This salad is like a fresh breath of Summer but it is not an attempt to mock the season on its tail end. It’s raining outside while I am writing this piece and the cool brush of wind is indicative that Summer season is about to retire soon. But still, I ask you to grant me this indulgence to talk about this recipe I love referring to as my summer salad.
I’ll jump on any excuse to whip up this recipe. Unlike any other, this salad can withstand the hungry expectation of any season. It has pulled me through the gloomy funk of rainy days and brought me back to the season of chasing sunrise and flirting with sunset.
Come rain or shine, it is a healthy food I often have on my table I could have called it The Salad for All Season. But I may risk offending a local celebrity slash politician that my mother so admires hence, let’s just settle for summer salad.
This is an easy salad to put together and it does possess the leniency to accommodate little changes and adjustments here and there. Often, I would opt for Romaine lettuce as the base for this salad because for one, I am nowhere near Yuma, Arizona where there's an e.coli outbreak related to lettuce, and second, it is my favorite of all the lettuce family.
This particular Romaine lettuce just like some of the other produce I used for this recipe comes from Organic Veggie Mommies. It is organic so there is no fear of sneaky chemicals silently harming my health while enjoying this healthy grub - there is no room for ironic health sabotage here.
The combination of pear, apple, orange, and cherry tomatoes is a pretty solid option for elements that comprise a good summer salad. Sometimes, I would throw in chunks of pineapple if it's available. Sometimes, slices of ripe mango and pieces of different berries too. As long as there's a fine balance of sweet, tangy, and tart flavor profile, all shall be well.
I love adding some nuts too for that interesting bend in texture. Roasted almond which I often use is always divine, but pecan or cashew are good candidates too.
I have an arsenal of vinaigrette salad dressing recipes for my disposal but nothing reminds me of summer than that of the combination of lime and honey. Of course, lemon can be a stellar substitute but for this recipe, I used lime which acidity proved to be perfect in countering the sweetness of the honey that I got from a friend's bee farm.
Now, I believe that honey is the only thing that's keeping this recipe from being vegan friendly, so, if you are one, feel free to substitute. I made this once using maple syrup and it still yields a delightful result. I have yet to try it with agave and coconut nectar, I have high hopes nonetheless.
It is totally optional, but if feeling indulgent, a sprinkle or two of Italian seasoning can make a whole world of difference in this vinaigrette recipe. I also added half a teaspoon of organic flax seed meal for an extra boost in fiber and omega-3. Sometimes, I would thrown in chia seeds or hemp seeds if I want it to be a bit creamy.
This salad, no matter the season, will remind you of the bright days of summer. When making this, it is very wise to opt for organic produce as much as possible because really, until when will you fool yourself into thinking that you are eating healthy produce when at the the back of your mind you know that your food could be laden with stuff made with chemicals?
A good source of organic produce which I can highly recommend is Organic Veggie Mommies. It is an online marketplace for organic produce and the best thing about them is that they can deliver your orders right at your door. I have written about them here on the blog, feel free to check them out.
Organic Summer Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette Dressing
This recipe for Organic Summer Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette is so easy to make. It is good especially during hot summer days but it can also be a perfect healthy option any season of the year.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Yield: 3 - 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 heads of Romaine Lettuce (chopped or torn to bite size pieces)
- 1 medium Apple (seeded and chopped to bite size pieces)
- 1 medium Pear (seede and chopped to bite size pieces)
- 1 medium Orange (peeled, seeded, and chopped to bite size pieces)
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 1/2 cup Roasted slivered almonds
- 1 cup Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Recipe for Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
- 6 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Lime (juiced)
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. Flax seed meal (optional)
- 1/8 tsp. Salt
- 1/8 tsp. Freshly ground back pepper
Cooking Directions:
- Make Honey Lemon Vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, Italian seasoning, flax seed meal, salt, pepper. Set aside.
- In a big salad bowl, combine Romaine lettuce, apple, pear, orange, cherry tomatoes, almond, then toss.
- Drizzle the vinaigrette on the salad then mix until well coated when ready to eat otherwise, you may serve the vinaigrette on the side.
Summer is already coming to an end and it may leave in its wake the longing for something that quenches the thirst for warm days. If you're going to take heed, may I suggest to give this salad a chance?
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