A Refreshing and Healthy Shaved Spring Salad
Here is a tasty, refreshing and incredibly healthy spring salad arriving just in time to put winter in the rearview mirror. This salad is so delicious and it started as a project to “clean” the refrigerator. We used up the vegetables nearing the end of their freshness so we didn’t have to throw them away. The salad is a nice balance of vegetables and fruits so none takes over the bowl and becomes overbearing. This shaved spring salad is a perfect beginning course or side dish. I added chicken and bacon to turn it into an entrée’. And, it has just enough natural sweetness that you might even get the kids to eat it, too.
Jam Packed with Nutrients
Not only is this salad budget-friendly – it rescues veggies at risk of going past their “best life date”. It’s also simple, versatile, full of nutrients and bursting with flavor. Brussels sprouts are packed with fiber and vitamin K – 137% RDI and 81% of vitamin C and are low in calories. If you read my pork loin post you’ll know my relationship with the little cabbagey thingies have been renewed. Not very long ago, I would just as soon eat road tar than a brussels sprout. I love like them in this salad. Radishes contain coenzyme Q10 – a compound that helps protect against insulin resistance. Zucchini has 40% RDI of vitamin A and 10% magnesium. Strawberries is an excellent source of vitamin C and has a respectable amount of fiber per serving. The list of health benefits for this salad goes on and on.
It’s Not Complicated
Other than bacon which is not more than a garnish, there are NO artificial or processed ingredients taking up space in this healthy spring salad. The vegetables and fruits are sliced and shaved very thinly so their weight does not cause them to plummet to the bottom of the bowl. The slices are thin enough so that they all play well together. The vegetables can be cut on a mandolin or with a vegetable peeler to achieve the paper-thin slices.
A word of caution for those of you that never used a mandolin: finger tips don’t grow back. Be careful and use the vegetable grip that came with your mandolin or another safety device as a barrier between the mandolin blade and your digits.
Shaved and thinly sliced fruits and veggies
The Dressing is Healthy, Too
The dressing is a simple pomegranate olive oil dressing. Pomegranate is a fall season fruit and is almost impossible to find right now. So, I had some pomegranate juice handy and mixed it with a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and a pinch of garlic powder, it adds a bit of complexity and is the perfect topping for this salad.
Many dishes that begin with tossing together random ingredients can oftentimes end up becoming a favorite. This is my new favorite salad and will no doubt see the dinner table many times during the spring and summer.
Healthy Shaved Spring Salad
Equipment
- Vegetable peeler or mandolin, paring knife
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine lettuce
- ½ bag Baby arugula
- 1 bunch Baby spinach
- 1 bunch Curly parsley
- 1 cup Zucchini, shaved thin
- ½ cup Red radish or daikon, shaved thin
- 1 cup Brussels sprouts, shaved thin
- ¼ cup Shiitake mushrooms, chopped
- 1 cup Strawberries, sliced thin
- 1 cup Mango, cubed
Meats
- 1 lb Chicken breast, cubed
- 5-6 slices Bacon
Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup Good olive oil
- ½ cup Pomegranate juice
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- ½ tsp Crushed garlic
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Meats
- Cut chicken breast into small cubes and season.
- Heat pan on medium high, add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add seasoned chicken and sear 5 -6 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Fry bacon and drain oil on paper towels
- Set meats aside.
Spring Salad Greens and Vegetables
- Wash and dry salad greens. Tear romaine into bite-sized pieces.
- With a mandolin or Y-shaped vegetable peeler, shave zucchini, brussels sprouts, and radishes.
- Wash, hull and slice strawberries, shiitake mushrooms and mango very thin.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with pomegranate dressing and toss.
Pomegranate Dressing
- Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously to mix.
