With lovely summer weather comes picnics, BBQ’s + simple dinners. And with so many options available a summer salad is hard to beat. Most can be turned into a meal by simply adding chicken, tofu or egg….while others are better as a side dish to compliment a plate.
At Take Five Café, simple salads with fresh, local ingredients are one of our summer favourites. Visit us to grab one as a convenient healthy lunch on the go. Or if you’re prepping for a group, check out a couple of our make-at-home versions perfect for your next patio meal.
Italian Bean Salad
4 cups of mixed beans
(white, green garbanzo, black, kidney)
¾ cup diced cucumber
¾ cup diced tomato
¾ cup fresh torn spinach leaves
Vinaigrette
½ cup red wine vinegar
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon salt
¼ tsp cracked black pepper
Mix dressing ingredients together + shake vigorously. Pour over salad.
Refrigerate 2 hours before serving for best flavour results.
Mixed Green Salad with Raspberry Dressing
1 pound mixed field greens
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup toasted pecans
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
½ cup sunflower seeds, toasted
½ cup radishes, sliced
1 ½ cups feta cheese, crumbled
Vinaigrette
1 cup fresh raspberries
2 tablespoon honey
½ cup red wine vinegar
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Combine the raspberries, vinegar + honey in a blender until smooth. Slowly stream in the olive oil until combined. Season to taste. Toss salad gently with vinaigrette + serve immediately.
Enjoy the season!
Posted in Take Five Cafe Food