This past weekend my husband and I were thoughtfully invited to an annual crawfish gathering in the neighborhood.
I opted out of anything crustacean related, and instead brought along a fresh green salad, with a summer edge and hearty twist.
I wanted something light, but also something satiating enough to stand “alone”.
To create a backyard, barbecue feel, I used juicy portabello mushrooms for meatiness, if you will, and freshly “roasted” red peppers. These are my “go-to” dense salad “dressers.”
Weight:
To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. On a cooking pan, place 2 large portabello mushrooms, (caps only), and 1-2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into halves. Let bake in the oven until mushroom is juicy (about 10 minutes), and the red pepper’s skin is wrinkling (12-15 minutes). Remove and towel dry the mushroom. Allow to cool. Remove the red peppers, allowing time to cool, and then carefully peel off it’s wrinkly skin. Towel dry. Set aside.
Base:
- 8 ounces of organic arugula
- 8 ounces of organic fresh spinach leaves
- 1/8 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup golden cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 garlic choves, chopped (optional)
- Fresh basil and parsley optional, know your audience on this one… I opted out.
Dress:
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2 tbsp
- 1 tsp fresh minced garlic
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley leaves and stems, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 6 drops Orange NuNaturals NuStevia
- Blend in high speed blender (like Magic Bullet) until smooth
Realign, and Combine
- Toss the Base with the Dressing
- Thinly slice and then halve the mushrooms and red peppers
- Add on the weight
- Sprinkle on a quality sea salt, like a sweet Pink Himalayan
Give it a final toss, and then go.
The salad will wilt significantly with the weight of the dressing and toppings. I love this because it gives the salad a massaged and denser feel.
The Result.
The mushroom and peppers are mild in flavor but “heavy”, and completely balance out the spicier arugula, creamy spinach, and fresh tasting herb dressing that is also surprisingly and just perfectly sweet!
Had their been more grilled veggies, I would have been adding this to the salad also.
Those that tried it, loved it! And I am sure the crustaceans would have preferred it also.
Want to make this salad? The orange NuStevia I added to the dressing was what really gave this dressing a unique gourmet and summer flavor. (And it was oh-so-simple).
GIVEAWAY.
I have a little Giveaway to announce. NuNaturals is generously awarding (4) Four readers the opportunity to win their new Orange and Lemon flavors! The orange is what I tried out for this salad. I can’t say that these new flavors will replace my attachment to the Vanilla and Original Alcohol-Free NuStevia’s I use regularly, but I invite you to give it a try!
Giveaway Rules?
Pretty simple:
- “Like” the NuNaturals Facebook page,
- “Like” my Facebook GLOW page,
- Then let me know you did so by commenting below with what you want to make with your goodies (it could be as simple as adding it to your tea).
*NuNaturals asks that you are in the U.S. and have an address that they can ship to (that is not a P.O. Box).
Contest Starts Today, and I’ll announce the 4 winners a week from now.
I would love to add them to the juice and or salad recipes you created for me! Thank u!
I also liked glow and nunaturals already:)
I would use the NuNaturals Orange and Lemon flavors for my summer smoothie drinks! Also would add it to my salads as a dressing. I would what it would taste like in my lemonade strawberry smoothie??
I liked both! I would use the orange and lemon favors in my smoothies and my homemade chocolate.
I liked Nunaturals and Glow!
Oh, and I would try making some lemon-y yogurt with it! oh, and lemonade? That sounds really yummy
Salad recipe looks amazing- thanks for sharing! I would definitely use the the NuNaturals in my smoothies to amp up flavor. I would also like to try marinating with them- particularly salmon. It would be so nice to have a different flavor than vanilla in my yogurt, too! Also, I liked your Facebook page.:)
I liked them both on Facebook! I am new to your blog but I absolutely love it! Your health information is very insightful and all of your recipies sound amazing. I have actually never used any of NuNaturals products but I would love the opprotunity to do so. I am a college girl who is always looking for new, creative things to cook with. I would love to use the NuNatural orange and lemon flavors in my smoothies and my baking!
[...] Comments « The Backyard Salad- and Giveaway [...]
My kids and I have been adding it to our hot lemon water in the morning. It’s like lemonade!!
I liked both pages. Love your posts. We see things very similarly.
I know I commented but I want to make a really good summersmoothie with it and I liked both pages.
I have the origional flavwould love to try some flavored stevia! Smoothies, summer-y dressings, tea, homemade sorbet,
Ive only ever tried the original liquid stevia, but i would love to try some of the flavored varieties!
Question: I noticed you recommend the alcohol free versions of liquid stevia, so i did a little research and found that said versions are in a base of vegetable glycerin… I tried looking at the nu-naturals website but it does not specify what vegetable glycerin is. I was hoping you would know and be willing to share?
I am working on eliminating sugar, so this would is a perfect time to finally try stevia. I am especially intrugued by using it in homemade salad dressing. Store bought dressing has so much sugar! Thanks for offering the giveaway–love your blog!
[...] roasted red peppers, preferably organic, sliced long ways, and then again, [...]