Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Recipe for Blueberry Garden Salad


Thanks to blueberries, walnuts, and leafy greens, this salad is rich in flavor, omega-3s, and antioxidants. The lime twist in the creamy dressing helps to blend the flavors of the smoky Gouda with the blueberries and walnuts. Enjoy this versatile blueberry salad as a hearty first course or stand-alone meal.

Blueberry Garden Salad Recipe

Serves 4


Ingredients for the Salad:

8 cups salad greens, such as Romaine or spring mix, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
1 and 1/3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup walnut pieces
1 carrot, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
1/2 cucumber, peeled and sliced into quarter rounds
1/3 cup grated smoked Gouda cheese

Ingredients for the Creamy Cucumber Lime Dressing*:

1/3 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into pieces
1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
2/3 cup mayonnaise (do not substitute Miracle Whip)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup, honey, or sugar
1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes or fresh chopped parsley

*Quick alternate dressing version: Add 1 teaspoon lime juice to 1 cup of bottled cucumber ranch dressing.


Salad Preparation:

  1. Place 2 cups of salad greens on each plate or in salad bowls.
  2. Sprinkle carrot rounds and cucumber quarters atop greens. Add walnuts and grated smoked Gouda.
  3. For best presentation, top with blueberries after the desired amount of dressing has been poured over each salad.

Dressing Preparation:

  1. Add seeded cucumber (1/3 cup) and remaining dressing ingredients to blender jar. Blend until dressing is smooth and creamy.
  2. Pour desired amount of dressing over each salad.

No comments: