Salads

Chili, Lime and Cilantro dressing

  This dressing is featured in my Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Bowl recipe but it deserves its own post because it is so delicious and versatile. Whenever I have leftover cilantro, which is the main ingredient here, I pulse it up in my blender and make another batch of this dressing. It really is good on just about anything.  Both this dressing and my lemon parsley vinaigrette are perfect for using up extra herbs!    Ingredients:  Zest of 3 limes Juice of 2 limes 1 TBS. brown rice vinegar 2 TBS. raw honey 1 ½ TBS. Bragg’s Amino Acids 3 TBS. avocado oil 1 jalapeno, seeded 1 handful cilantro Salt & pepper to taste   Directions:   1. Add all dressing ingredients into a small blender or food processor.   2. Pulse until desired consistency.  (I like my dressing pureed pretty well but you can leave it chunky if you like.) 3. Store in a ball jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.           © The Sown Life LLC, 2019

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

  This salad has been a family favorite for years!  Not only is it a great salad, but it is also an amazing salsa served with tortilla chips. The black beans have protein so sometimes I will make a bowl with a bed of greens, some quinoa and this salad for a vegetarian lunch! I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.   Black Bean Salad Ingredients:  2 cans black beans (or 4 cups soaked and cooked beans) 1 orange bell pepper 1 red bell pepper ½ medium red onion. Chopped.  2 C cherry tomatoes 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped finely 1 C corn ( I use Organic frozen corn) 1 handful cilantro, chopped finely     Dressing Ingredients:  ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar Juice of 2 limes 1 handful cilantro 1 clove garlic ½ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp cracked pepper   Directions: 1. Put beans in a large bowl. 2. Finely chop bell peppers, onions, jalapeno, and cilantro. Add to beans.     3. Quarter cherry tomatoes and add to salad. 4. Add corn and combine all the ingredients.     5. For the Salad Dressing:  Add vinegar, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper to a food processor or a blender.  6. On slow speed, slowly add olive oil until well blended. 7. Add your desired amount of dressing to the black bean salad and stir.     8. Store any leftovers in a small glass jar in the fridge for up […]

Beet and Blueberry Salad with Lemon Balm Vinaigrette

  I love beets!!  Not only are they great for your liver but they also help balance out your hormones as well.  This salad is a really good combination of sweet and salty and I really enjoy the zip that lemon balm gives to the entire salad. In my opinion, though, the toasted coconut really takes it over the top.  Enjoy!!      Ingredients: 4 C greens (arugula, baby kale, spring mix) 1 C fresh basil, chopped 2 golden beets 1 red beet ½ medium red onion, sliced ½ cup blueberries ⅓ C toasted chopped pecans ⅓ C crumbled feta cheese ¼ C toasted unsweetened shredded coconut (gluten-free)     Dressing: ¼ C white balsamic vinegar ⅓ C olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp lemon zest 1 T raw honey ⅓ C chopped lemon balm Salt & Pepper     Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 2. Immerse beets completely under water in a medium saucepan, boil beets over medium-low heat until tender. 3. Remove the skin from the beets. (This should be easy if they are boiled) 4. Half the beets and then slice thinly.     5. Toast the pecans and coconut: Chop pecans and layer both the pecans and coconut on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.  Toast until golden. 6. To make the dressing: Add balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, lemon balm, and salt and pepper to a food processor or blender.  7. Start blender on low speed and slowly add […]

