Have you ever heard someone say they don't like reading? Many suggest that a person who doesn't like reading just hasn't read the right book (and obviously hasn't read Harry Potter). I think this concept applies to salads as well. People may picture a salad as iceberg lettuce with tomatoes and globs of ranch dressing, which to me does not sound like something I would want to eat. Other people may eat salads even if they don't like the taste because they think salads are healthy, and get into a rut of eating plain, sad salads.
Salads can be a great way to get in vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and other important things to fuel your body. However, salads do not to be boring, and do not need to feel like a chore to eat. One great thing about salads is that they are customizable, so you can add in your favorite things and omit things you don't care for. I have decided to share with you a recipe for a salad that I really like, and that can be easily customized to fit your tastes.
Fruit and Nut Salad
Serves 2
Ingredients:
4 cups uncooked spinach
2 cups arugula
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup almonds
2 medium mandarin oranges
1 avocado
1/3 cup grated parmesan or shredded mozzarella
3 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
Pepper
Start by washing the spinach and arugula. Use a salad spinner or towels to dry the greens and get rid of excess moisture. Put the greens in a large bowl.
Chop up the cashews and almonds into small pieces. Peel the mandarin oranges and avocado, then cut both into bite size pieces. Use a cheese grater to grate a block of parmesan cheese (you can also use pre-shredded mozzarella). Put these all into the bowl.
In a small dish, mix the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add pepper to taste ( I like a lot of pepper, so I used 6 grinds on a pepper grinder).
Pour the dressing over the salad and mix so the dressing covers the entire salad. The salad is best if eaten right away. I enjoyed this salad with a side of warm Tandoori naan bread.
I also have a few variations that can help customize this salad to your liking. If oranges are not in season or expensive at the store, strawberries or blueberries are great substitutes. You can change up the cheese to get some different flavors. For a little kick, use pepper jack cheese. You can also opt for a crumblier cheese, such as feta. It's also easy to switch up the dressing, using a different homemade or store-bought version. There are other variations beyond this, so feel free to experiment on your own and let us know what you try!
Have a great hump day!
-t
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