Travel Destinations & Culinary Adventures

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Get Your Greens On: Where to Find the Best Salads in Kansas

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Are you seeking a healthier dining option in Kansas? Find the freshest salads in the state using this handy restaurant guide.

City Limits Bar & Grill, Colby

City Limits Bar & Grill is a must-stop for travelers driving on KS I-70 who love an all-you-can-eat mega salad and soup bar. Other lunch menu items included burgers, chicken tenders, and hand-cut top sirloin. The food is downright delicious.

City Limits Bar & Grill Salad Bar is a limitless healthy lunch option in Colby, Kansas.Trio Tap House, Hays

Trio Tap House claims they are a place to enjoy “an honest meal and a proper good time,” and they are right. I nestled into my seat and reviewed the menu. I was craving a hearty salad. The Dry Aged Steak & Blue checked all the boxes. Ask about the Soup of the Day.

Tap Trio House Steak Salad can be made healthier if you remove the garlic bread.

McLain’s Market, Shawnee

McLain’s Market is where you go when craving fresh  salads, sandwiches, and soups for lunch. You can expect hearty salads with a slice of sourdough bread. They also serve delicious coffee and delectable breakfast pastries.

McLain's Market Quinoa Salad is prepared with anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Johnny’s Tavern, Lawrence

You can’t go wrong at Johnny’s Tavern, whether you order the Apple Walnut Crunch, Johnny’s Cobb, or Wedge salad. If you’re craving a savory bowl of soup, enjoy homemade chili, or ask about the Soup of the Day. House-made Jambalaya with andouille sausage brings the heat.

Johnny's Tavern Wedge Salad is an indulgent salad served with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.

The Glass Cat, Bonner Springs

A day in Bonner Springs is enhanced by a chef-prepared salad at The Glass Cat. The latest addition to the town’s dining scene, it’s become a local favorite for its lunch menu options, which often include protein-topped salads. If you’re in the mood for a chicken salad sandwich made with homemade bread, you’re in luck.

The Glass Cat Salad is tossed in a buttermilk dressing.

Willie’s Sports Pub, Atchison

Every town needs a celebrated restaurant like Willie’s Sports Pub, where locals and visitors can gather for heaping plates of food and a cold drink. Enjoy a Chicken Club Salad, Smoked Chef Salad, or Grilled Steak Salad while you watch the game. Similar recipes appear on the Sandwiches and Wraps menu.

Willie's Bar & Grill Chicken Salad arrives with a complimentary, warm breadstick.

Crown & Rye, Lindsborg

The Crown & Rye serves tasty meals, ranging from traditional Swedish dishes to burgers and salads. I recommend the Berry Salad, an iceberg and romaine salad topped with fresh berries, goat cheese, and the house vinaigrette. Other hearty meal options include the Crispy Chicken Salad and Cobb Salad.

Crown & Rye Spinach Salad arrives with drizzled balsamic glaze and a side of zesty dressing.

The Local Table, Newton

I researched restaurants with healthy menus and identified The Local Table (3001 Ivy Dr.), located inside Bluestem Communities. The fresh meal options were impressive and tasted delicious.
A new addition to North Newton’s community, the restaurant offers a breakfast and lunch menu featuring salads and burgers.
This hidden gem always has a heart-healthy salad on the seasonal menu, and it’s worth ordering. Try the Garden Salad with Blue Cheese, Mandarin Oranges, Pistachios, Cranberries, and Egg.
The Local Table Newton Kansas serves dressing on the side of its salads.

Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, Wichita

Tanya’s Soup Kitchen may be known for bowls of scratch-made soups and stews, but the restaurant’s salad menu deserves attention.

Order Cleopatra prepared with sliced chicken breast, apricot chutney, and feta cheese over mesclun for light lunch fare that delivers bold flavor. Four additional salad options are available using spinach or romaine lettuce.

Tanya's Soup Kitchen Chicken Salad is one of several option on the menu.

Nortons Brewing Company, Wichita

It’s not often that you find delectable salads on the menu at a brewery. At Nortons Brewing Company, the roughage menu lists three salads: Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad, Cobb Salad, and Side Salad – each served with house-made dressing. Come hungry because the super-sized salads are a meal that requires a fork and knife.

Nortons Brewing Company Cobb Salad can be served with grilled chicken.

Public at the Brickyard, Wichita

Located in a historic building in Old Town, Public at the Brickyard is known for serving farm-to-table entrees using locally sourced greens. Typically, the menu features about four salads with the option to add protein (smoked salmon, anyone?) or substitute vegan cheese.

Public at the Brickyard Lettuce Wraps are savory yet sweet.

HoneyBee Bruncherie, Humboldt

At HoneyBee Bruncherie, the lunch menu draws diners seeking made-to-order favorites. Thai Like Salad and mixed green salads with seasonal fruits and vegetables are beautifully plated, each with a bowl of soup or sweet potato waffle fries.

Honeybee Bruncherie Berry Salad is tossed in a light dressing.

Sharky’s Pub & Grub, Fort Scott

Sharky’s Pub & Grub towering sandwiches and seafood dishes may dominate the menu, but the Going Green section of the menu deserves a glance. Diners can choose from two salad options served with Texas toast and optional blue cheese crumbles.

Sharky's Pub & Grub Asian Salad meets your meal requirements for nutrition.

Verdent Bistro, Hays

Part restaurant, part event space, Verdant Bistro (230 E. 8th Street) caters to diners who appreciate a menu of chef-prepared pasta, steak, and seafood entrees.

