The Ultimate Salad Builder
Jess TurnerThink salads are dull and won’t fill you up? Our mission is to change your mind!
1. Choose your base grain
Any serious salad loads up on grains as a solid foundation. Couscous, quinoa, rice, pasta or noodles all make a delicious and filling base for your salad, and will soak up all the flavor we’re going to pile on up top.
2. Add some veggies
Vegetables of all shapes and sizes add texture, color, flavor, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and super healthy calories. Add a range of whatever you enjoy: Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, carrot ribbons, avocado, onion, beets.
3. Go green
Leafy greens add a great boost of calcium, iron, and fiber: kale, chard, baby spinach, arugula (rocket).
4. Add your plant-powered protein
Beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, tempeh or other vegan meat replacements add a satisfying bite and plant-based protein.
5. Now for a little something sweet
Dried cranberries, apples, pineapple, oranges, blueberries, grapes.
6. Sprinkle some goodness
Hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds, chopped walnuts, almond flakes, pine nuts, pistachios — whatever you have on hand will make a satisfying salad addition, bringing the healthy fats, different textures, and flavor!
Feeling fancy? Add some pomegranate seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, artichoke, roasted vegetables, figs, or even crumbled vegan cheese to really jazz up your salad.
7. And finally, drizzle your vegan dressing!
What’s the easiest way to make salad taste amazing and add some more healthy fats? A vegan salad dressing will tie everything together and makes your salad or buddha bowl delicious to the last bite!
Vinaigrette, tahini and lemon, vegan ranch, agave mustard, creamy chipotle lime dressing, ginger-agave-citrus, a dollop of our yummy green pesto, raw vegan cheese sauce, or even a drizzle of our most popular mango sauce!
Easy vegan dressing idea: Blend together 1 tsp agave syrup, 1 tsp minced ginger, 2 tsp lemon juice, and 2 tsp olive oil
As you can see, salads can be much more than a sad side dish, especially when we take the time to make sure they contain sources of vegan protein, and plenty of tasty and filling ingredients.
Still not convinced a salad will do the job? Sounds like you need this hearty vegan lasagna in your life! You already have the best side salad to serve with it!