Cilantro Lime Slaw

  This Cilantro Lime Slaw is a key component of my fish tacos recipe. It really completes the taco in my opinion. It deserves a post of its own though because this slaw is a summertime staple. I make it frequently and keep it on hand as a quick side with almost anything from grilled chicken to sauteed shrimp, or just some simple avocado! The ingredients are healthy, clean and delicious and it’s EASY. It’s a great recipe to help you get both raw vegetables and healthy fats into your diet.  Enjoy!!   Ingredients: 1 C avocado oil mayo 3 T raw honey 2 T Braggs apple cider vinegar Juice of 1 lime ½ head of red cabbage, chopped ½ head green cabbage, chopped 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 bunch cilantro, chopped 2 green onions, finely diced     Directions:  1. Chop both kinds of cabbage and mix with the chopped red bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro. Drizzle with some of the lime juice. 2. Whisk together the mayo, raw honey, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste.     3. Pour the dressing over the slaw mixture and mix well! Serve in tacos or as a side for any occasion!                 © The Sown Life LLC, 2019

Bacon, Caramelized Onion & Toasted Pecan Salad with Sweet Potato Croutons & Fried Sage

  This salad is one of my favorites and was recently shared by our friends at Fall Line Farms! Most of the ingredients in this salad can be ordered through their online service that allows you to order and pick up fresh farm food locally! The ingredients can be found in the fall and late winter! Now, I don’t want you to get overwhelmed by the ingredients in this salad or the many steps listed to create it. This salad is an entire meal unto itself and if you desire more protein, you can easily add some chicken, shrimp or salmon on top. The salad serves 4 as a side dish or 2 as a main meal. Load it up because of all the flavors together or so heartwarming and delicious! Pay attention to the fact that we will be using several skillets over again. This is important because it creates the layer of flavors that we want and also…it saves on your dishwashing time!!   Salad Ingredients:  4 C Salad Greens of your choice–I love arugula so that is my go-to!  (Spinach or baby kale would be great as well) 1 medium red onion sliced 2 tsp. Ghee ¼ tsp. Herbes de Provence  6 slices of bacon ½ C pecan pieces 1 medium-sized sweet potato 2 T Olive Oil ¼ tsp. Garlic powder Salt & Pepper 15 Whole Fresh Sage Leaves 1 C avocado oil (optional if not using bacon drippings) ¼ C blue cheese, crumbled (optional)     […]

Susan’s Tabbouleh Salad

  This salad is so refreshing and has the perfect amount of complex carbs that make it very energizing but still with really clean ingredients. I recommend this salad a lot to my clients because it is also very easy to make ahead of time when you meal prep and keep in the fridge for lunches during the week. Add some sliced grilled chicken for extra protein and you are good to go!  This recipe makes about 6 servings as a side but as a meal, I think its more like 4 servings. Enjoy!!     Ingredients: 4 C chopped Swiss chard 1 C finely chopped Italian parsley ½ C finely chopped fresh mint 1 C chopped cherry tomatoes ¼ C finely chopped red onion 1 ½ C cooked quinoa ⅓ C pine nuts ⅓ C crumbled feta 1 tsp lemon zest   For the dressing: Lemon and Parsley Vinaigrette   Or: Juice of 1 lemon 3 T of Olive Oil Salt and Pepper     Directions: 1. Chop all veggies and herbs. 2. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. 3. Drizzle with dressing and toss!   ENJOY!                   © The Sown Life LLC, 2020

Shaved Fennel, Beet and Yogurt Layered Salad with Maple and Lemon Vinaigrette

  Sometimes I get in a salad rut and I find myself buying the same salad ingredients because it is what I know. That’s when I go back to the drawing board and look for healthy inspiration. I found some with this fennel, beet and carrot salad!!  Wow! What a balancing hormone combination!!! Beets detox the liver, carrots help remove bad estrogens from the body and fennel supports our anabolic sex hormones! Can you believe one simple salad does so much?!     Salad Ingredients:  1 C plain whole Greek yogurt 1 garlic clove, grated 3 medium carrots, peeled and shredded 2 large beets, peeled and shredded 1 fennel bulb, shaved paper-thin with a mandolin ¼ C toasted, salted pistachios 2 T chopped fresh mint   Dressing Ingredients:  ¼ C lemon fused olive oil  (you can use regular olive oil and add 1 TBS. fresh lemon juice) 2 tsp. lemon zest 2 tsp. maple syrup (honey is a good replacement) 1 T white balsamic vinegar 1 tsp. sea salt ¼ tsp. black pepper     Directions: 1. To grate garlic, use a zester or you can use a mortar and pestle to make a garlic paste.     2. Blend yogurt, garlic and salt, and pepper to taste.  Set aside.      3. Using a hand grater or food processor, grate carrots and beets.     4. Using a mandolin, shave fennel.     5. In a small bowl, blend olive oil, lemon zest, maple sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. […]

