Salads

Black Bean Salad With Citrus Dressing

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I like to serve this as a side dish to many of my mexican main dish favorites.

Ingredients:

2 cans black beans
1 can corn
8 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved or diced
1/3 c. red onion, chopped
3/4 c. loosely packed cilantro, stems removed
1 avocado, chopped

Dressing:

juice of 1 orange
juice of 1 1/2 limes
1/4 t. cumin
1/2 t. agave or honey
1/8 t. salt

Directions:

1.  Mix all ingredients except avocado.
2.  Mix the dressing ingredients and pour over salad and toss.
3.  Chop and add the avocado right before serving.

Source:  adapted from the gardengrazer.com

Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw

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A little sweet, a little creamy and a little tangy (with a little kick for good measure).

Ingredients:

1 large cabbage, cut into thirds and core removed
2 large peeled carrots
1/2 medium sweet onion
1/3 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. spicy brown mustard
2 T. dijon mustard
2 t. apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. black pepper
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. salt

Directions:

1.  Cut two of the cabbage thirds, onion and carrots into large chunks and place in a 12 cup food processor.  (Note:  If you do not have a food processor you can shred the cabbage and carrots by hand.  It will take longer but taste just as good!)

2.  Pulse in food processor until carrots and cabbage are both chopped into small pieces.

3.  Chop remaining cabbage into larger pieces.  Blend all cabbage together in a large bowl.

4.  Whisk together mayonnaise, mustards, vinegar, sugar, peppers, and salt in small bowl until smooth.  Add more or less cayenne to taste.

5.  Pour dressing over cabbage mixture.

6.  Mix well until all cabbage is well coated.  Refrigerate at least one hour to let flavors blend.

Source:  www.livingwellspendingless.com

Mediterranean Inspired Orzo Salad

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 So, in April I went to Utah to surprise my sister for her 30th Birthday. Her husband then surprised us all by taking us by limousine to The Roof Restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. They had a salad there that was made with Israeli couscous and was full of Mediterranean flavors. I was determined to re-create it at home. I searched high and low for Israeli couscous, but when I turned up empty handed, I decided to just use orzo past, which I love.
It is a simple pasta salad using my Greek Style Vinaigrette.

Ingredients: 
1 C. orzo pasta
1/3 C. pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped (about 10 olives)
1/3 C. crumbled feta cheese
1-2 Tbsp. fresh chopped dill
Salt and Pepper if needed 
Directions:
Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. 
Chop Kalamata olives
Chop dill
Place orzo in a bowl, add olives, feta cheese, dill and dressing. Toss to coat. Adjust dressing or S&P according to taste. 
You could easily add whatever other ingredients you want. Chopped spinach, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts would be great additions. 
And, if you are lucky enough, you could try it with Israeli couscous. 

 

Spinach Chopped Salad

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Ever since my sister posted this recipe two years ago, I’ve been in love with chopped salads.  I’ve followed recipes and also just played around with putting together my own favorite ingredients.  It always seems to turn out great.  I came across this recipe the other day and thought I would try and share.

P.S.  I also like to eat chopped salads with a big spoon instead of a fork!  Much, much easier.

Ingredients:
8 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
1/2 cup kernel corn
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 large avocado, sliced and diced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Dressing:
3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. Dijon or Dusseldorf mustard
salt and pepper to taste

1.  Combine all salad ingredients in a very large bowl.
2.  Combine dressing ingredients and whisk together.  Pour over salad, a little at a time, and toss.  Serve.

You may not use all the dressing; it just depends on your taste.  Also, if the dressing has too much tang for you, add a little sugar to it.  Taste it first before you dress the salad.

Source:  Recipe Girl

Cabbage and Kale Salad

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So, there is this salad mix that you can get from Costco. I decided I would attempt my own version.

Really easy, super crisp, sweet and tangy. There aren’t any measurements, just make as much or as little as you want.

