Spring Abundance Bowl

A few weeks ago, I made this recipe for the first time. Josh was home the day I made the radish pickles, but left town before he could actually eat one of the fully assembled bowls. All he got was the pleasure of listening to me rave about how delicious my lunch was every day.

He’s a lucky guy.

This past Sunday, we grabbed a variety of random spring produce at our newly opened farmer’s market (!) and brought it all home to think about how to incorporate it into our meal plan this week. This is a slightly different method than we usually use, going into the market with no list, just seeing what they have, but it worked out extremely well. After discussing a few options with asparagus, Josh brought up my lunch bowl that he missed out on, and I knew we had a winner.

One of the beautiful things about this recipe is how adaptable it is. This time, we had fresh tender lettuce, thin bright asparagus, and delicate baby sugar snap peas from the market, and added them all into the mix. Since I already had a jar of pickled radishes in the fridge from the last time, that part was easy as can be. We made the dressing with goat’s milk yogurt, since it doesn’t seem to make Josh’s allergies act up the way cow’s milk does, and added a good bit more lemon juice than the recipe calls for (this is pretty normal for my sour loving self).

Spring lettuce, quinoa (cooked in my usual way) tossed in lots of sea salt, lemon juice and some olive oil, grilled asparagus, sliced sugar snap peas, cubed avocado, thawed baby peas, and pickled radish slices, all topped in a tangy, creamy dill dressing?

Sign me up.

See the original recipe here at My New Roots, and adapt to your heart’s content.

Southwestern Quinoa Bowl With Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

 

This lunch was kind of an impulse recipe. I had been thinking of making our beloved roasted vegetable and hummus mix it up salads, but I just wasn’t in the mood for hummus. I saw a few recipes for a creamy cilantro dressing that I thought might be the perfect way to brighten things up, and it all just kind of progressed from there.

Result? Total win.

Southwestern Quinoa Bowl With Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

This definitely is another choose your own adventure salad. Whatever spices and vegetables sound good or you already have, use them.

• 1 c. quinoa, cooked in our rice cooker according to this method. I added 1/2 tsp taco seasoning, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to the cooking water. When the quinoa was done cooking but still warm, I added the zest and juice of 1 lime, a splash of olive oil, and salt to taste.
• We used zucchini, squash, and carrots, chopped, tossed in olive oil, with salt, pepper, taco seasoning, and smoked paprika. Roast at 450 for 30 minutes, stirring once halfway.
• On top, we added black beans and diced avocado, plus a generous amount of cilantro dressing.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing (based on this recipe)

• 1 c. chopped cilantro, loosely packed
• 1/2 c. plain yogurt (we used goat’s milk yogurt, but you could use coconut milk yogurt and omit the sweetener)
• Juice of 1/2 lime, more if you like it tart
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. white wine vinegar
• 1/8 tsp.. salt
• 1/2 tsp. sweetener of choice (we used succinct, but sugar, honey, agave… all good)
• Dash of cayenne

Add all of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. The garlic flavor will intensify over the next few days.

 

Let’s Pretend It’s Warm and Sunny Salad

I know, I know. Everyone and their mom is posting salads and other healthy recipes. New year! Diet! Christmas makes you fat! Blah, blah, blah…

This salad is actually my attempt at pretending like it isn’t 21 degrees and snowing outside right now. The snow is very pretty, but COLD.

So cold.

Today is supposed to be one of the warmest days this week too. WHAT?!

So in my attempt to fight the (winter) powers that be, what could be better than a bright salad full of citrus fruit and avocados, which are pretty much the epitome of sunshine?!

A vacation to somewhere warm, but that’s not going to happen any time soon, so… salad it is!

Note: Since Josh isn’t really working from the office this week, I didn’t have to worry about assembling this salad ahead of time. The only prep I did was peeling and slicing all of the fruit and putting them in separate containers in the fridge. Makes assembly even easier.

Let’s Pretend It’s Warm and Sunny Salad (adapted from this recipe)

• Citrus fruit of your choice, peeled and sliced (I used pomelo and blood oranges)
• Mixed greens
• Handful of cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 an avocado, sliced
• Small handful of sunflower seeds
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Toss together the salad greens and cilantro in a mixing bowl with the lemon juice, olive oil, and some salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Place the dressed greens onto a plate and top with your citrus and sliced avocado. Sprinkle on your sunflower seeds and pomegranate, and add an extra dash of salt and pepper.

Eat and laugh at the snow outside.

You win.

