Salads aren’t that hard to make. You throw a few vegetables together, top with some dressing, and voila! You’ve got yourself a salad.
The challenge (which may be too strong a word, it still isn’t all that hard) comes when you want to make that salad a meal. Then you want to make sure that you have a variety of healthy greens, crunchy and filling vegetables, some type of protein source, and possibly a grain or fruit for extra flavor and to balance it all out nutritionally.
I eat a lot of salads. A whole lot. Especially in the summer when I would just as soon not heat up my house by using the oven or even the stovetop. Because nobody likes to eat the same thing day after day, I try to be as creative as possible, both with the salad ingredients that I throw together and the salad dressing.
Speaking of salad dressing, have you ever looked at your salad dressing label? Even the reasonably “healthy” bottled versions are loaded with salt, sugars, preservatives, and fillers (click on the picture if you can’t see the ingredients).
Why do that to yourself when salad dressing is so easy to make? There are thousands of options available just at the click of your mouse. Plus, I have quite a few on this blog, including the creamy Avocado Vinaigrette that I used for this salad. It has seven ingredients (three of them are seasoning), no added sugar, and it takes less than five minutes to make. What are you waiting for?
This salad has three vegan protein sources: quinoa, garbanzo beans, and edamame. The spinach, kale, and chard mixed greens is full of vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus iron, folic acid, zinc, potassium, and calcium. The grapes add just a touch of sweetness, not to mention provide antioxidents along with vitamins A, C, and B6. Tomatoes contain lycopene, plus a variety of vitamins and minerals. And of course, the avocado is loaded with vitamins, potassium, and healthy fats.
Quinoa Salad with Creamy Avocado Vinaigrette
- 1 bag Greens (I used Trader Joes Power to the Greens with spinach, kale, and chard)
- 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup edamame, cooked
- ½ cup grapes, halved
- ½ cup grape tomatoes
- ½ cup green onion, chopped
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 avocado
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon tarragon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Combine the greens, beans, edamame, grapes, tomatoes, and green onion. Toss together and serve atop ½ cup quinoa. Drizzle with Avocado Vinaigrette
- Avocado Vinaigrette
- In a food processor, combine avocado, lime juice, vinegar, olive oil and seasonings. Process until smooth and creamy.
What are your favorite salad ingredients?
Oh! Before I forget! A few of you have asked about Coco and her integration into the pack. She’s doing very well, she seems to be relaxing around the rest of the dogs. Here she is posing on my yoga mat. I call this Doggy Savasana.
oh my goodness that looks incredible!! I love making my own dressing. You’re right, just looking at the ingredients on the bottle gives me heartburn…
Dressing is so easy to make that it’s crazy that I haven’t been doing it forever. I knew that there was a lot of junk in bottled dressing but when I pulled up that nutrition label even I was shocked. So much junk.
I love salads! It’s actually going to be sunny and warm here (finally) this weekend and I know I’ll be eating ’em non stop. Love the quinoa addition here. It’s a great protein source!
I know most people want the sun in the summer time, but I can’t help but feel jealous of cool weather. I am SO over the heat. It was 89 and humid as I drove in to work today. Which by the way was at 5:30 in the morning!
Quinoa is my favorite. I make a big batch and use it for so many different recipes/meals.
I have a salad several times a week but I’ll have to admit sometimes I am just to lazy to make them. My very basic, bare minimum salad is organic greens, tomatoes, carrots, dried cranberries and feta with balsamic & oil. I used to work close to a fabulous grocery store salad bar and would have a giant one filled with all sorts of goodies every day for lunch. This creamy avocado dressings looks awesome!!
The easiest thing for me is to wash all my salad ingredients and have them ready to go. Not that I always to that, but it sure makes it easier to toss up a quick salad. I also make a big batch of quinoa at one time.
I DO NOT buy salad dressing, EVER! I use olive oil, ketchup (sugar free, of course), mustard, salad, tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled veggies or just salmon! 🙂 YUM!
However, you have intrigued me with this avocado dressing!
The avocado dressing is really good. I used the leftovers last night for a non-salad meal I made (stacked potato, squash, seitan, mushroom, onions, w/vegan cheese–totally yummy).
I eat salads a lot but I like to call them everything but the kitchen sink creations since I throw anything and everything in. I love avocados in salads – no need for dressings or anything fancy.
I do that kitchen sink thing too. Sometimes it’s hard for me to stop myself from a zillion ingredients, but I think if you pick a few key ingredients that balance it tastes much better. Even this salad probably has a few too many things (couldn’t resist the grapes 🙂 ).
love the write up of why this is soooo healthy!! pinned it so i can remember to make that dressing!
Thank you. The dressing is really so good. And easy (my favorite part 🙂 )!
YUM!! i love making a creamy dressing with avocado and quinoa is good in SO many dishes!
Avocado is amazing. I love it in almost everything, And as a vegan, it gives such a great texture and filling feeling to food.
This looks so yummy! I just bought some quinoa but wasn’t terribly inspired about what to do with it. This looks perfect 🙂
There are so many ways to use quinoa besides eating it plain (though I like it that way too!). I have several recipes here, plus there are so many others just a mouse click away 🙂
I have only been making my own salad dressing for about 2 years now and I will never go back to store bought. I think dressing is one of those things people think is so hard to make, but actually VERY simple!
Amazing, isn’t it? I am fairly new to salad dressing making too. I mostly happened because bottled vegan dressing is hard to find. I’ll never go back either.
I make a similar quinoa salad but have never made an avocado dressing like that- looks delicious!!
I use quinoa a lot in salads! It tastes good with everything (almost anyway).
I’ve got to try this one–sounds amazing! Avocado dressing is the best part!
Give me avocado and quinoa and I can make anything taste good! Well, almost, but they are a good start.
I love making my own salad dressing. I’m loving sumac right now! Avocado anything is delish!
I had to look up sumac. I don’t think I’ve ever cooked with it before. What do you use it in?
Yeah, I’m pretty much the avocado queen. It’s a good thing they are good for you 🙂
This looks delicious. We’ve stopped buying prepared dressings and now make them all at home. I agree that they are so easy to make and just take a few minutes. I’m adding your recipe to my shopping list for the week!
Thank you! I think you’ll love the avocado vinaigrette. So rich and creamy and so healthy!
YUM & I am not vegan! 🙂 OMG, I love the Coco pic as you know from IG. I am so happy you found here – I think she need you & your home!!!!
Yes, I think she fits in pretty well here. She even went for a run with the other two little girls (and me of course) today.
I have a salad almost everyday at work. except on pasta day. We have a nice big, versatile salad bar. so i can mix it up daily. Then sometimes I will get a side of sauteed squash to top my salad. yummy!
How nice to have a salad bar at work! If I don’t bring leftovers, I have to head out either to the grocery store or a restaurant (so obviously I try to bring leftovers frequently).
This looks amazing! I think I’ll add this to my menu this week.
I hope you enjoy it!
sounds great!! what is the correct quantity for the olive oil… it just says 1/2?
Ha! You’re the first one that noticed that! It is fixed now. It should have said 1/2 cup.
The creamy avocado vinaigrette is great. I just tried it last night. I think it’s a good compliment to most salads. I used it on a plain spinach salad and it was perfect. Great recipe. Thanks.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!