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As I get ready to head back east for work, I am cooking more than ever at home for my family. Somehow, I feel like all of my cooking will tide them over until I get back, haha! I’ve sure enjoyed our shared meals together at the table during shelter-in-place, but it’s time to get back to the usual routine! One routine we’ve gotten used to is eating a great big salad for dinner some nights. One of our favorites is this Bomb-Ass Bountiful Salad. We love it so much, we’ve eaten it twice in one week!
What makes a bountiful salad so bomb-ass?
If you follow anyone on Instagram in the plant-based community, you may have seen a meme like this one.
I will be honest with you by confessing it was funny to me. Then, the sweet side of me felt bad for laughing because I don’t particularly care for the uber vegan police who poke fun at meat-eaters. Although there are jokes thrown from both sides of the fence, I do focus on being as open-minded with everyone’s place in their food journey as possible. So, to a vegan, this shit is funny. To a non-vegan, it may not be as hilarious. I’m just here to give direction and suggestions. It is up to each one of us to make a change to “The Dark Side,” MUAHAHAHA!!
But let’s take the photo for what it is. There is a boring colorless salad, and there is a nutrient-dense colorful salad. My point is this; whether you are a meat-eater or a vegan, your salads deserve to dress to the nines, my friends! Our crunchy leafy greens don’t have to be boring! If we add more colors and flavors to the mix, we will want to eat them more and more. Unless you just don’t like salads. For THAT, I will give you shit.
Ways to make your salad bountiful
- Add a variety of textural and colorful veggies! Crunchy bell peppers, raw zucchini or yellow squash, crispy green onions, or fresh corn kernels are all great options to up your salad game.
- Throw in your favorite chopped fruits! They can be seasonal fruits like peaches or cherries or other sweet options such as purple grapes or cut strawberries.
- To add more texture, you can sprinkle your salad with dried cranberries or apricots, and add nuts or seeds like pepitas, sunflower seeds, or pecans.
- And let’s not forget about the croutes! Every salad needs a little bread in there! This recipe for Bomb-Ass Bountiful Salad includes a tasty crouton recipe that you will make time and time again!
- A tangy or sweet vinaigrette is the perfect addition to a bountiful salad like this one. A light dressing that’s not too heavy will allow the vegetables to take center stage.
So, what are you waiting for?
Add a bountiful salad to your meal plan this week! With summer around the corner, you will need some practice on getting in those high-water content veggies into your hot bods! Give this recipe a try or make it your own by adding in other beautiful ingredients. Pasta, other bean or nut varieties are just a few ideas for you.
For other ideas to add seasonal ingredients to your salads, check out Spring Into Seasonal Eating.
Bomb-Ass Bountiful Salad
A bountiful salad is a salad with so many delicious and colorful vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, and even a little fruit! We have this salad for dinner during the summer because it is so satisfying! If you’re looking for something fresh to feed the family, this salad is your go-to choice!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
Ingredients
For Croutes
5-6 slices of ciabatta bread, cut into large cubes
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
For the salad
2 heads of romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1-13.75oz can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1/2 cup kalamata olives, halved
1-15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 peach, cut into small cubes
1/2 red onion, roughly chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeds and stems removed, roughly chopped
2 avocados, skin and pit removed, cut into cubes
2-3 tbsp pumpkin seeds or pepitas
1 tbsp hemp hearts
For the dressing
2-3 tbsp za’atar seasoning
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2-3/4 cup olive oil or other salad oil
juice of 1/2 a lime
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Instructions
For the croutes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the ingredients onto the baking sheet and toss them together. Toast the croutes in the oven for about 20 minutes or until they are golden.
For the salad
Find the most massive bowl you can find to use for the salad. Combine all of the salad ingredients except the hemp hearts, avocado, and pumpkin seeds into the bowl and toss together. Set aside and make the dressing.
For the dressing
Add all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Whisk together until the vinegar emulsifies with the oil. Set aside.
To assemble the salad, scoop the salad mixture out onto a large serving platter. Top with the croutes, hemp hearts, avocado cubes, and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle the salad dressing over the top and serve.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
