3 Quick & Tasty Salads
You make think salads are better suited for summer, but winter is actually the best season to make sure you're getting your 5 a day. If you want to boost your vitamin intake and enjoy some light dishes between the heavy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, a quick, easy, and tasty salad is the way to go!
1. Refreshing Pepper Salad
You'll Need:
- 3 green bell peppers, chopped
- 1 red onion, diced
- ½ can of kidney beans
- 5 cilantro stems, chopped
- 2 sprigs of thyme, chopped
- 7 oz vine tomatoes, chopped
For the salad dressing:
- 1 cup olive oil
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 5 tbsp honey
- salt & pepper
Here's How:
Prepare the salad dressing by blending the ingredients together. Chop the peppers, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and parsley and place them in a bowl. Top with kidney beans and the homemade dressing and your refreshing salad is ready to go.
2. Crunchy Lentil Salad
You'll Need:
- 2 cups dry lentils
- 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 jalapeño, sliced
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 3 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- salt & pepper to taste
- avocado slices
Here's How:
Cook the soaked lentils in broth until they are fully cooked. Chop the onion, peppers, and jalapeño and sweat them in a pan with some oil over medium heat. Add the cooked lentils and cherry tomatoes and season with thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Transfer the warm contents of the pan to a bowl and top with avocado slices.
3. Zesty Bean & Corn Salad
You'll Need:
- 1 can of beans
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 4 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- ⅔ cup corn
- 1 avocado, cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 4 tbsp chopped cilantro
For the salad dressing:
- 1 cup olive oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 6 basil stems
- salt & pepper to taste
Here's How:
Add the zucchini, avocado, onion, cherry tomatoes, corn, and beans to a bowl and mix well. Add the cilantro and lemon juice and mix again. Blend the salad ingredients until smooth and pour over the salad.
A super fast salad is the best and easiest way to wind down after a long day – you have to love a meal that's delicious and nutritious! You can find the recipe for the Guacamole Salad featured in the bonus video here.