It’s Valentine’s today, and if you want to make something a little lighter and healthier for your special person this salad is perfect. It’s also quick and easy. I prefer to use pink grapefruit as its less sharp than regular ones.
I have shown the quantities for 2 people. It makes a great lunch dish served with wheaten bread, or reduce the quantities for a refreshing starter.
Serves 2
Ingredients
2-3 Handfuls of rocket or mixed salad leaves
1 Pink Grapefruit (cut into segments), and juice set to one side)
1 Avocado (sliced or cubed)
250 Grams Frozen prawns (thawed)
2 Spring onions/scallions (finely sliced)
1 Tbsp Olive or rapeseed oil
Method
Add the salad leaves to a large bowl and drizzle with oil and the remaining grapefruit juice and mix well
Divide the salad leaves between 2 plates
Scatter the rest of the ingredients across the ingredients and enjoy.
Sometimes random things pop up on your social media feed and this was the “Friends” salad, apparently the female cast members all ate the same thing every day for lunch for 10 years.
I followed the recipe provided by icecreamandneondreams.com and I have to say it’s very tasty (maybe not eating it every day for 10 years), but definitely worth including in your salad or lunch dish rotation.
Needless to say its very healthy with plenty of fibre and protein and full of lovely flavours that compliment each other. Like any salad you can play with the ratio of ingredients depending on your taste
The original salad doesn’t have any dressing, but you can also add some olive oil and lemon juice if you think it needs it.
Ingredients
250 Grams Bulgar Wheat (dry weight cook according the instructions on the packet)
1 Large or 2 small Cucumbers
400 Gram Tin of Chick Peas
1 Small red onion (finely sliced)
200 Grams Feta Cheese (crumbled)
50 Grams Shelled Pistachios
2 Tbsp. Fresh mint (chopped), or 2 tsp dried mint
2 Tbsp. Parsley (chopped)
Method
Cook the bulgar wheat according to the instructions on the packet and allow to cool
Cut the cucumber in half lengthways and scoop out and discard the watery seeds on the middle. Cut each half in half again and slice into 1 cm slices (you can make them chunkier if you prefer)
Drain the chick peas and add to a large bowl along with all the other ingredients and mix well. Have a taste and add some salt and pepper if you the salad needs it
I have been over indulging lately and my body was crying out for something healthy and delicious. I love this salad, its packed with colour, texture and flavour and is full of protein.
Barley is a much underrated ingredient and used mostly in soup and stews, but is also amazing in risottos and salads.
This salad is substantial enough to eat on its own but is also fantastic as a side dish or part of a mezze, or in a wrap. This will in fridge in an airtight box for 2-3 days.
Ingredients
75 Grams Barley (dry weight)
100 Grams Radishes (finely sliced)
2 Scallions/spring onions (finely sliced)
50 Grams Almonds (rough chopped)
2Tbsp Pumkin seeds
50 Grams Pomegranate seeds
100 Grams Feta (crumbled into junks)
2 Tbsp Mint (finely sliced)
1 Tbsp Coriander (finely sliced, you can use parsley if you don’t like coriander)
For the dressing
2 Tbsp Olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Cook the barley according to the instructions on the packet. Lightly oil a shallow baking tray and spread the cooked barley across it to cool
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl, add the dressing and stir well
I’m guilty of falling into food ruts, making the same thing or using the same ingredients. The great thing about Summer is that so many gorgeous vegetables like broad beans come into season.
Yes it is a bit more fiddley to shell the beans, but it’s a good job to do while chatting in the phone or even better if you have kids, little fingers are made for jobs like this.
As a kid I wasn’t a fan of broad beans. I’d only ever had them with the tough whitish green slightly bitter layer left on and boiled to within an inch of their life. Fast forward and while visiting a friend her Mum made this dish. With the outer layer removed the beans are sweet and tender. Add a mint dressing and you have a really light Summery salad. This is also great in wraps and sandwiches.
It’s really worth taking the time to peel the outer coating.
Ingredients
1Kg Grams Broad beans in pods
2 Tbsp Oil (I used rapeseed oil, but any neutral tasting oil will do)
1 Tbsp White wine or cider vinegar
2 Tbsp Fresh mint (finely chopped) or 1 Tbsp dried mint
Method
Remove the broad beans from their pods, and then peel off the whitish outer coating. This will show the tender green bean inside, gently pull the two halves apart
Once you have shelled all the beans, blanche in boiling water for 1 minute and then transfer quickly to a bowl of cold water (this will help keep them bright green
Add your oil, vinegar and mint to a large bowl and stir, add the beans and make sure they are well coated
Season with salt and pepper if you feel it needs it
People still argue about if super foods actually exist. Regardless of this, everything in this salad is good for you, and tastes delicious.
