Simple Side Salad Recipe
Here is an easy and simple salad recipe I created, which is the perfect accompaniment and can transform any meat or fish main dish to new levels.
Eating salads do not have to suck. Move over the depressing wilted baby spinach leaves, crunchy kale or iceberg lettuce (just water with added pesticides). Not forgetting most salads are ladened with excessive oils, typically seed/vegetable oils, hidden nasties like gluten, wheat or preservatives, which all adds to your energy intake and metabolism.
This healthy and optimal salad is quick to make, does not require an extensive list of ingredients and is friendly for any cooking skill.
HOW TO MAKE A SALAD EASY AND HEALTHY
For a salad to work, it requires, like most food - quality ingredients. When we use subpar ingredients - we get subpar results. So investing in the best ingredients available is vital.
We can also pick the best ingredients available to us. What that might look like: opting for the firmest tomato or the vegetables at the back of the fridge, which is a hack to get the freshest one instead of the ones that have been sitting there for days. Do not just buy off looks alone. A bright red tomato - might look appealing, and how it should appeal to us to say, “look at me, I am plump and full of sugar and bursting with taste”, but some farmers have harnessed this to hybrid their crops with more naturally appealing appearances. However, it does not equate to taste.
The same can be valid to the human body with looking good in the gym, then looking at a blood chemistry test result and seeing low free testosterone and that there is nonexistent libido. Nevertheless, it is all good. Looking good on the outside is all that matters.
I think you get the picture.
When constructing this salad, there is nothing to cook. Hooray.
It all comes down to the preparation of the ingredients, ensuring we work with the ingredients and know their strengths and weaknesses. For example, carrots are thick and tough to chew. If we cut them straightway, they become chunky and awkward to chew and do not mix well with the other ingredients. We need to be harnessing each ingredient and complimenting them with texture and taste.
EASY HEALTHY SALAD TO SERVE WITH MEAT OR STEAK
SSearching for a simple and easy salad can be complex and daunting. It is about picking the best available ingredients and then treating them with care and attention to maximise them.
There is nothing more simplistic than throwing together local and seasonal vegetables (perhaps some fruit) and making a dressing with lemon or lime or apple cider vinegar and a touch of extra virgin olive oil.
We are experiencing the crunch from a carrot, bitterness from arugula (or wild rocket), sweetness from a tomato or earthiness from a beetroot. Combining these ingredients results in an explosion in the mouth, which is an aid to complementing a high-quality portion of meat. The salad should not overpower the meat or steak. We want simplicity. The meat or steak should be the star of the show, and we do not need to add a kilogram of cheese or a whooping amount of honey to the dressing to dilute the purest flavours of meat or vegetables. However, this often occurs. For example, A burger emulsified with ketchup, or burger sauce, roast chicken with coleslaw but swimming in mayonnaise. These examples and many more are missing the point and changing our taste buds with woeful overstimulated flavours, which would rarely be designed by nature. That is why starting with quality ingredients, stripping all the fuss back, and allowing the authentic flavours to speak for themselves.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS HEALTHY SIDE SALAD
My preferred choice for this simple healthy side salad is a slow-cooked or rich meat. The salad can cut throw intense flavours and provide crunch and different complementary textures.
With my cooking, there are no rules. You can choose as you please. Remove anything you dislike and swap for something more suitable for your needs. Adjust more or less.
Other options to serve with this salad could include Pork belly, pork ribs, lamb shoulder, lamb shanks, or ribs, Beef ribs, barbecued chicken wings, or drumsticks.
EASY HEALTHY SIDE SALAD
Serves: 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 0
Skill level: Easy to medium
EASY HEALTHY SIDE SALAD INGREDIENTS
60 grams of wild rocket / Arugula
30 grams of watercress
Small bunch (10 grams) Fresh herbs: Mint, Basil, Coriander, Flat Parsley
1 medium carrot - sliced thinly on a diagonal
1 medium beetroot - peeled and then grated
1 medium apple - diced to matchsticks
Fresh Lemon or lime - Use 1/2 juice of one.
1 tbsp of roughly chopped nuts - I used macadamia nuts
1/4 red onion - sliced thinly
2 Breakfast radishes - thinly sliced
1/2 jalapeño pepper (optional)
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Celtic sea salt
To serve with:
Avocado / Guacamole
Fresh grilled fish
Juicy grass fed steak
A slow cooked pork belly
EASY HEALTHY SIDE SALAD recipe
Prepare all ingredients so that you are ready to go.
Using a wide saucepan add each prepped ingredient.
With the beetroot you can drain or remove the excess water with kitchen paper by squeezing.
Save the jalapeno pepper, 40% of the fresh herbs, red onion, macadamia nuts and olive oil, lemon juice till last as they are the final pieces.
Mix well and when ready to serve dress with the olive oil and juice.
Add the final pieces on top and serve with your main dish.
EASY HEALTHY SIDE SALAD NUTRITION FACTS
Based on 1 serving
Calories: 195
Protein: 2.7
Carbs: 22.6
Fat: 10.4
Fibre: 5.3
Vitamin B1: 0.1mg
Vitamin B2: 0.1mg
Vitamin B3: 0.8mg
Vitamin B5: 0.4mg
Vitamin B6: 0.2mg
Vitamin B9: 87.4ug
Vitamin B12: 0ug
Choline: 16.7mg
Vitamin A: 6189IU
Retinol (Active Vitamin A): 0ug
Vitamin C: 18mg
Vitamin D: 0IU
Vitamin E: 1.7mg
Vitamin K: 66ug
Calcium: 90mg
Copper: 0.1mg
Iron: 1.2mg
Magnesium: 41mg
Manganese: 0.5mg
Potassium: 518mg
Selenium: 0.7ug
Zinc: 0.5mg
Omega 3: 0.1g
Omega 6: 0.8g