This is nutrient-dense, dinner sized salad with a delicious, creamy oil-free dressing! This makes 2 large salads or 4 small.
Equipment
BLENDER (for the dressing)
Ingredients
Creamy Cashew Dressing
1cup(140 g) cashews, soaked in hot water for 1 to 3 hours (soaking optional)
¼cup(60 ml) fresh lemon juice
3garlic clovescrushed and peeled
2teaspoons(10 ml) maple syrup (optional)
1rounded tablespoon9 g capers
2teaspoons(8 g) Dijon mustard
2teaspoons(10 g) white miso
Few grinds black pepper
Sea salt to taste
½cup(118 ml) water, plus more if needed to thin
¼ to ½teaspoonground turmericoptional
Pinchred pepper flakesoptional
Salad
1medium head romaine lettucewashed, spun dry, and chopped
1cup(185 g) cooked and cooled white quinoa
1cup(240 g )cooked or canned chickpeas or black beans, drained and rinsed
1bell pepperany colour, stem and core removed, thinly sliced
Large handful of broccoli floretsfinely chopped
½English cucumberdiced small or thinly sliced
½cup(50 g) pitted black or green olives, halved or left whole
¼cup(22 g) sliced almonds or pumpkin seeds
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional additions: chopped avocadocapers, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers
Instructions
Drain the cashews (if you soaked them) and discard the soaking liquid. Place them in a blender with all the other dressing ingredients. Blend on high until completely smooth. Some of the flavorful bits might get stuck on the sides of the blender. Scrape down the sides and blend again. Taste the dressing and reseason with salt or pepper as needed.
Add all the salad ingredients to a big salad bowl. You can layer them in any order or arrange them in sections for some eye candy. Pour half the dressing over everything and toss to combine. Make sure all the lettuce is coated. Add more dressing if desired. Taste and season with salt and /or pepper and serve.