, thinly sliced

• ▢ 1 small Fennel, ends trimmed, thinly sliced about 1 cup

• ▢ ½ cup Blueberries, washed and dried

• ▢ ½ cup Pecans, whole

• ▢ Flake Sea Salt and freshly ground lemon pepper for serving

• ▢ FOR THE LEMON VINAIGRETTE

• ▢ 6 tablespoons Olive Oil

• ▢ 4 tablespoons Lemon juice

• ▢ 3 teaspoons Honey

• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon Mustard

• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons Mayo, or non-dairy mayo

• ▢ ½ teaspoon Lemon pepper

• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Salt

Instructions

• MAKE THE SALAD

• Prepare all the vegetables as directed and arrange them by distributing the ingredients as evenly as possible on four plates or bowls.

  Grouping the same ingredients together looks better if using a large platter. Alternatively, you can toss the salad and plate it dressed with the vinaigrette on salad-sized plates.

• MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE

• Whisk all the ingredients except the olive oil together in a medium-sized bowl, or just put the ingredients in a mason jar with lid, shake and serve.

Notes

• Make Ingredient Swaps: Make your own combinations, and change up the broccolini for thin-sliced zucchini, and raspberries or blackberries instead of blueberries. Use any dark leafy greens that you like 🙂

• Add In’s: Thinly sliced and warmed chicken breast or grilled shrimp make a satisfying addition to this salad.

• Same with adding cooked grains like quinoa

• Make it a Party: This recipe is easy to scale up for more people. For a large gathering, I set out two large platters and serve the dressing on the side.

• Meal prep or make it in advance: You can prep all these ingredients and store them separately in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble. These can be done as a meal prep too, just keep the dressing separate in both cases until you’re ready to eat.

• Buy Organic: I always buy organic if it’s available.