Cabbage and Kale Salad

Green cabbage (red as well, if you choose)
Kale
dried cranberries
pumpkin seed kernels
Brianna’s Poppy Seed dressing

Wash and finely chop the cabbage.
Wash, remove ribs and roughly chop the kale.
Lightly toast the pumpkin kernels in a skillet
Add everything to a bowl. Pour some dressing over top. Toss it all together.

Corn & Black Bean Veggie Salad

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I was craving some fresh veggies and remembered that I had this recipe I wanted to try. So,  I made this salad, took two kids to soccer practice, came home ready to dig into it and the two kiddos I left at home with their dad had finished off the salad! They all said they loved it and asked if I  could make some more! Well, if I expected to get any of the salad I needed to make some more! LOL!  This is delicious! We ate it as a side dish to pork chops, and we ate it with tortilla chips. All good!

Salad:
2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans of corn, drained and rinsed
1 large tomato, chopped
1 small onion, yellow or red, diced fine
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 -2 large cucumbers, peeled and chopped

Dressing:
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 TBSP. white granulated sugar
4 TBSP. apple cider vinegar
4 TBSP. canola oil
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
3/4tsp. cumin powder

In a large bowl, add all of the Salad ingredients and stir well.
In a separate bowl, add all of the Dressing ingredients and whisk well until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
Pour the dressing over the salad and stir really well.
Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes at least. 
Serve as a side dish or with tortilla chips.

Adapted from a recipe in Taste of Home.

Longhorn’s Strawberry Salad [Knock-Off]

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Let me tell you how tasty this salad is. It is SO GOOD. My mom and I love to get ideas for salads from restaurants we enjoy. A while ago we were at Longhorns – and we both had this salad. Ever since then – it has been a regular in my (and her) home. It’s so easy to make too!


Lonhorn’s Strawberry Salad [Knock-Off]

Ingredients
Mixed field greens
Strawberries
Blueberries (the original has grapes, I use grapes in the winter)
Mandarin Oranges (canned)
Candied Pecans… look at your grocery store, they sell them!
Feta Cheese
Marie’s Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Directions
I usually make this by individual bowls to insure everyone gets all the goods.
– Start at the top of the ingredient list and toss ingredients in. Let the amount lessen as you go along the list.
– Enjoy!

Greek Style Vinaigrette

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 I originally found this recipe about 6 years ago, here.
I was pregnant at the time and had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Therefore, I eliminated the orzo and just made the salad. Now, it has become one of my favorite dressings. I make a batch and use it throughout the week. I love to use spinach, feta, kalamata olives and cucumber. You can also add tomatoes, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, or whatever suits your fancy. I also add chicken to make it a meal.

Greek Style Vinaigrette
3 T. lemon juice
1 T. red wine vinegar
2 T. honey
1/2 t. oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. freshly cracked black pepper
1 t. lemon zest (optional-but I always add it-so yummy)
1/3 c. olive oil

Combine first eight ingredients in bowl or mason jar. Add oil and emulsify! Shake before using because the honey settles on the bottom if not fully incorporated.

Cowboy Caviar

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I love my summer garden, and Cowboy Caviar is one of my favorite recipes that I make from the delicious goodies I get from it. I make huge bowls of this at a time. I’ve even lost a few pounds while eating this all week. Delicious and healthy!



Cowboy Caviar


Here is the original recipe I had:

1 15 oz can of black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/4 cup diced red or orange sweet pepper
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP cider vinegar
1 or 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
dash of salt
2 cloves garlic, minced

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Here’s how I really make it:

1. Go out to the garden and pick a bunch of vegetables – cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers (green, red, yellow, orange), banana peppers, jalapenos, vidalia onions, fresh garlic, etc.

2. Bring them in the house and wash them, then start chopping them up and put them in a bowl. 

3. Add some olive oil, black pepper, a little salt, plenty of apple cider vinegar, and a can or two of drained black-eyed peas. You can throw in chopped avocado, fresh cut corn, fresh parsley, or anything else that makes you happy.

4. If you can, let it sit for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before devouring it. The longer it sits, the stronger the vinegar flavor becomes, which I love. Enjoy with tortilla chips or your favorite crackers.

Source: Someone made this at a church activity many years ago, and I have been making my own version ever since.