I love a hearty salad, and I especially appreciate the salads from Panera Bread. But at $11 per salad, dining there can get costly! My go-to order at Panera is the Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken. So, in an effort to make it myself I decided to dehydrate apples and create a kind of copycat version. As a bonus, I’m including a round-up of heart-healthy salads created by several of my food blogging friends. Any of these scrumptious recipes can be made during the week to tote to work for lunch or to serve as a lighter dinner option. Enjoy!
Gala Apple Salad with Rotisserie Chicken, Goat Cheese, and Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Made with mixed greens and tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is a combination of tangy and sweet flavors. My salad recipe is made with dried apples, freshly shredded rotisserie chicken (buy one at the store!), tomatoes, goat cheese crumbles, red onion slices, and almond slices. I also love adding dried cranberries or golden raisins when I want more fruit flavor.
Preparing this salad is as simple as coating a large salad bowl with your desired amount of homemade balsamic vinaigrette (recipe below), adding the salad ingredients, and using tongs to toss the salad mixture until evenly coated with dressing. I think you’re going to love it!
One Delightful Life
About 1 cup
This tangy yet slightly sweet vinaigrette can be used as a dressing over almost any salad.
10 minPrep Time
10 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 T. Agave Nectar Light
- 1 T. Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 c. olive oil
- 1 finely diced garlic clove
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
- (You can also add all of the ingredients to a mason jar, add lid, and shake vigorously until well mixed.)
- Serve immediately.
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Farro Spinach Salad with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Yay! For Food’s salad is described as a sweet and savory vegan salad featuring the healthy whole grain: farro! Marie’s Farro Spinach Salad with Dried Fruit and Nuts recipe brings all the flavor and it’s nutritious. Farro, a grain that is nutty in flavor but a bit sweet, is high in fiber and a good source of protein and iron. Like rice, it is sold dried and prepared in water until it softens.
Moroccan Couscous Salad
Contributing food blogger, Marlee from ijustmakesandwiches.com, says her Moroccan Couscous Salad is made with dried fruit such as apricots and raisins and tossed with a lemon vinaigrette. She suggests that this cold couscous salad be served with roasted chicken or salmon. The Mediterranean couscous adds texture to this highly flavorful salad!
Apple Fig Walnut Rocket Salad
This recipe is a winner! It combines some of my favorite flavors including fresh fig. Rhian of hintohealthy.com made it using “crunchy apples, jammy dried figs, earthy walnuts and peppery rocket (arugula) coated in a garlicky pesto dressing!” Learn how to make this gluten-free, vegan Apple Fig Walnut Rocket Salad for your next brunch or lunch with friends.
Kale Salad with Apples and Cranberries + Tahini Dressing
The best part of making a salad is that it versatile. This hearty kale salad made with tahini dressing gets its texture from the leafy bits of kale, pumpkin seeds, chunks of apples, and dried cranberries. All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl and toss it with the dressing! Not a fan of tahini? You could serve Hint of Healthy’s Kale Salad with Apples and Cranberries with a vinaigrette dressing as well.
Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
A perfect salad to make during the fall, Cooking Carnival’s Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad combines the rich flavors of chopped kale, onion, butternut squash, quinoa, pecans, cranberries, and balsamic vinaigrette. I could see making this healthy salad as my entire dinner!
Love what you see here and want yet another salad option? If you’re on the hunt for a mostly fruit salad layered on a bed of fresh greens, you’ll adore my Spinach Fruit Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette.
I’m always eager to add another fresh salad to my line-up of weeknight stars, so be sure to add your recipe idea to the comments below!
