Superfood Salad
Happy humpday! I’ve got a new favorite no-lettuce salad creation to brighten up your week. Bonus: It’s super quick and easy to put together if you use all pre-prepped produce from Trader Joe’s!
A highlight of our week: getting to catch up with our friends Michele and Dave! We’ve known them since the Valdosta days, and were so excited that they made a trip up here to San Diego. We met up with them + our friend Adam for dinner at Prepkitchen in Little Italy.
We shared some appetizers (cheese board, bacon-wrapped dates) and I rolled with the chicken for my entree. It was served with a sweet potato gratin that I’m determined to replicate soon. While the food was good, the best part was catching up with everyone. I love when you can pick right up where you left off. 🙂 After dinner, we headed down to Whiskey House, which we’d never checked out. The boys were in whiskey heaven.
It always makes my heart so happy to see this girl. It’s hard to believe that we first met for a puppy play date at the dog park, and now our human kiddos are also friends.
No Lettuce Salad
This morning, we’re all off to play at the beach, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my latest salad obsession with you guys!
I finally determined the cause of my salad rut: I’m kind of sick of lettuce. I know, minor salad details.
I prefer my salads to have an equal lettuce-to-toppings ratio, so when I’m out of toppings, we’re done here. This is my #1 restaurant salad frustration: I don’t need to pay $13 for a bag of lettuce with paltry toppings. Save some of the lettuce and please just make it worth my while.
At least put some cheese or really delicious dressing on there….
Or even throw in a few dried cranberries. I won’t be mad.
I’m always looking for ways to switch up the salad rotation, and shaved Brussels sprouts work well for a no lettuce salad creation. They add a distinct flavor and texture, plus an awesome dose of nutrients.
Here’s the combo for my current favorite salad, which will last in the fridge for up to 5 days. It makes 4-6 very generous servings and tastes amazing. The tangy goat cheese with sweet cranberries, hearty brown rice, and vibrant vinaigrette make it a satisfying lunch or dinner option. I like to enjoy mine with some sliced chicken, or out of the storage container standing in front of the fridge. 😉
Let me know if you give it a try!
(aka one of the easiest salads you will ever make using a lot of pre-made Trader Joe’s ingredients)
Superfood Salad
Ingredients
For the salad
- 10.5 oz cooked brown rice (I use the 60 second pack from Trader Joe’s)
- 8 oz steamed and peeled baby beets, chopped
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts, washed, outer leaves removed, and thinly sliced
- 1/4–1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup feta, crumbled
- 1//4 cup chopped almonds
For the dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (if you don’t like your dressing as tangy, use 2/3 cup olive oil and 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar)
- 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients and season well with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk the dressing together. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
- Pour the dressing onto the salad, and stir to mix well.
Enjoy!! This salad is even better the next day, which makes in an awesome meal prep lunch.
xoxo
Gina
More of my favorite salad recipes here, here, here, here and here.
32 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Can’t wait to make this salad!!!! It definitely speaks to my heart!! And I love how you and your friend Michelle are wearing the same Torys!!! <3 happy Wednesday, enjoy the beach!!
let me know what you think! it’s definitely my new fave 🙂
haha thank you! happy wednesday
This salad is right up my alley. I love salads with lots of toppings too. I am obsessed with beets and brussel sprouts so I can’t wait to try this!!
yay, hope you love it!
I need to make these except minus the beets. I can only eat them if they’re cooked! Isn’t that Trader Joe’s rice a life savior?
he trader joe’s beets are steamed!
and YES. i love it
This. Is. Everything.
So looking forward to my next round of food prep. Thanks for sharing Gina! <3
yap let me know what you think!
Eating it now for lunch and just had to let you know how much I love it!
I will be making this again (and again and again!).
Thanks for helping make prepping and eating healthy easier.
YESSSS 🙂 so so awesome
brilliant…thanks!
<3
I’ve been obsessed with shaved brussels in salad lately! And that dressing sounds great, too.
I noticed you and Michele have the same taste in sandals!! 😉
yes, they’re so good!
haha sandal twinsies 🙂
xoxo
i’ve been the SAME way with salads lately! i love the way eating a lot of raw veg makes me feel, but then i’ll plate a huge salad (normal for me), and a few bits in- i’ll actually start feeling nauseous! i’ve been eating a lot of raw sliced veggies instead with salsa or hummus, and plating a small side salad infront of me and occasionally taking a few bites/
i’ve been loving almonds in salads lately, and the throw everything in a bowl like this 🙂 even better that it gets better as it sits!
i’m the same way right now! so i’ve been trying to switch things up when i can 🙂
I totally remember Michele from the “dance trance” Tucson days!! 🙂 She looks great and so awesome y’alls girls are friends !
YES! such a fun time!!! wish our kiddos could all play together
Love this salad. Never thought of adding brussel sprouts, a definite fav of mine. Thank you for sharing. It is salad season! xo Lauren
let me know what you think!! xoxo
I just made it! Wish I could attach a picture here. It looks amazing! Can’t wait to serve it for dinner. Thank you for your awesome recipes, I’ve made so many lately.
AHHHH YAY! if you get a sec, would you please email it? i’d love to see! fitnessista at gmail 🙂 i hope you love it!
Yum! (& are you and Michele twinsies with your sandals?!?)
yes! haha. the best sandals!
Oh man, I had no idea you could eat Brussels sprouts raw. I mean, I have no idea why you couldn’t but I’ve never thought about it!
Just made this salad for lunch! It’s delish!
This recipe arrived right on time for me this week, and I’ve been eating it for lunch, dinner, and of course the inevitable standing-in-front-of-the-fridge-eating-right-outta-the-bowl adventures 🙂 So good, SO easy, and lasts! Thanks, G!
Looks great! If I plan to eat for lunch throughout the week do I still put the dressing on? Or just do that the day of?
Yummmmm just made this for lunches this week. I’m a teacher heading back to work after spring break and mom to an almost 11 month old boy…keep the quick and easy coming please!
This is delicious! Even my (meat-lover) husband liked it 😉 What a great variation – thanks for sharing!
so awesome! happy you guys enjoyed!
I made this for lunch today, soooo delicious! I’m tired of lettuce too. It reminds me of another one of my favorite salads, you should try it!
http://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/2014/09/kale-barley-and-feta-salad-with-a-honey-lemon-vinaigrette.html