Summer is beginning to smolder, especially here in the South, which means that cooks everywhere are beginning to make their dishes as light and crisp as the word “entrée.” How do you move beyond that sluggish summer slump? Try this quick, refreshing recipe. You’ll feel revived in no time.
Ingredients:
- Slivered almonds
- Sugar
- 1 bag spring mix/mixed greens
- Fresh strawberries, sliced into quarters
- Goat cheese, crumbled
- Creamy poppy seed salad dressing (recommended: Newman’s Own Poppy Seed Dressing)
- Texas Toast garlic and butter croutons (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small pan, pour slivered almonds and sprinkle with sugar. Bake almonds 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. Pour desired amount of spring mix into a large bowl or individual salad bowls.
3. Top with strawberries, goat cheese, toasted almonds, dressing, and croutons. Mix thoroughly before serving.
Backstory: I credit this recipe in part to my friend Keri, but also to my bashfulness. Keri brought this salad to a dinner party we both attended in college. Despite the fact that it was one of the best salads I had ever tasted, I was shy (still am) and didn’t ask her for the recipe. So I remembered the ingredients, made minor changes, and recreated it. Don’t tell Keri, but I think mine turned out better!
Tips:
1. Don’t worry about measuring. (That’s right, you recipe followers out there, I said it!) Think about it. Everyone likes his or her salad to taste just a little bit differently because everyone likes certain ingredients more than others. Personally, I love goat cheese and an abundance of toppings and sauces in general, so I’m inclined to continue adding ingredients until they just barely cover the top layer of my greens. Simply consider the ingredients you’re using and how much you like them, then top accordingly.
2. Choosing a good salad dressing is also key to making this a successful salad. I like to use Newman’s Own Poppy Seed Dressing because it’s made with all-natural ingredients and absolutely no high fructose corn syrup. Just keep in mind that two tablespoons is 140 calories, so use it sparingly.
3. Lastly, eat as much as you want. You’ll feel full quickly, and as long as you add goat cheese and dressing in moderation, it is pretty healthy. Enjoy!
