a salad recipe for people who hate salads

If you’re like me, salad just doesn’t excite you too much. I have tried to get on the salad bandwagon… I mean there are so many health benefits to a good salad filled with veggies, protein, and leafy greens. But to me, they just usually aren’t too delicious. More often than not, I find that either the dressing is soaking only one spot or I’m only eating the goat cheese (oops) and so on…

So, I decided I needed to come up with a good salad recipe that both satisfies, tastes delicious, and mixes in health and taste. This salad would be great for a barbecue, once the weather warms up, and I think it would also make a great lunch packed up the next day for work.

I personally also love how this salad looks! There are so many delicious ingredients that every bite would be tasty and colorful all at once.

Recipe:

• 1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt + pepper
• 2 pound Yellowfin tuna steaks, about 1 1/2″ thick
• 1/2 lb green beans
• 1/2 lb fingerling potatoes
• 1 jar of artichoke hearts, drained
• 5 ounces baby arugula
• 1 cup olives, halved
• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
• Grill tuna for 3-4 min on both sides, season w/ salt and pepper.
• Pack the potatoes in tin foil and place on the grill for 25 min with a bit of oil, until they are cooked through.
• Spread the green beans on the grill with a little bit of oil and cook until they’re slightly crispy.
• Toss everything else together in a big bowl, add in the cut up tuna, chopped potatoes, and grilled green beans. Drizzle w/ the vinaigrette you made in the beginning and enjoy!

Bonus Recipe!!  So every single Friday night, at my house, my family and I make homemade pizza and it is my absolute favorite thing to eat. I always find myself eating roughly 5 slices. (They’re tinier than regular pizza slices, ok?!) This pizza recipe would make a great summer meal, gathered around a BBQ with some friends and a cold corona w/ lime. Aaah.

Pizza generally isn’t that healthy, I know. But being healthy is also about balance. I think it’s important to treat myself to indulgences when I really want to and I try to savor every single bite. It’s worth it. And necessary that I don’t beat myself up afterwards but rather feel happy that I just enjoyed something delicious!

Recipe:

• 1 large ripe pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 small package of sliced proscuitto
• 1 lb fresh mozzarella cheese
• salt + pepper
• olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh oregano
• 4 rounds of (whole wheat if you want!) pizza dough

Instructions:

• Place pineapples in a ziploc bag and add in honey, hot sauce, and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Shake it up!! Then, when they are coated, grill the pineapples for 6-8 min on the grill.
• Heat up your grill to high and coat with olive oil. Place your pizza on the grill. (You can use a cookie sheet if you’d like to place the pizza on top of that too.) Close the grill and let the pizza cook for about 2 min. Add on all your toppings, including your pineapple. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Close the grill for another 2 min. Garnish with oregano and enjoy!

What are your favorite things to cook when the weather gets warmer?? Comment below 😀