3 Salads with a Twist

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Salads can easily be an inspired weekday or weekend bite. Let’s keep it flavorful and effortless while thinking outside the bag of grab-and-go salad and bottled dressing. Here are three twists on the traditional wedge salad. 

Crunchy, fresh iceberg or Romaine (a healthier option) is the perfect foundation for your wedge salad. Kick up the flavor of the Romaine with a quick char on the grill or grill pan to make it interesting.

Each unique dressing allows for creative flavor and texture combinations, and it is easy to adapt these recipes based on your dietary needs. Prepare a creamy, dairy-free dressing, still packed with protein, by using raw cashews or almonds pureed in a blender for a silky-smooth texture. 

Honey Apple Cider Dressing

Yields 1 cup

Serve with sliced apples, walnuts or candied pecans, blue cheese and bacon.

Ingredients 

  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon or stone- ground mustard
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise 
  • 3 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the ingredients until smooth.
  2. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for one week.

Creamy Pistachio Lime Dressing

Yields 1.5 cups

Make this dairy-free dressing even creamier by adding an avocado. 

Serve with sweet corn, radish, roasted chicken or salmon, shaved manchego cheese and green onions. It’s tasty on a roasted potato salad, too. 

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup non-dairy milk
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 
  • 1/4 cup roasted pistachios
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp grated lime peel
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. 
  2. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for one week.

Traditional Blue Cheese Dressing

Yields 1.5 cups

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces blue cheese
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp milk or buttermilk
  • 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients until smooth. Add more milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency. 
  2. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for one week.