Winter is upon us, so most of us will spend more time inside. And then the indoor winter-blahs may set in and they may make your exercise routine slump. So turn toward a first line of defense to get out of the funk: your diet.
Consider what you're eating. Focus on getting an extra dose of veggies, protein, fiber and healthy fats filled with brain-and-heart-healthy Omegas.
This salad is that dose. It's filled with high-protein Brussels sprouts as that the main green (1 cup of Brussels sprouts has about as much protein as an egg white) coupled with nutrient-rich dark green kale. Also in the salad are a bunch of crunchy healthy goodies like walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts and even flax seed.
The varied textures make this dish super satisfying. A little cooked quinoa means that even ground flaxseed and hemp hearts will fit right in without a grainy mouth-feel. And a handful of pomegranate seeds add just the right amount of tart and sweet, rounding out the flavors perfectly. The whole salad is tossed with an avocado ranch dressing that is whipped up in a jiffy in the blender, so even the creamy fatty dressing is a nutritious ally.
It's a gorgeous salad - beautiful to behold and to eat. Sure, add a few ounces of poached or roasted salmon if you want more omegas and protein, but honestly this salad is filling and satisfying all on its own, with 16 grams of protein per serving even in its totally meatless state.
Winter Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing
2 cups Brussels sprouts, stem end trimmed
2 cups thin slices of Lacinato kale (dark green variety; about 4 large leaves, thinly sliced)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/4 cup raw walnuts, chopped
3 tablespoons of raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
3 tablespoons of raw hemp hearts (hemp seeds)
3 tablespoons of milled flaxseed (flaxmeal)
1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (also called arils)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing
1/2 large avocado
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons prepared salsa
2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon juice)
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Slice the Brussels sprouts very thinly with a sharp knife, or run them through a food processor fitted with a slicing blade. You will have about 3 cups of sliced sprouts when done. Mix the sprouts and sliced kale in a large bowl. Add the remaining salad ingredients and toss. In a blender, mix all the dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy. Add an additional tablespoon or two of water if too thick. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss well. Add more dressing if desired. Serve.
Note: Feel free to swap out nuts and seeds for your favorites.
Start to finish: 20 minutes. Servings: 4