Chicken and Cabbage Salad With Lime and Mint

A good salad should have a ton of textures and flavors, and this one fits the bill. We’ve been making this salad for years, and it might have been the one to convince Josh that a salad could indeed be a satisfying meal. That was a big deal.

Huge.

Basically, this is the salad that started our meal plans on the journey to what they’ve become now.

Thank you, salad.

Chicken and Cabbage Salad With Lime and Mint- Serves 4

• 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken
• 1/2 head of red cabbage, shredded
• 1 head of leafy green lettuce, chopped
• 1 carrot, sliced into batons
• 1 small jicama, sliced into batons
• 1 small cucumber, sliced into batons
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• Handful of fresh mint, roughly chopped

Dressing

• Juice of 2 limes
• 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 c olive oil
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Salt to taste

Assemble the salad ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate container, mix together the dressing.

Dress the salad right before serving, and toss well.

 

 

 

Summer Succotash Salad

After consuming a primarily carb and sodium laden diet while in Hawaii, I was determined that we would tackle a mostly vegetable based diet for a while after returning home. Withdrawals will (and have) inevitably followed, but this salad, full of some of my favorite summer vegetables, definitely helped me power through those SPAM cravings. Those are intense. I couldn’t find any fresh lime/fava beans, so I wound up using frozen baby lima beans, and it was delicious. I’ve used frozen edamame in the past for equally positive results, so feel free to switch things around to your liking. I used crumbled goat cheese in place of the feta, and went heavy handed on the lemon juice to brighten the flavors, but the beauty of this recipe really lies in just how simple and fresh it is. Succotash Salad (recipe from the Kitchn)

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen beans (lima, edamame, fava, etc), cooked al dente
• Kernels from 4 ears of corn
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1-2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 c feta (or goat) cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 c basil, sliced in chiffonade
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and a small pinch of salt and cook, stirring, over medium heat until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat, add the beans and corn and stir over medium-low heat for about 1 minute, until tender but still crisp. Transfer cooked ingredients to a large bowl and toss with the tomatoes and lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice/salt if necessary. Serve immediately with the feta, basil and black pepper sprinkled on top, or let the mixture cool, then top with the feta, basil and black pepper.

Awesome Beet and Green Bean Salad

In the favorite salad hierarchy, this one is definitely near the top of the list. Sometimes we forget about it for a few months, and then have a “duh” moment when we remember just how good it is. Salad greens, radicchio, roasted beets, crunchy green beans, creamy chickpeas, a little ricotta salata (for me), all tossed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette just makes for extreme lunch happiness.

Awesome Salad (original recipe here)

• 5 ounces of mixed greens (6-8 loosely packed cups)
• 1 small head radicchio, roughly chopped
• 20 green beans
• 2 medium beets (we’ve used both golden and red. It’s delicious either way)
• 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup ricotta salata, crumbled/shaved

Balsamic Vinaigrette 

• 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 c balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• Salt and pepper to taste

To assemble:

Preheat oven to 375. Wash the beets, drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap individually in aluminum foil, and place directly on the oven rack. Roast for 40 minutes to an hour, until tender. Let cool, peel, and chop into small pieces.

Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute. Immediately drain and place in the ice water until cool. Drain. Chop into small pieces.

Add all of the vinaigrette ingredients to  a jar and shake well to combine. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Combine all of the salad ingredients, minus the cheese, in a large bowl mix well. Pour vinaigrette over and toss well. Top with crumbled ricotta and serve.

 

Roasted Vegetable and Hummus Mix It Up Salad

I kind of think of this salad as the “choose your own adventure” salad. The basic formula can be altered to suit our mood or the season easily, but it’s always delicious. We got the inspiration from this post, and it has quickly become a favorite. I love that each bite can be so different, depending on which of the elements I combine on my fork. Plus, I love how bright and fresh it looks! No sad desk lunch here.

Here’s our basic formula, with our choices this week:

• One batch of hummus, typically roasted red pepper and paprika hummus
• 1 batch of roasted chopped vegetables (squash, zucchini, and carrots this round), tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever spices you choose (smoked paprika!), roasted at 375 for 20-30 minutes
• 1 batch of quinoa, cooked using this method, with salt, lemon zest, and dried herbs added before cooking, then tossed well in lemon juice and olive oil after cooking
• 1 handful of arugula, dressed lightly with lemon juice
• 1 handful of marinated olives and roasted tomatoes from the Whole Foods olive bar

Feel free to switch things out as much as you’d like! There really is no going wrong here.

