Super salads are …..….super!! Poppyseed Power Salad is a super delicious salad!!
What makes a salad super you might ask???? Well for me these are the 7 key components to build a super salad ……..
- Start with a really great mix of lettuce or green……..I love baby…..any green…..spinach, romaine, red leaf, ……the darker the color the better.
- You need some crunchy stuff……in this salad brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, carrot and kale. Nuts or seeds are a great addition……I used almonds.
- You need a colorful ingredient…….I used dried cranberries but, colored peppers, red onion, tomato, avocado, even shredded beets.
- Add a punch of protein……beans, meat, fish, eggs, or cheese….I used goat cheese.
- Fruit adds a fresh element. Apples, or berries, the choices are really endless. Be careful with dried fruits, they tend to have a higher sugar content so a little goes a long way. Less sugar options are also available….I use those.
- Leftovers can add any of the above ingredients, and are a good way to stretch your food dollar.
- Use a good dressing……preferably homemade. You can control the fat and sugar. Oil, vinegar and citrus make the best healthy dressings. Dress salads lightly.
I have salad several time a week, the more the better. I came across a bagged mix……let me say this about that………if you have access to a Farmers Market, or have a garden of your own……make that your first choice. Having said that, there are many great organic and non organic pre-made mixes that can save you time and money and still give you all the benefits for a super salad.
Mann’s is a brand name of veggie that I use often.
They have a large line of products that make eating your veggies easy. Their Powerblend mix with brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, carrots, and kale that I adore…….is what I used in this recipe.
Crunchy, nutritious, and full of vitamins…….and bonus ……it’s already ready already! I added some baby spinach to bump the green power and, cause I had some leftover.
I think fruit in a salad is a nice sweet surprise, and dried cranberries are an easy salad add in. As I said above, dried fruits do have more sugar so go lightly, and if possible buy a reduced sugar version.
If I had to chose a favorite nut……and had to exclude Tim…….lol, I would chose almonds. To me they have a light, delicate flavor that won’t overpower a dish. They are great in either sweet or savory dishes and are packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber…..they are kinda super too!
Goat cheese……love it or hate it……I love it. So beautifully white, with a creamy mild and distinct flavor. It is not everyones cup of tea, but give it a try……it was the only choice for this salad.
Poppyseed dressing, I have made several varieties over the years, those is one of the best. Fresh and light, lemony, with a touch of sweetness. Lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon, and apple cider vinegar make the perfect dressing for Poppyseed Power Salad.
This salad does not have meat but you could add a nice grilled chicken and make it a main course. I must confess, that even thought it does not go with the healthy theme to the salad, I put leftover bacon on top when I took the leftovers of this salad for my lunch the day after I made it. It was bacon……what can you say….it was delicious
Poppyseed Power Salad is a perfect side or main dish salad.
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Poppyseed Power Salad
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 10 ounce package Powerblend Salad Mix
- 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup reduced sugar dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup almonds ( whole, slivered or sliced )
- 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- Dressing
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup organic honey
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon organic apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated onion
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 tablespoon poppyseed
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine all of the salad ingredients, toss to combine.
- Place all dressing ingredients except poppyseed in a blender or a jar with a tight fitting lid, blend or shake until emulsified. Add poppyseed and mix until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- When you are ready to serve give the dressing a shake, top the salad, and serve.
