Still searching for a dish for Thanksgiving? While most item on the table are non-negotiable, the stuffing, the pie, mashed potatoes and gravy! The salad course is where you can really flex your creativity without upsetting anyone. The combination of apple and endive is crunchy and bright – a welcome contrast to the richness of so many traditional dishes.
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s essential to have some healthier options on the menu. This Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. It’s a perfect side dish to balance out the indulgent treats on your Thanksgiving table.
Elisa Franco
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad
This Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad is a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving spread. It's not only a treat for your taste buds but also a nourishing choice for your body. Enjoy this healthy, colorful dish as you celebrate gratitude and good food this Thanksgiving!
Tender beets can stand up to strong flavors like curry in this colorful fall salad. For a shortcut, opt for pre-steamed beets for a stunning salad in no time!
Opt for a seasonal goat cheese with cranberry flavor for an ideal pairing in this recipe.
Servings 2
Ingredients
2poundsred beets
2ozbaby arugula
½cupwalnutstoasted
½cupcrumbled feta or 2 ounces herbed goat cheesecrumbled
⅓cupavocado oil
3tbsprice vinegar
1tbsphoney
½tbspcurry powder
¼tspsea salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place whole beets in a deep baking dish and cover with water. Cover and bake for 2–4 hours or until beets are knife tender, depending on the size of the beets.
When beets are tender, drain and submerge in cold water. Remove skins and set aside to cool completely.
To prepare salad, chop beets and place in a mixing bowl. Add arugula, walnuts, and feta or goat cheese. Whisk together avocado oil, rice vinegar, honey, curry powder, and salt. Pour over salad and toss. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve.
This superfood kale salad is like getting to eat a whole bowl of guacamole without sharing—and without feeling guilty
Think of this recipe as the perfect canvas. You can enjoy the subtle nuttiness of sunflower seeds and hemp hearts. Add it to wraps or sandwiches that could use a boost. Top with your favorite protein for a more substantial meal. Grilled tofu will keep things plant-based. You can also add some grilled shrimp, cotija cheese, diced ripe mango, and a bit of your favorite salsa for a shrimp taco salad. The canvas can take anything you throw at it, so don’t sleep on this superfood kale salad!
Superfood Kale Salad
This superfood kale salad is full on savory goodness with nutritional yeast, seeds, and of course avocado. By massaging kale, you can overcome the sometimes-fibrous nature of this nutritional powerhouse.
Remove stems from kale and chop leaves into bite size pieces. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl place avocado, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt. Fork through the mixture to mash avocado and to blend ingredients.
Add kale and mix thoroughly with both hands, massaging until kale is fully coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
To serve, garnish with sunflower seeds and hemp hearts.
Full of protein and dressed with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, this salad is quick and satisfying. Don’t skimp on all the extras! We love the textures and flavors that the toppings bring, from rich avocado to tangy pickled red onion and crunchy tortilla chips. Romaine lettuce holds up well to the warm beans and taco filling, but feel free to substitute your favorite hearty green.
Taco Caesar Salad
Full of protein and dressed with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, this salad is quick, satisfying, and worthy of #TacoTuesday or #MeatlessMonday!
Cook taco crumbles based on the package instructions. Stir in black beans and heat until warmed through.
Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Place warm crumbles and black beans as the base of the salad on plates. Arrange romaine, pickled onion, avocado, cilantro, and parmesan on top. Drizzle salads with dressing and top with broken tortilla chips.
Colorful, flavorful, and oh so simple, this shredded carrot salad could be your next lunch. Pick up a rotisserie chicken for dinner tonight and use the rest of the pulled chicken to take this salad to the next level! Crunchy shredded veggies like carrots and cabbage give coleslaw vibes, but the sesame tamari dressing keeps things light. With a hearty base, this riot of fiber is perfect for meal prepping. It won’t get soggy in the fridge or over the course of a barbecue or potluck. You may have lots of carrots for the easter bunny or just to celebrate spring. This is the perfect recipe to make use of that bounty.
Shredded Carrot Salad
Colorful, flavorful, and oh so simple, this shredded carrot salad could be your next lunch. Pick up a rotisserie chicken for dinner tonight and use the rest of the pulled chicken to take this salad to the next level!
This is what we call a spoon salad! Use a spoon to make sure you don’t miss a drop. We’ve got all the shades of green in this salad, with no soggy lettuce in sight. Perfect for meal planning, potlucks, or feeding a crowd. Roasted pumpkin seeds add a salty crunch. Creamy avocado keeps you satisfied. Thinly sliced broccoli is perfect raw, but if you have leftover roasted broccoli, you can use that instead. The bulk of this salad comes from the French green lentils. Unlike red lentils, these will keep their shape and ensure this hearty salad satisfies.
Emerald Lentil Salad
This is what we call a spoon salad! We’ve got all the shades of green in this salad, with no soggy lettuce in sight. Perfect for meal planning, potlucks, or feeding a crowd.
Place lentils and five cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until lentils are just tender, approximately 35 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
In a medium mixing bowl, place cooled lentils, broccoli, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.
Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with salad. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve garnished with micro greens.
Red is a color commonly associated with passion and love, but red foods may have a direct effect on our heart health. The same pigments that give red foods their color, called anthocyanins, are also responsible for a host of health benefits, including reduction of inflammation in the body, and have been shown to help with heart health, playing a role in better cholesterol and triglyceride profiles.
