topic Re: Healthy salads in Recipes

Healthy salads

nanny24 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:56:34 GMT

Hi Ladies...am trying to eat a lot more fresh veggies, and would like if you'd share some simple salad recipes. For example...I combine fresh broccoli, red onion sliced thin, mayo, red wine vinegar, S&P, and a little sugar. This is so good and healthy. I know....I am sparingly using the mayo! Another one that everyone knows about...sliced cucumbers with vinegar and S&P. I just want simple go-to-gethers. Thanks!

Re: Healthy salads

Harpa — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:07:06 GMT

Good for you!

I just try to have some protein in my salad, either a chicken tender that I'll grill in the George Foreman, or a hard boiled egg that I do in Henrietta Hen.

Lately, I've been eating just spinach, but any of the dark green leaves. I don't mix in a lot of other things. I just pile on those leaves!

Re: Healthy salads

nanny24 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:17:57 GMT

Yes, Harpa, I do that too, love spinach salad with the chicken tender and hard boiled egg. Kind of like a chef salad. But wanted to try something different. Thanks!

Re: Healthy salads

Chrystaltree2 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:27:00 GMT

Eating veggies doesn't come natural to me but in recent years, I have been eating more of them. I find that I do better with a vegetable soup than I do with salads. I don't do a lot of cooking but I try to make a big pot on sundays. I like simple salads. Sliced tomato, onion, think sliced cucumber with a vinagarette is something I have come to really like. Sometimes I add boiled egg to it to make it more of a meal.

<ul> <li class="ingredient first item-odd">2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onions or thinly sliced leeks (whites only)
1 cup thinly sliced celery
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juice
1 tablespoon tomato paste
8 cups mixed fresh or frozen vegetables, such as carrots, corn, green beans, lima beans, peas, potatoes, and zucchini (cut larger vegetables into smaller pieces)

Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions or leeks, celery, and Italian seasoning; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
Add broth, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, and 3 cups water to pot; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, 20 minutes.
Add vegetables to pot, and return to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Let cool before storing.

Re: Healthy salads

wagirl — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:28:55 GMT

I add different beans to my salad too. And instead of any creamy dressings, I use flavored vinegars instead. Brown rice vinegar is my fave right now. And if I have any whole grains --farrow, quinoa, brown rice, barley, I add some to it too. Then with the beans and grains, you have whole protein without using meats. Raw sunflower seeds are major power house add ins.

Harpa--I have Henrietta too

Re: Healthy salads

05gage25 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 17:20:16 GMT

I love romaine lettuce, baby spinach, fresh sliced strawberries, mandarin orange segments, thin sliced red onions, dried cranberries and walnuts drizzled with a lite raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Re: Healthy salads

Campion — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 17:33:49 GMT

Try thin sliced cucumber mixed with fresh dill, and dilute some Greek yogurt with a touch of vinegar and some mayo, add a dash of Ranch dressing mix and toss together. You can also use no fat sour cream.

I like cubes of iceberg lettuce (for the crunch) spinach, bell peppers (all colors), halved grape tomatoes, and cold boiled green beans, with home made vinaigrette (dash dijon mustard, wine vin, olive oil and some herbs, whipped with a whisk.) I might top it with a hard boiled egg or a cold boiled red potato or tuna.

Re: Healthy salads

redtabby — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:30:38 GMT

My favorite salad is composed of chopped romaine lettuce, cucumber cubes, red onion, avocado cubes, and diced carrots. No dressing - just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. I try for at least 3 colors in my salads.

Re: Healthy salads

nanny24 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 19:43:59 GMT

Thanks ladies, love the different combos. Going to give them a try!

Re: Healthy salads

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 21:50:28 GMT

My current favorite is grilled chicken on greens mixed with a chopped Apple, dried cranberries and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Re: Healthy salads

Anonymous2012 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 21:56:13 GMT

I've been mixing baby spring mix, crumbled goat cheese (trader joes), pear vinaigrette (trader joes) and glazed pecans.

Re: Healthy salads

Campion — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:26:47 GMT

On 3/12/2015 redtabby said: My favorite salad is composed of chopped romaine lettuce, cucumber cubes, red onion, avocado cubes, and diced carrots. No dressing - just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. I try for at least 3 colors in my salads.

That one is just yummy and yes, balsamic alone works fine. So does a dash of good wine vinegar.

Re: Healthy salads

the busy brunette — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:02:03 GMT

I've been making what I call a "summer salad" in the hopes that summer will get here fast. Here's what I use:

Chopped romaine and spring mix lettuce (I like the combo of lettuces)

Diced cucumber

Sliced strawberries

Sliced red onion

Dried cranberries

Walnuts

Diced apple

Blue cheese

And I top it with Brianna's poppyseed dressing (the one with the peach on the front). It's delicious!

Hope you like it!

Ophelia

ETA: I add chopped, grilled chicken if using this as a main meal.

Re: Healthy salads

Mothertrucker — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 03:15:17 GMT

Quick Asian Cucumber Salad

1 cucumber sliced thinly, peel and seed if you like

1/4 c rice wine vinegar

1Tbls brown sugar

1 Tbls water

1 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted or not

few drops of toasted sesame oil

put all ingreds except cucumber in jar and shake- needs to blend in fridge at least an hour- keeps a long time- when ready to serve, pour over cucumbers in serving bowls...

Re: Healthy salads

Mothertrucker — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 22:56:54 GMT

It is so hot in So Cal today..these sound so good..I thought I would bump it for all of us who are boiling today!

Re: Healthy salads

IamMrsG — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 21:28:01 GMT

This is my personal favorite Summer salad:

Nicoise Salad

½ cup salad oil

2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
½ teaspoon salt (I omit)
1 medium head iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 lb. whole green beans
2 cups diced, peeled cooked potatoes
7 ounces tuna, drained and broken up
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and sliced
2 hard-cooked eggs, cut in wedges

In screw-top jar combine salad oil, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, paprika, prepared mustard and salt; cover and shake until thoroughly blended. Chill.

Just before serving, arrange lettuce in salad bowl. Shake dressing again and drizzle a few tablespoons over lettuce. Attractively arrange beans, potatoes, tuna and tomatoes atop lettuce. Garnish with egg wedges. Season with salt and pepper. Pour remaining dressing over salad.

Serves 6

Cook’s notes:
1. This salad is best served well chilled (add the tomatoes just before serving!), with a warm loaf of French bread.
2. I use cooked, fresh green beans and do not peel the boiled new potatoes.
3. I do not use “canned” tuna. The foil packets are much better.
4. Serve with chilled white wine.

Re: Healthy salads

Mothertrucker — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:38:15 GMT

Here is one I posted a while back, but it IS the season!

NUTTY COUSCOUS SALAD

1 10 oz pkg cous cous(unflavored)

1/c cup dates, chopped

1 bunch parsley

1 lage orange

2 TBL Olive oil

2TBL Cider vinegar

1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup dried currant or dark raisins

2 Tbls chopped crystalized ginger

1 6-oz can salted cashews (whole or coarsely chopped)

Prepare couscous according to pkg..Chop 3 Tbls parsley (reserve remainder for garnish). Zest orange peel and squeeze juice from orange. In bowl, mix OJ, salt sugar, oil and vinegar- Toss with couscous, cashews, dates, chpd parsley, currants , ginger - mix well and garnish with parsley..

8 side dish or 4 main dish...