My Favorite Cole Slaw

  I know that coleslaw seems more like a summer food but cabbage is still in season right now and coleslaw seems like a perfect side dish to so many of my favorite meals… BBq beef brisket, Carnitas and my most favorite: fish tacos! I love this slaw alongside any hearty and meaty dish or just by itself with a drizzle of sriracha. I don’t make the typical cole slaw. I love lots of flavor so I add lots of different veggies and also on occasion I add some pineapple. Here is my favorite version of an “Island” coleslaw with a simple, nutritious and DELICIOUS dressing.     Ingredients:  ½ head green cabbage, chopped ½ head red cabbage, chopped 3 carrots, grated ½ bunch cilantro, finely chopped 3 green onions, finely chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, minced 1 C finely diced Pineapple (optional) ⅓ C toasted slivered almonds     Dressing:  ⅔ C good quality mayonnaise (I prefer using avocado oil mayo) 2 T apple cider vinegar 3 T raw honey salt & pepper to taste     Directions: 1. Chop all the Veggies and Mix them together 2. Whisk together the dressing 3. Toss salad and enjoy!     © The Sown Life LLC, 2019    

Warm Crispy Onion and Hakurei Turnip Salad

  Growing up, I never ate turnips.  Just the name turned me off. Well, if your opinion of turnips was similar to mine, you need to try this recipe.  Sauteeing the turnips in some ghee really softens their sharp flavor and they have quickly become one of my favorite root vegetables. Hakurei is a Japanese variety of turnip and it is known to be very mild and delicate in flavor. This recipe will work with any type of turnip though!     Ingredients:  2 lbs. Hakurei turnips, sliced in half and then quartered ½ medium red onion, cut in half and then sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 ½ tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1 TBS. ghee 1 bunch of Tuscan kale, stemmed and chopped 1 TBS. olive oil 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar 1 tsp. maple syrup 1 tsp. dijon mustard 1 tsp. sea salt   Directions:  1.  Using a medium skillet, heat over medium-high heat.  Melt ghee.   2. Add onions and turnips.  Leave both onions and turnips to brown up a bit on one side and then stir.  Continue to stir every so often so onions don’t burn but you want the turnips to have a nice golden hue and be soft on the inside.      3. Meanwhile, in a small jar with a lid, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, and a ½ tsp. salt.  Put the lid on and shake until well blended.     4. When turnips are golden brown, […]

Broccoli and Raisin Salad with Toasted Almonds

  This is probably my favorite salad.  It is definitely my favorite way to eat raw broccoli.  This salad has a great crunch with broccoli, carrots and toasted almonds. then you get a little bit of sweet with the raisins and honey.  It is well balanced and a great way to get raw food into your diet.     Salad ingredients:  1 head of Broccoli, finely chopped 2 carrots, grated 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup parsley, chopped 1/3 cup Thompson seeded raisins 1/2 cup toasted, slivered almonds       Dressing:  2/3 Cup good quality mayonnaise (I prefer avocado oil mayo) 2 TBS. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar 3 TBS. Raw Honey Salt & Pepper to taste     Directions: 1. Combine all the salad ingredients. 2. Mix the dressing ingredients until well blended. 3. Pour over salad and toss.     This salad keeps up to 5 days in the refrigerator and does a great job of holding it’s “crunchiness”.  This is a super easy but nutrient dense recipe.  Give it a try! Enjoy!       © The Sown Life LLC, 2019