CRUNCHY MIXED GREENS SALAD WITH HERBED POPPYSEED DRESSING
CRISPY GREENS, JUICY FRUITS, tangy beans, or nutty roots; there is something special about every type of salad. Salads have a wonderful way of retaining the distinct flavour of each ingredient. You can taste every green in a cool garden salad, and each addition in a warm potato salad. Salads also offer something rare in modern life: They contain ingredients you can recognize and pronounce. As long as you stick with produce and all natural toppings, you can create anything from an appetizer to an entrée without including a single mysterious additive in the meal.
Considering the easy preparation and numerous health benefits, it is surprising that more people do not eat a salad at least once a day. Part of the problem could be due to a feeling that salads lack variety or imagination, which could not be farther from the truth. With a little guidance and a few minutes of work, anyone can learn how to take a salad from simple to spectacular. And for the adventurous salad maker, the sky's the limit! Think of salads as a culinary exploration and let the ingredients inspire you.
You may also think of salads as exotic greens, but other vegetables (parsnip, beet, sweet potato, eggplant, or carrot for example) cooked in advance if necessary, lightly dressed and served cold or at room temperature, can be wonderful and easy.
1, 5 oz. package seasonal mixed salad greens
2 green apples, cored and sliced
½ cup dried cranberries
1 ½ cups crispy whole wheat crackers, coarsely crushed
1 ½ cups assorted roasted nuts, unsalted (almond, cashew, pecan, hazelnut, walnut, pine nuts)
Vegan cheese (optional, use as desired); one of our favourite brands is Nuts For Cheese organic "Super Blue" or "Un-Brie-Lievable"
Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Toss with RicherEarth Vegan Eats' Herbed Poppyseed Dressing.
Good quality, fresh ingredients are important when preparing a salad. The difference between an average green salad and a great one is determined by the quality of ingredients. Most supermarkets have a good assortment of greens, and it always pays to combine at least two or three - preferably more - with varying flavours and textures. In fact, there are literally hundreds of edible greens that may all look the same, but each has its own personality.
Of course, there are differences among salads. Let's not forget the countless ways to top them up and take them out of the ordinary. We're talking nuts, pulses, seeds, tofu, fruit, and the many vegan substitutes available for all the animal products that even even non-vegans can enjoy. Trust your taste buds. Play around with these ingredients and you can easily find a favourite meal.
