I feel like everything I’ve been eating since the middle of November has weighed at least 2 pounds per plate. Seriously, this holiday season has not been very scale friendly and I’m not a huge fan of New Years resolutions. But I am a fan of healthy salads!
So for the next 7 days I’ll be sharing some of my favorite salad recipes with you. They’re simple, tasty and easy to prepare. This first blueberry and apple salad is packed with flavor. Full of crunchy apples, blueberries, cranberries, pistachios and sunflower seeds. This is a perfect salad for just gorging on and feeling completely satisfied when you look down at your empty bowl. I promise you’ll be chasing that last blueberry around the plate with your fork, it’s that good!
The dressing is just as simple as the salad. A light olive oil, lemon and herb vinaigrette is all it needs. Sorry dressing but the stars of this salad are the ingredients! Whatever you do don’t dowse the salad with the dressing either. Add a little drizzle at a time, you just want to make those leaves glisten.
This salad is so versatile. You could switch out the nuts if pistachios don’t rock your world, add raspberries instead of blueberries and use pear instead of apple. Look at that, I just gave you a whole new recipe for a different salad. It’s kind of a fridge clean up salad so go peek in the fridge, throw some stuff in a bowl and dress it up. You might just love the taste!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my salads every day this week, with a huge salad round-up on the last day!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces mixed greens
- 1 cup diced apple
- 2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup roasted pistachios
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan for garnishing
- For The Dressing:
- 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
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Combine the Oil, lemon juice, dried basil, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk. Set aside.
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Place the greens in a bowl. Add the apple, seeds, cranberries, pistachios and blueberries.
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Drizzle about 2 tbsp of the dressing into the bowl and toss gently. I use my hands just because I feel I can judge the amount of dressing better.
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If you think you need more dressing, add another drizzle but don't drown the salad.
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Season with some sea salt, black pepper and shave fresh Parmesan cheese over the top.
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Serve at once.
Recipe Notes
This salad makes enough for one main course or two small appetizer portions. Any fresh mixed greens will work and feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients, salads are very forgiving except for the dressing. Too much and the leaves will get mushy.
Lisa @ Wine & Glue says
I love salads too! And at this point, I feel like if I have to look at one more GIANT bowl of pasta . . . This looks amazing! Pinning.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This salad looks fantastic. PINNED!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Excellent! This is how I love my salad. Thanks for sharing, Gerry.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
A lovely salad indeed. Don’t you just love fruit and greens together! Apparently you do – can’t wait for the rest of your salad posts.
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen says
This is one strong start to salad week, Gerry! What a great salad!! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the week!
sippitysup says
I’ve been working on seasonal salads too. must be the “season” for it. GREG
Sarah & Arkadi says
great combination of ingredients! i definitely would chase the last piece of my plate! looking forward to the rest of the week! :)
Tieghan says
Great flavor combo!! I love big salads like this!
katie says
This salad sounds divine. Since being pregnant over the past few months I’ve made tons of salads with fresh apples in it… I’ve craved them. I need to give your salad recipe a try!
foodnessgracious says
Hang in there Katie and keep eating salads! :)