During the heat of the summer, a nice cooling salad with fresh greens from the garden is a great lunch or dinner choice. But, because I eat a mostly vegan diet, I am always on the lookout for ways to get more protein into my salads. I have recently experimented with some new recipes that are definitely ‘keepers.’ If you’re looking for summer salad recipes, give them a try!
Green Vegan Salad
This salad has a pretty boring name but, trust me, it makes up for it in flavor! I loved the grilled broccoli, asparagus and zucchini. And the dressing was so flavorful with fresh basil and mint from my garden. Quinoa and roasted almonds give it a protein boost. (That’s it in the picture above, before I added the dressing.)
Spring Mix Salad with Lemon Baked Tofu
This one takes a little more time to prepare, but it is definitely still worth a try! I loved the lemon, the mint, and the extra protein of the tofu and quinoa. (I think just half the tofu would be adequate the next time I make it, FYI.)
Moroccan Carrot and Chickpea Salad
You’ve probably had chickpeas in salad before (I personally find them bland and boring), but have you had them in a Moroccan salad with arugula, mint, Medjool dates and quinoa? Not boring at all! Add in a dressing that includes cinnamon, ginger, cumin and coriander, and you’ve got a flavor explosion!
Vegan Taco Salad
This one is actually not a new recipe by any means, but I’m going to sneak it in here anyway. I have been eating this taco salad recipe since I was a kid. My mom’s original recipe was vegetarian (with cheese and sour cream) but I simply omit the cheese and use coconut yogurt (and get some bonus probiotics!). Here’s my recipe: I like to mix together and heat black beans and refried beans, place some over a small bed of crushed tortilla chips on my plate, then add chopped lettuce, sliced green olives, tomatoes, banana and/or jalapeno peppers, salsa, guacamole (or diced avocado in a pinch), and any other veggies that might sound good (diced red peppers is an example if I have them). My husband also likes to add some kind of vegan ‘meat crumbles’ if we have them. Top with a few dollops of coconut yogurt. Delicioso!
If you enjoyed this blog post, I think you’ll like this one and this one too!
Check out more of my favorite healthy recipes in the Plant-Based Nutrition section of my Wellness blog.
3 Ways to Keep Your (Pitta) Cool this Summer