Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach, and Quinoa Salad
If you love fresh Mediterranean flavors, this salad recipe made with…- Vitamin-rich spinach leaves
- Heart-healthy quinoa
- Zesty, delicious dried tomatoes
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed in a fine-mesh colander
- ⅓ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach or arugula
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- To cook the quinoa: Combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the quinoa has absorbed all of the water, about 15 minutes, reducing heat as time goes on to maintain a gentle simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let the quinoa rest for 5 minutes, which gives it time to fluff up.
- To prepare the dressing: Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper.
- To toast the almonds: Warm ¼ teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat until simmering. Add the almonds and a dash of salt and cook, stirring frequently (beware, these burn quickly!), until they are golden and fragrant. Transfer the toasted almonds to a medium-sized serving bowl to cool.
- Once the quinoa is done cooking, fluff it with a fork and then transfer it into your serving bowl. Drizzle all of the dressing on top and toss to combine. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and wait a few more minutes to add the spinach so it doesn’t wilt completely. Toss again, season to taste with additional salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Greek Broccoli Salad
Defy the laws of traditional salad-making ways with this leafless, Greek broccoli salad recipe. We love this salad because it’s…- Easy to make.
- Filled with nutritious broccoli florets.
- Always a hit at potluck dinners, picnics, and family meals.
- 1 large head of tightly packed broccoli (about 1¼ pounds), florets removed and sliced into small, bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped shallot or red onion
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or thinly sliced Kalamata olives
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup or agave nectar
- 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- In a medium-sized serving bowl, toss together the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, shallot or red onion, feta or olives, and almonds.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until emulsified.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss well.
Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad
When it comes to building a hearty salad that will keep you full and energized, this recipe is a real winner. Complete with…- Protein-packed chicken
- The healthy fat of an avocado
- Decadent fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 chicken thigh fillets, skin removed (no bone)
- 5 cups romaine lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup mini mozzarella / bocconcini cheese balls
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Whisk marinade ingredients together to combine. Place chicken into a shallow dish; pour 4 tablespoons of the dressing/marinade onto the chicken and stir around to evenly coat chicken. Reserve the untouched marinade to use as a dressing.
- Heat about one teaspoon of oil in a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and grill or sear chicken fillets on each side until golden, crispy, and cooked through. Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
- Slice chicken into strips and prepare salad with lettuce, avocado slices, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and chicken.
- Top with basil strips; drizzle with the remaining dressing; season with salt and pepper; serve.
Do you have a favorite salad recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!