At lunchtime, I recommend taking advantage of the soup and salad combination, which tasted delicious, and it was a value for the quality.

Part restaurant, part event space, Verdant Bistro caters to diners who appreciate a menu of chef-prepared pasta, steak, and seafood entrees.

TOAST, Pittsburg

Seekers of healthier dining who want to indulge in the season’s flavors should dine at TOAST, a restaurant known for sourcing local ingredients and artisan bread.

At mealtime, dig into tasty Avocado Smoked Salmon Toast or a dinner-size Grilled Cajun Shrimp Salad, served with a zesty house-made dressing.

Salad served at TOAST in Pittsburg, Kansas, includes regionally sourced ingredients. If your goal is to eat a lighter meal prepared with fresh ingredients, a garden salad is waiting for you at one of these Kansas restaurants. Menus change based on seasonal vegetables and the chef’s creativity, so ask each eatery for the latest salad options.

Spending time in Wichita, Kansas? View my complete guide to 10 Places to Dine in Wichita If You’re Seeking Healthier Menu Options.

Best Restaurant Salads in Kansas is a guide to eating healthier while traveling the Sunflower State. Best Restaurant Salads in Kansas is a guide to eating healthier while traveling the Sunflower State. Best Restaurant Salads in Kansas is a guide to eating healthier while traveling the Sunflower State.

 

Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash, and Spinach

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Do you shop at the farmers’ market in your town? Lately, I’ve traveled downtown to the market looking for locally grown vegetables and Kansas-sourced meat to use in new recipes. Since becoming a gardener, I’m more interested in knowing where my food comes from and how it is treated before I eat it.

The benefit of shopping locally is ten-fold, but some of the primary reasons I enjoy it is because 1.) The produce is organic and better in flavor 2.) I’m supporting the livelihood of Kansas farmers. 3.) I enjoy making friends with fellow foodies and discussing recipes.

I prepared Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash, and Spinach after purchasing two yellow squash and a box of fresh pasta from market vendors. Inspired by the ingredients and a similar recipe by Gordon Ramsey, I prepared an easy, weeknight meal full of flavor and layered in texture. The pasta dish turned out to be scrumptious. I loved the pillowy soft gnocchi (made from potatoes!) with the chunky veggies and sausage crumbles. Consider making it for your family this week.

Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash and Spinach

One Delightful Life
A hearty and healthy meal perfect for using up fresh vegetables.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 -5 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 14 oz. gnocchi
  • 1 lb. ground mild Italian sausage
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 2 diced yellow squash
  • 3 diced garlic cloves
  • 1/2 bag of baby spinach
  • 1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Shredded Parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground sausage on medium high until broken down and caramelized.
  • Remove sausage from the pan and drain on a plate of paper towels.
  • In a separate pan, add the olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add the diced yellow squash and stir occasionally until the squash is softened.
  • Add the diced garlic and stir until incorporated.
  • Add the spinach, tomatoes, and stir.
  • Add the drained sausage to the squash, garlic, spinach, and tomatoes. Stir until well mixed and turn the stove on low.
  • In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a rolling boil.
  • Add the gnocchi and stir it occasionally for 2-3 minutes until the pasta floats. Using a slotted spoon, drain the gnocchi by the spoonful and add it to the pot of sausage and vegetables. Gently fold it all to incorporate the ingredients.
  • Add salt and pepper and sprinkled Parmesan on each serving while hot.

You could also sprinkle a few ribbons of fresh basil on top of your warm bowl of pasta. I didn’t choose to do that since the gnocchi I purchased was already flavored with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.

If you love tomatoes, add more! Wish this recipe included mushrooms? Don’t have yellow squash; have zucchini instead? Trust yourself to swap or add ingredients.

If you make this recipe for two people, you’ll have at least two servings leftover for the next day’s lunch! Of course, let me know what you think of this yummy weeknight meal in the comments below.

Oh, and if you LOVE squash, try my recipe for Buttery Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Feta. It’s a delightful side dish for any fall season meal.

Spinach Fruit Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired of catering to my meat-and-potatoes man and I want to lighten up my entreé. While he wouldn’t be caught dead eating this fruit loaded salad, it’s one of my indulgences.

It makes a layered lunch or dinner salad that tastes tangy, sweet, and finishes with a hearty bacon flavor. Spinach Fruit Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing looks gorgeous. Yay for pretty food!

Note: You could use a store-bought raspberry vinaigrette, but the recipe is simple if you have the time to whisk it up.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

To make the salad base, simply layer or group the following ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing recipe below.

Ingredients:

  • spinach leaves
  • blueberries
  • sliced strawberries
  • sliced kiwi
  • sliced Gala apple
  • shredded cheddar cheese (feta or goat cheese could be substituted)
  • crumbled hickory bacon
  • slivered almonds (toasted walnut could be substituted)
  • Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing (see recipe below)

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

onedelightfullife.com
A light and tangy dressing, it adds a fruit forward flavor to any salad.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course dressing
Cuisine dinner, Lunch

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup raspberries
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 T honey
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • pinch of black pepper
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of black poppy seeds optional

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until well blended.
  • Refrigerate in a jar for one hour prior to serving, if time allows.
  • Shake jar before serving.

Notes

This dressing will last one week in a jar in your refrigerator.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

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If you love this salad, you will appreciate 6 Flavorful Salads with Dried Fruit. If traveling through my home state, Kansas, refer to Get Your Greens On: Where to Find the Best Salads in Kansas.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

 

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