Cool, healthy, sweet, satisfying and nutritious - this is the perfect summer salad.
In another lifetime, I was a nutritionist. I love eating healthy and finding great meals that nourish the body and satisfy the palate. I came across this salad while researching foods that help trim the mid-section and it has become one of my absolute favorites. It's also been a good salad to eat during this hot summer because you never have to turn on a stove or even the microwave. It's refreshing, cool, sweet, sour and hydrating with the cucumber and fruit. The salad comes together quickly then you just toss in your favorite protein and you've got a complete meal.
Without further ado, the recipe.
2 cups Bibb lettuce (I use whatever I have on hand)
1/3 cucumber, diced
1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 avocado, diced
1 tablespoon chopped almonds
Protein of choice - I use pan-seared tofu but you could throw in some cold (or hot) rotisserie chicken, tuna or salmon, or whatever you like - just keep it healthy!
For the lemon-maple syrup vinaigrette
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (juice from half a lemon)
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon chia seeds
NOTE: To make this keto-friendly, eliminate the pineapple and add more cucumber, swap blackberries for the blueberries and replace the maple syrup with a sugar-free, low-carb sweetener. Then add a little fresh grated ginger to the vinaigrette. Ginger also aids in digestion and helps stomach bloat.
DIRECTIONS
Place salad ingredients in a bowl.Whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle onto salad, and enjoy!