vinaigrette Archives - Sara Haas, RDN, LDN

Arugula Salad with Apricots and Champagne Vinaigrette

in LUNCH / Recipes / SALADS March 14, 2016March 6, 2017 3 comments

It’s time to break out the salad bowl!

And it’s time to switch things up a bit. Yes, romaine is good and so are tomatoes and all of the other “usual” salad suspects, but why not try something new? What would you say to Arugula Salad with Apricots and Champagne Vinaigrette?

“That’s too fancy!” Is that perhaps your answer? I sure hope not because that’s just not true. Yes, it may sound fancy, but the ingredients are simple and the recipe is easy. See, not fancy at all!

My new salad obsession just happens to begin with my favorite green, baby arugula. There’s just something special about that little green leaf. It’s just so….spicy and interesting. And I like my food spicy and interesting! When you pair arugula with dried chopped apricots (for a little sweetness), sliced apples, pistachios, feta cheese and champagne vinaigrette, you’ve got a unique salad that is incredibly interesting (and nutritious).

So bust out that bowl and salad tongs and get mixing!

The Pretty Pictures of My Arugula Salad with Apricots and Champagne Vinaigrette:

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Arugula Salad with Apricots and Champagne Vinaigrette

Author: Sara Haas

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Description

Arugula tastes divine tossed with dried apricots, pistachios, fresh apple and a crisp champagne vinaigrette!

Ingredients

Scale

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
4 cups baby arugula, washed (2 ounces)
1/2 medium apple, cored and sliced into thin strips or julienned (2 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup dried apricots, diced (1 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup roasted, salted pistachios, roughly chopped (1 ounce)

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, honey and vinegar. Pour in the olive oil and whisk until combined. Stir in the dried thyme.
To a large salad or mixing bowl, add the baby arugula along with the apple, apricots, feta cheese and pistachios. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
Portion onto plates and enjoy!

Notes

Make it meal! Just add sliced chicken or garbanzo beans.
Recipe makes about 3 tablespoons dressing.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4
Calories: 175
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 171
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 3
Unsaturated Fat: 9
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 14
Protein: 4
Cholesterol: 8

Black Bean Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

in LUNCH / Recipes / SALADS September 2, 2015March 6, 2017 11 comments

Well, it’s officially September and it’s blazing saddles here in Chicago. That means it’s time to be creative in the kitchen. Read, “how can I cook without cooking?” Luckily, Mother Nature is on our side during the warmer months, providing us with a wealth of fresh produce that requires very little preparation. How kind of Her! So, to keep the sweat at bay, I created this hearty bean salad that’s both refreshing and satisfying.

If you’ve got a can opener and a knife, you’re all set for this recipe. Just pop open a couple of cans of beans, then chop up some fresh veggies and you’ve pretty much got this dish made. Lots of beans and veggies means you know it’s good for you, which is just an added bonus, really. Then, to jazz it all up a bit, I’ve created a tangy, yet sweet vinaigrette made from fresh lime juice and zest as well as honey, mustard and olive oil. That’s it! So easy, just like I promised.

Serve up a big bowl of this tonight for dinner and save the rest to munch on during the week. This salad tastes even better after a day or two in the fridge.

P.S. – If you’re not in the mood to cook an ear of fresh corn, you can substitute thawed corn or canned corn. See, so easy!

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Black Bean Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette

Author: Sara Haas

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Description

This delightfully healthy dish comes together fast and it not only looks beautiful, but tastes great too.

Ingredients

Scale

For the salad

1 ear of fresh corn, shucked and cleaned (or about 1 cup corn kernels)
1 can (15 ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (or any other bean will work here too)
1 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded, stemmed and diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded, stemmed and diced
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced (optional)

For the dressing

1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 lime, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup olive oil
sea salt, to taste

Instructions

To prepare the salad

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the corn and return to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes, then drain and rinse the corn under cold water to stop the cooking process. Pat dry and when cool enough to touch, cut kernels from the cob and add to a large serving or mixing bowl.
To the same bowl with the corn, add the beans, peppers, onion, cilantro and jalapeño, if you’re using it. Toss to combine.

For the dressing

In a small mixing bowl, combine the mustard, lime zest, lime juice and honey. Whisk in the olive oil.

To serve

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to evenly coat the beans and vegetables. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. Toss again before serving.

Notes

This recipe makes between 7 1/2 and 8 cups salad.
You don’t have to let this salad sit in the fridge before digging in, but it does taste so much better when you do!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 8
Calories: 201
Sugar: 7
Sodium: 140
Fat: 10
Saturated Fat: 1
Unsaturated Fat: 8
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 25
Protein: 6
Cholesterol: 0

Recipe Redux: Lacinato Kale Salad with Peaches and Maple Vinaigrette

in LUNCH / Recipe Redux / Recipes / SALADS July 21, 2015March 6, 2017 6 comments

July is an amazing time of year in Chicago. The parks are bursting with activity, the pools are packed with every kid in the neighborhood and it seems like everyone is outside, enjoying every ray of sunshine. It’s a magical time of year here, and I love it. That energy always inspires me in the kitchen. I’ve long forgotten about those hearty winter dishes because my “palette” has been replaced with fresh, beautiful, summer produce.

That brings me to this month’s Recipe Redux theme, which is simply, use the beautiful produce that surrounds you to create a delicious dish. Challenge accepted! Seeing as I love a good salad, I turned my sights to one of my favorite greens, kale. Not just any kale though, dark green, dinosaur or lacinato kale. I love this type of kale, not just because it’s nutritious (that dark green color means it’s laden with good-for-you antioxidants!), but because it’s a bit sweeter and a little more tender than it’s conventional counterpart. It also makes a lovely salad when sliced into fun, thin little ribbons.

Kale is a good start, but then, what should I top it with? Well, of course more gorgeous produce! How about a bell pepper and oh, what about a delicious, ripe, juicy peach? And for a little crunch (and to get some healthy fats in there), how about some walnuts? Then, to keep things simple, a vinaigrette made with only five ingredients, all of which are kitchen staples. Success! (I forgot to mention the goat cheese, a definite necessity, don’t leave it out!)

Enjoy this lacinato kale salad with peaches and maple vinaigrette as a meal by topping it with grilled chicken or tofu. Or scoop it into bowls and serve it on the side with any summer meal. It can make a great appetizer too, a perfect starter that’s refreshing and just happens to be nutritious too!

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Lacinato Kale Salad with Peaches and Maple Vinaigrette

Author: Sara Haas

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Ingredients

Scale

For the dressing

1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon minced shallot
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the salad

1 bunch (about 12 ounces) lacinato kale, thoroughly washed
1 ripe peach, pitted and thinly sliced
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted
1/2 shallot, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded, stemmed and thinly sliced
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

To make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and shallot. Continue to whisk while streaming in the olive oil, mixing until combined.
To make the salad: Remove the stems from the kale and reserve for another use (slice and use in a soup, for example). Thinly slice the kale leaves and place them in a large mixing bowl. Give the kale leaves a good massage with your hands to help soften them. Add half of the dressing and toss to coat. Let sit for about 10 minutes then add the peach slices, walnuts, shallot, pepper, goat cheese, along with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add the remaining dressing and carefully toss everything together. Serve immediately.