This strawberry spinach salad will not disappoint, with it’s nutritious and wholesome ingredients. It really packs a punch in the protein department featuring quinoa, black beans AND almonds! Plus the spinach and black beans also provide a healthy dose of iron. All the while, keeping this dish vegan friendly and gluten free, and absolutely delicious!
Fresh and yummy salads are a great way to eat clean, and stick to that resolution you may or may not have made not so long ago.
This strawberry spinach salad is accompanied by an amazing strawberry basil dressing that is oil free and low in calories! The dressing itself is made using only THREE ingredients plus water to thin it out.
But if you think that only 3 ingredients means this dressing is anything but flavourful, think again. Or better yet, just try it!
The method is super simple too, just add your ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. I use a Vitamix, but any blender will do.
Why soak the almonds?
If you’re short on time, and you can’t spare the 10 minutes you need to soak the almonds, you may skip this step.
However, soaking the almonds in boiling hot water allows them to soften slightly. I find salads a little easier to munch on when the nuts have been soaked. Plus, the soaking process helps the nut to release nutrients more easily. So in theory, you’d be able to absorb the nutrients into your body better as well.
More nutritious salads & dressings
- Orange Kale Salad w/ Oil Free Citrus Dressing
- Oil Free Cowboy Caviar
- Vegan Chicken Salad
- Cranberry Broccoli Salad w/ Poppy Seed Dressing
- Cabbage Quinoa Salad
If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.
Buon appetito,
Rosa
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1.5 cups quinoa cooked
- 1 cup purple cabbage shredded
- ½ cup chopped almonds soaked in boiling water 10 mins then drained
- 1 can black beans drained & rinsed
- 1 cup fresh cilantro chopped (or parsley)
- 5 strawberries sliced
For the Dressing
- 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2-4 tablespoon water
Instructions
For the Salad
- Layer all your ingredients in the order listed in a serving dish or bowl.
For the Dressing
- Add all the ingredients to your blender, starting with 2 tablespoons of the water and process until pureed and smooth. Add more water until desired consistency is achieved. Drizzle over your salad or serve separately so everyone can dress their own.
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