 

 

Italian Sub Chopped Salad

While some weeks I love a nice and light salad, some weeks I want something that can fill me up until I feel like I’m gonna pop.

This is a hearty salad. Nothing dainty here. I’m not going to claim that it’s the healthiest salad, but it is delicious. Delicious is good because we’ve both been battling summer colds this week and haven’t had much in the way of appetites, but I’ve still looked forward to this lunch every day.

Summer colds are the worst.

I first saw this recipe on Smitten Kitchen, and tweaked it to suit our tastes. Feel free to do the same!

Italian Chopped Salad (mildly adapted from here)

Oregano dressing

• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• Splash of pepperoncini juice

Salad

• 1 head of romaine lettuce, shredded into thin ribbons
• 1 head radicchio, quartered, cored and shredded into thin ribbons
• 1 and 1/2 cups canned or cooked chickpeas, drained
• 1/2 pound white cheese, cut into small cubes (provolone is recommended, but I used monterey jack because it was cheaper)
• 1/2 pound salami, cut into small pieces
• 8 pickled pepperoncini, sliced into rings
• 1 pound cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• Small handful of chopped kalamata olives

Mix together your dressing and set aside. Assemble your salad and dress to taste.

Strawberry and Roasted Chickpea Salad

Sorry for three strawberry related photos in a row. I am REALLY excited about them.

This salad has become my official “thank goodness it’s finally summer!” salad. I’ve been waiting (not so) patiently for strawberries to arrive at our farmers market and they finally came! I might have made happy squeals. Who’s to say?

The sweet/tart flavor of the strawberries goes so well with chickpeas that have been tossed in lemon juice and roasted for about half an hour, until golden and slightly crunchy. The chickpeas also serve to make the salad substantial enough to serve as a meal as opposed to a pretty side (some quinoa would be another good option to bulk up the salad if you tossed it in a lot of lemon juice while still warm).

Last weekend, after flipping through The Flavor Bible, I noticed that cinnamon is listed as complementary to both lemons and strawberries. I decided to add a little to the dressing and I really like the subtle earthy and spicy flavor it brought. I’m now wondering if next time I might toss a little cinnamon on the chickpeas before roasting as well? Or I might flip through the book again and see what other flavors jump out at me.

You could easily add some goat cheese and almonds to this salad and kick it up another notch, but we keep it pretty simple.

Strawberry and Roasted Chickpea Salad (modified from this recipe)

Serves 4

• 1 pint quartered strawberries
• 4+ cups of mixed greens
• Roasted chickpeas (below)
• Lemon dressing (below)

Assemble your salad and dress to you preference. Pretend that you aren’t sitting at your desk. Just me?

Roasted Chickpeas

• 3 cups of chickpeas- either canned or cooked using my favorite method
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350. On a foil lined baking sheet, combine the chickpeas, olive oil, half of the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well to make sure the chickpeas are completely coated. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir well. Bake for another 15 minutes, and then add the other half of the lemon juice and stir to combine. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until as golden as you prefer.

Let cool completely. Try not to eat by the handful.

Lemon Dressing

• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 2 tsp honey
• Salt to taste
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon (optional, but suggested!)

Combine all and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning/honey accordingly. I like mine very tart.

Semi Greek Salad

 

We have grown to love a big hearty salad every day for lunch. It helps us know that we’re getting a portion of our vegetables for the day out of the way, plus they tend to look so bright and happy, even when eaten at a desk in front of the computer (hello, life).

This salad is always a fun one, since we can mix up the toppings as we see fit. Feel free to pick, choose, and swap to your heart’s content. The main “Greek” part of it is the dressing, hence the “semi” in the title. I make no further claims as to the authenticity of the final product. It has oregano? That’s all I’ve got.

No more sad lunches!

Semi Greek Salad- Serves 4 (original recipe here)

• Salad greens
• 1/2 head of broccoli, stem and florets chopped into bite sized pieces
• 2 cups chickpeas, either canned or cooked
• A nice mix of olives and sun dried tomatoes (we grabbed ours off the Whole Foods antipasti bar), about 2 handfuls
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked with salt and a generous pinch of dried oregano, and tossed with lemon juice and olive oil

Dressing

• ½ cup quality olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon whole grain dijon mustard
• ¾ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 tsp honey

Whisk together the dressing. Assemble the salad and dress to taste.

If you’re taking the salad with you for later, simply keep the dressing in a separate container and dress the salad right before you want to eat.