It’s packed full of protein, flavour and different tastes and texture. I enjoy this with hummus, (so ideal for vegans and vegetarians). It’s also great in wraps with holoumi or as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish.
Ingredients
For the salad
50 Grams Endamame beans (I used frozen ones that I thawed)
100 Grams Quinoa (dried weight), cook as instructed on the packet
50 Grams Almonds (toasted and chopped)
2 handfuls Rocket/Arugula (or other peppery salad leaf)
1 large Carrot (grated)
1 Red pepper (cut in into 1cm chuncks)
400 Gram Tin of cannellini beans (use what ever type of beans you like, just drain them first)
2 Tbsp Pumpkin seeds
1 Large avocado (chopped)
Juice of one lime
For the dressing
2 Tbsp Olive oil
Zest and juice of 2 limes
2 Tbsp Corriander (chopped, you can use other herbs like mint or parsley if prefer)
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Cook the quinoa as instructed on the packet and allow to cool
In a dry frying pan, toast the almonds and allow to cool before chopping (you don’t need to do this but it really does help improve the flavour)
Chop the avocado and cover with the juice of one of the limes to prevent it from discolouring
Add all the salad ingredients (except the rocket) to a bowl and mix well
Add the dressing and check the seasoning, mix in the rocket just before serving
Like a lot of people I’m prone to getting stuck in food ruts. You buy the same thing every week, and you cook the same thing all the time, it’s easy but it is boring.
I started getting vegetable box deliveries and sometime I choose an option that’s a bit of a luck dip so that I’m forced to make something different, and you’re forced to work with new ingredients. (This week’s box came with a packet of sauerkraut!, but that’s a whole other recipe).
I had been over indulging in the “pure filth” recipes lately and wanted to feel I was eating something good for me for a change. So with a box full of lovely colourful ingredients I made this fresh crunchy salad with a dressing made with creamy tahini, tangy ginger and a little bit of chilli heat. I like to sprinkle it with nuts, for extra protein.
This is a great vegan dish ( I eat big bowls of this on its own), but is also a great side dish. I used the vegetables I had in a vegetable box, but the beautiful thing about this is that you can adapt the vegetables depending on availability and what’s in season.
Do yourself some good and enjoy a delicious crunchy multi-coloured big bowl of fibre and vitamins.
Ingredients
2 Carrots (grated)
1/2 Red pepper (finely sliced)
1 Large gold beetroot (grated)
2-3 Radishes (finely sliced)
4-5 Stalks of Rainbow chard (finely sliced)
1 Small Celeriac (grated)
For the dressing
1 Red chilli (finely sliced)
2 inch piece of ginger (grated)
3 Tbsp Tahini
Juice of one lemon
Method
I was lazy and used a food processor to grate many of the ingredients. If you don’t have one a box grater does the same job, it will just take a little longer
If you’re using celeriac make sure to cover this with the lemon juice as soon as you grate it to prevent it from discolouring
Combine all your ingredients in a bowl (once you have grated or sliced your vegetables).
In a separate bowl add the dressing ingredients and mix well. You want to add a little water to loosen the dressing, depending on how thick your tahini is.
Add the dressing to the salad and mix thoroughly
Top with walnuts, or toasted cashews or pine nuts also work well.
I have vegetarian friends who scream at the thought of this, because it’s often the only vegetarian option available in restaurants.
I do sympathise, but done well there is a reason why some things are classics I understand that goats cheese is like kryptonite for some people, so I went with a really creamy soft cheese (that wasn’t too “goaty”), but this also works well cheeses like Gorgonzola.
Do you think you’re not keen on beetroot, I was an adult before I actually discovered that I liked it. I was put off by being made to try disgusting pickled beetroot as a child, and having horrible purple vinegar run into the other food on my plate. I’m probably over sharing my personal childhood trauma, but I know a lot of people have been put off for the same reason. When roasted, beetroot is sweet and earthy and goes really well with the soft cheese. I was lucky enough to get little beetroots in my farm box ranging in colour from gold, pink to deep purple, the range of colour is nice but they all taste the same, so give them a go.