Tuna-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Romesco-Style Sauce
When paired with a salad, this dish easily serves two as a main meal, but it will stretch to a few more as part of a tapas-style meal.
11-12piquillo or sweet red peppers (drained contents of 9 1/2 oz jar)
2tablespoonswhole hazelnuts
1tablespoonolive oil
1teaspoonsweet Spanish paprika
1garlic clovepeeled
½teaspoonsherry vinegar
2teaspoonhoneydivided
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In small bowl, with fork, mix together tuna, parsley, lemon zest and juice, and black pepper. Set aside.
Remove whole peppers from jar and set aside 6 to be stuffed. In bowl of food processor, place remaining peppers with hazelnuts, olive oil, paprika, garlic, sherry vinegar, and 1 tsp honey, and pulse to blend into a sauce. The texture will not be completely smooth.
Add about 2 Tbsp of sauce to tuna mixture and stir through. Spoon remaining sauce into small baking dish to make a base for stuffed peppers.
Stuff tuna mixture into 6 piquillo peppers and place them on top of the sauce in baking dish. Drizzle with remaining 1 tsp honey and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Red Berry Salad
Delicious, sweet berries and sharp red onion combine, with the help of some balsamic vinegar and a hint of basil, to make a classic salad.
In large skillet, toast pumpkin seeds over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Pour onto plate to cool and set aside.
In bowl, place berries, basil, vinegar, and maple syrup, and stir gently to coat. Set aside and allow to marinate for about 30 minutes. After time has elapsed, into large bowl, strain any liquid and add one or two raspberries, reserving the remainder.
Mash the two raspberries in liquid in large bowl, add olive oil and salt, and whisk together. Add red onion and greens and toss to coat. Arrange on large platter, placing reserved marinated berries on top. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and serve.
Enjoy!
Spicy, Smoky Tomato-Braised Eggs
This simple yet luxurious dish is based on a dish from the south of Spain, similar to a North African shakshuka. It’s a satisfying meal, equally at home on the dinner table as on the breakfast bar.
Turn oven broiler to high. Rub red pepper with 1 tsp olive oil and place in baking pan. Place pan under broiler. While watching carefully, turn pepper occasionally as each side blackens under the heat, about 10 minutes. When all sides of red pepper have been fully blackened, remove from oven and place in paper bag to cool.
Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to 9 in cast iron skillet and saute onion on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes, until garlic is translucent. Add sweet smoked paprika and tomatoes to pan, stir thoroughly to incorporate, and allow to simmer on medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
Once pepper is cool, peel and discard skin and seeds. Place flesh in food processor or blender and puree. Add pepper puree to tomato sauce with salt, honey, and, if desired, hot smoked paprika. Allow sauce to simmer for 15 minutes more. Add in red chard and mix through.
Crack eggs into individual pinch bowls or glasses and set aside. Press the bowl of a soup ladle into sauce, and pour in an egg. Then tip contents slowly into tomato mixture. Repeat with remaining eggs, arranging them evenly over surface of skillet. For soft eggs, simmer for approximately 10 minutes, covering halfway through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with a warm tortilla or a piece of crusty bread.
Thanks to Christine Waltermyer & The Natural Kitchen Cooking School!
Christine Waltermyer is a local and renowned Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to subscribe to her email newsletter for new recipes, tips, and FREE access to the Power of Veggies mini-course!
This classic French salad combines tuna, baby potatoes, crisp green beans, boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing to make a hearty salad that can be served as a meal.
Niçoise Salad
This classic French salad combines tuna, baby potatoes, crisp green beans, boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing to make a hearty salad that can be served as a meal.
Cook the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover the potatoes. Add a teaspoon of the sea salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer, uncovered, on medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain and cool the potatoes. Slice them in half.
Cook the green beans. Fill another saucepan with water. Add sea salt to taste. Bring to a boil. Also, fill a bowl with some salted ice water. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for a few minutes, or until they are crisp-tender, but still bright green. Drain the green beans, then place them in the ice water for a few minutes. Drain and pat dry.
Cook the eggs. Place them in a saucepan. Cover with cold water by one inch. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cover and remove from the heat. Set a timer for 11 minutes. Drain the eggs and place them in an ice bath or run them under cold water to make them easier to peel. I like to peel them under cold running water as well. Slice the eggs in halves or quarters.
Make the lemon vinaigrette dressing. Whisk together in a bowl the lemon juice, anchovies, olive oil, brown or Dijon mustard and the white pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of this dressing to the cooked potatoes and toss.
Prep the tomatoes. Slice the tomatoes in half. Place them in a small bowl. Add a little sea salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.
Prep the lettuce. Wash and salad spin the lettuce. Separate the leaves. If using romaine lettuce like I did, you may wish to use only the more leafy tops.
Assemble the salad. Prepare either 4 to 6 individual plates, or 1 large serving platter. Arrange the lettuce, tuna, potatoes, green beans, eggs, artichoke hearts, capers, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives. Serve drizzled with the vinaigrette dressing.
Enjoy!
Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!
Tempeh is a savory and super versatile addition to your next dish. The nutty flavor and simple, clean ingredients pair perfectly with this crunchy edamame salad.
Tempeh Edamame Crunch Salad
Tempeh is a savory and super versatile addition to your next dish. The nutty flavor and simple, clean ingredients pair perfectly with this crunchy edamame salad.
