Saturday, May 21, 2011

Kickin' It Up A Notch

Fiesta Chopped Salad with Lime & Honey Dressing

Since I have been reading Eat to Live
Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, 
I  have learned the importance for a volume of mixed vegetables, (2 lbs a day he says to be the goal) getting in a variety of colors, and the many health benefits of beans. So I was thinking of ways to incorporate a greater mix of colorful veggies and beans and came up with this spicy little number. 

I just loved chopped salads and the way you get a mix of flavors in every bite. I even branched out and added some veggies that alone are not my favs but are so worth the vitamins and minerals and guess what? Mixed in they are subtle enough to just add to the overall flavor without being noticeable.

I mixed this all up last night and Mr. "I don't like salads much" devoured 2/3 of the huge bowl! Since Dr. Fuhrman says vegetables and beans can be eaten in unlimited quantities, it's all good.


The Tossed Fiesta Chopped Salad

The Recipe:


The Salad Ingredients:
black beans, corn salsa, jicama, romaine, red pepper, radish, tomatoes, carrots, green onions, avocado
1 head of romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
1 can 15.5 oz organic low salt black beans, rinsed and well drained
1 1/2 cup chopped jicama (I actually had picked up some jicama sticks from the the store and chopped)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
4 radishes, grated
3 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 carrots, grated
1/4 cup green onions, diced
1/2 avocado, diced
2 cups raw or blanched corn or corn salsa (secret ingredient -see below)

Put Greens in bottom of large bowl. Layer remaining ingredients except avocado in decorative piles around top if you like.
When ready to serve, toss with dressing and plate with avocado added to the top.

Fiesta Salad Plated With Avocado


Lime & Honey Dressing
EVOO, honey, cilantro, lime, jalapeño, garlic
2 tbsp honey
3 limes, juiced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 tsp chopped and seeded jalapeño pepper or more to taste

Mix together


A word about the corn salsa:
Trader Joes' Corn and Chili Tomato Less Salsa

I found this on my last trip to Trader Joe's and thought it worth a try. It's not raw but it is really delicious! I barely could keep R from eating it all up while I prepared the salad. I can see just adding black beans or even mango and beans to it and eating it as a salad by itself.

Fiesta Salad With Added Brown Rice

If you are wanting a little more hearty of a meal, or want to stretch your leftovers, you could add some brown rice to it as well. Although, this salad is really filling on it's own.

Olé





15 comments:

Denise said...

That is the most beautiful salad I've seen in a long time! Sadly, I don't have all of the ingredients because I want to eat it now! We *are* having the salad dressing tonight, though. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for the recipes!

Jodi is Purely Nourished said...

Denise you are so welcome and thanks for the lovely comments. We just finished the left overs and I am already wanting more.

Mike said...

Looks really good!

Jason said...

Looks Delicious ! Very inspirational.

Jodi is Purely Nourished said...

Thanks Jason. Trying to inspire myself too.

Bette said...

Beauty full...I love it! Mexi food has been my favorite these days. have had lots of it! mmmmm

Nicola said...

All those vibrant colors make it look so appetising.

Debbie said...

Wow! So colorful, reminds me of an artists' palette!

queenofkale said...

Jodi-I love your salad. I am making this tonight. I think I have found my salad soul sista!
Deb

Jodi said...

Deb- this one is SO good. I'm going to be hard pressed to find one I like better but I'll keep trying. :-)

kathleen said...

Jodi...this looks sooooooo good and easy! I'm making the Honey & Lime Dressing tonight!

Aimee Knight said...

Delicious salad. Should fix my craving for Mexican! The dressing sounds perfect.

Jodi is Purely Nourished said...

Aimee- thanks for commenting. I hope you try it and enjoy!

Frannie said...

I just love colorful salads. Very beautiful.

Jodi is Purely Nourished said...

Thank you Frannie! Me too!

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