Ingredients
150 Grams Soft goats cheese
200 Grams Roasted beetroot
200 Grams Salad leaves (I used rainbow chard, but use what you like)
25 Grams Walnut (Optional, I actually for forgot to add these, but they add some extra crunch to your salad)
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 Tbsp White wine vinegar
Method
Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees, wrap your beetroot in tin foil and place on a baking try. Bake until you can stick with a knife into the beetroot and an its soft. Set to one side and allow to cool, remove the skin with a knife, and cut into bite size pieces
Spread your washed salad leaves across a platter, top with the beetroot
Scoop teaspoon sized dollops of the cheese across the platter and sprinkle with walnuts if you are using them
Mix the oil and vinegar together and drizzle over the salad and serve immediately
If you’re wondering what remoulade is, the best way to describe it is a fresher, less gloopy, fancier version of coleslaw.
I’m trying to support local businesses and keep my food miles down (so I don’t feel guilty about my travel miles). So I ordered a vegetable box from a local farm. The vegetables were great, but in the middle of the box was celeriac. I had eaten it before but had never cooked with it.
It may not be pretty but it tastes great.
I decided to make remoulade, because it’s a fantastic Summer dish. This is perfect with barbecued meats, but also goes really well with fish. For vegetarians it’s a great addition to salad bowls to add some tang and texture, I also like to use it sandwiches as alternative to coleslaw. This is quick and easy to make, and will in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Great with barbecued meat or fish.
Ingredients
200 Grams Celeriac (roughly grated)
1 Large apple (roughly grated with skin left on)
Juice of half a lemon
1 Tbsp Grain mustard
3 Tbsp Mayonnaise
Method
Remove the course outer skin of the celariac, and grate along with apple before adding to a bowl
Cover the celeriac and apple with the lemon juice.
Stir in the mustard and mayonnaise until thoroughly combined, refrigerate if not eating immediately
This is the perfect salad for people who think they don’t like salads.
What makes it so good is the ranch dressing. I’m warning everyone in advance, this isn’t a salad for the diet conscious. Ranch dressing is rich and creamy and makes just about anything taste fantastic. It’s doubles as a dip, and is also fantastic in sandwiches with tortilla chips, chicken wings, or if you’re one of those people who like to dip their pizza, (FYI the Italians are horrified by this and have threatened to take pizza back if the rest of the world doesn’t behave itself. I won’t tell them if you don’t).
The salad hits all the bases, soft chicken, crispy salty bacon, sweet cherry tomatoes, and a rich creamy dressing. You can always use the shop bought ranch dressing if you don’t have time or the ingredients, but do yourself a favour and give it a try. This is great for anyone following low carb or gluten free diet.
Serves 2
Ingredients
For the salad
2 Cooked chicken breasts or chicken thighs (shredded or cut into cubes)
4 Rashers of streaky bacon (cooked until crispy and cut or crumbled into 2cm strips)
2-3 Scallions/spring onions (finely chopped)
Handful of cherry tomatoes (halved)
2 Handfuls of salad leaves
For the dressing
2 Tbsp Mayonaise (I use shop bought)
2 Tbsp Sour Cream
1/2 Tsp dried dill
1 Tsp Chopped parsley (or 1/2 tsp dried parsley)
1/2 Garlic powder
1 Tbsp Lemon juice/ or 1/2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Milk to loosen the dressing to the consistency you like (for people following a keto diet they can use cream)
In a jar with a lid, add all the dressing ingredients except the milk/cream. Check the flavour and add salt and pepper if you think it needs it.
When you are happy with the seasoning add a little milk/cream to loosen the mixture and shake the jar. Check the consistency, and add more milk/cream if you want a runnier dressing
Combine all your salad ingredients and drizzle with the dressing before serving
The dressing will keep quite happily in a sealed jar in your fridge for 4-5 days
I never thought I would say it, but after weeks stuck at home. I was finally fed up with carbs.
The antidote was a quick and easy salad. I used tinned crab meat because it was what I had, but fresh or frozen would also work.
Like most salads, use what you have or what you like, I added nectarine because it’s what I had, but mango but would be great too. Lemon and tahini are great in dressings. I usually add garlic to this dressing mix, but left it out this time so that it wouldn’t overwhelm the delicate crab flavour. Fresh herbs like parsley or corriander would be great in this salad too.
Mix colours and textures
Ingredients
Serves 2
1 Carrot (grated)
50 Grams Endame beans (frozen)
6 Radishes (sliced)
1/2 Avocado (cubed)
1 Nectarine (cubed)
145 Gran Tin of crab meat
2 Handfuls of rocket or other salad leaves.
For the dressing
1Tbsp Tahini
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tbsp Rapeseed oil
Salt and pepper
Method
Add the tahini, oil, and lemon juice to a bowl. Mix well and season with sat and pepper, loosen with a little water if it’s too thick
Combine all the salad ingredients in large bowl, add the dressing and serve with crusty bread
Seaneen's Sunnyside Kitchen 