Harvest Salad with Maple Cinnamon Vinaigrette

We’re just past the half-way point of our Six Weeks of Salads journey, and if this has taught me anything, it’s that I tend to think arugula is the only acceptable salad-leaf. Baby arugula is, in my mind, the undisputed champion of the salad world. Why deal with lettuce, which is essentially just less flavorful arugula? So, I guess, I learned two things: lettuce belongs on sandwiches, and arugula is king. Things would get pretty boring, though, if I kept offering you arugula salads every single time. So, I’m changing things up. No arugula here, and thankfully, no lettuce either.

I never was a big salad person growing up. Unless the salad had no lettuce in it, in which case I was easily convinced. So, when I grew up and started having to reason with my own self to eat my vegetables, I tried all sorts of different new and exciting salads. I had a very simple garden salad made on baby arugula with some feta, tomatoes, onions, and a simple lemony dressing. I also had raw broccoli in a broccoli salad. Similarly, I had raw brussels sprouts in a salad, too.

I’ve had many different salads over the years, but the most fun, stand-out experiences for me was when I had these vegetables, that I’d only ever had cooked, in salad form. That’s why when I was brainstorming ideas for this harvest salad, I knew from the start the base was going to be brussels sprouts. To me, they’re the ultimate cold weather vegetable.

Now that I’ve discussed the base, let’s talk about everything else! The weather’s been getting colder here in Australia, so a quick look at the produce section of my grocery store was plenty of inspiration for this. Beautiful dark kale leaves, ripe and juicy pomegranates, and all sorts of different apple and pear varieties. When it came time to dream up the dressing, it had to be made on apple cider vinegar, of course. Then came the risky, but rewarding, decision to add in the sweet, warm flavors of cinnamon and maple syrup. The result is a really comforting salad packed full of flavor.

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Harvest Salad with Cinnamon Maple Vinaigrette

( 0 reviews )

Yield: 41x2x3x4x5x

Author: Dahlia Dei

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 2 MinTotal time: 7 Min

This apple brussels sprout salad is packed full of comforting autumnal flavors, making it the perfect side dish for any cold-weather meal...

IngredientsUSMetric

• 1 honey-crisp apple, chopped
• 1 granny smith apple, chopped
• 1 bunch of kale, sliced
• 500g brussels sprouts, shredded
• A small handful of walnuts, roughly chopped
• A small handful of pepita seeds
• A small handful of almonds, roughly chopped
• Pomegranate seeds
• Cinnamon Maple Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Cinnamon Maple Vinaigrette

• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Heat up the olive oil in a small pan. Fry the shallot in the olive oil until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
2. Take the oil off the heat and add in the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl, combine the kale, brussles sprouts, nuts, seeds, and warm dressing. Once well combined, add in the apples and pomegranate seeds. Toss and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

• This recipe is vegan and gluten free.
• You can play around with the type of apples used in this salad, and you can even try pear!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

405.13

Fat

23.54

Sat. Fat

2.82

Carbs

46.93

Fiber

11.07

Net carbs

35.87

Sugar

28.5

Protein

8.74

Sodium

53.53

Cholesterol

0

Actual nutritional value may vary based on quantity of balsamic glaze and honey used.

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https://dahliadei.com/recipes/fall-apple-salad

winter, fall, autumn, apple, harvest, kale, brussels sprouts, thanksgiving

side, salad

American

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Blackberry and Fig Salad with Goat Cheese and Rose

Very, very excited to share this salad. It is so simple to make and comes together in no time—but it tastes like it should’ve taken way more effort. The sweet-salty combo is a tale as old as time, but add in peppery from the arugula, add in floral from the rose petals and the fig, and each bite is just perfection with the sparkles emoji.

I wanted a fun, elevated take on fig and prosciutto salad that could totally hold its own without the prosciutto (which btw would be a very tasty addition to this salad). First thing I thought of was pistachio and naturally (for some reason) I thought about rose. At first I was thinking about making some sort of rose water-blackberry jam dressing (which did absolutely taste amazing with some balsamic vinegar), but then I felt like things were getting out of hand and the more delicate flavors were easily overpowered.

On a quest to lean into the pepperiness of the rocket, the sweetness of the berries, and the earthiness of the figs, I figured two components were a must: balsamic glaze (I always have a bottle on hand, but if you don’t, it’s very simple to make, instructions in the notes), and honey. The honey would bring in a new floral note to complement the rose and the fig. To balance out the sweetness, some goat cheese and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt seal the deal.

So, this recipe is purely for fun. Unlike my last two salads, I wouldn’t recommend this one as a meal. This is a very fun, very exciting snack. It’s also a very impressive side dish. These flavors would pair beautifully with lamb in particular if you were thinking about serving this at your next dinner party.

With a very simple and short ingredient list, I’m pretty confident that this beautiful salad will become a staple once you give it a try—it’s just so much flavor pay-off for so little work. I don’t want to over-hype this, so I’ll just stop and tell you to give this salad a try. Then try it with the blackberry jam-rose water dressing if you want more sweetness and a stronger floral flavor.

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Fig and Blackberry Salad

( 0 reviews )

Yield: 1

Author: Dahlia Dei

Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min

This elegant salad makes for a decadent and sophisticated side dish that's guaranteed to impress

IngredientsUSMetric

• 1 large handful of baby arugula
• 5 blackberries
• 1 fig
• 1 small handful shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon goat cheese (optional)
• balsamic glaze (instructions in the notes)
• honey
• dried rose petals, for garnish

Instructions

1. Slice the blackberries in half, and the fig into eighths.
2. Assemble the salad by combining the fruit, arugula, pistachios, and goat cheese, then drizzle balsamic glaze and honey on top. Sprinkle flaky sea salt and dried rose petals and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

• If you don't have balsamic glaze on hand, or just want to make it yourself: for 1/4 cup of balsamic glaze, simply bring a cup of balsamic vinegar to the boil then simmer for about 20 minutes or until it has reduced to a thick syrupy consistency. Allow to cool completely before using.
• To make this recipe vegan, simply omit the honey and goat cheese. An extra sprinkle of salt will help bring out the sweetness of the fruit and glaze.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

93.35

Fat

2.26

Sat. Fat

1.13

Carbs

17.81

Fiber

2.41

Net carbs

15.38

Sugar

15.14

Protein

2.56

Sodium

32.05

Cholesterol

3.22

Actual nutritional value may vary based on quantity of balsamic glaze and honey used.

https://dahliadei.com/recipes/blackberry-fig-salad

summer salad, fig and goat cheese, berries

side dish, salad

Italian, American

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @dahliadei_wellness on instagram and hashtag it # dahliadei

Citrus Salad with Sockeye Salmon

Depending on where in the world you live right now, all sorts of different citrus may be in season. Blood orange season is a very fun time and I love when I start seeing tangelos or mandarins at the grocery store. That’s why this is one of my staple meals. Oranges and grapefruits are easy to find year round and when more exciting citrus fruits are in season, it just provides an easy way to freshen up a classic staple.

Citrus salad is nothing new, Sicilian orange and fennel salad is a delicious classic that proves that oranges belong savory salads. This one is also really simple and easy to make. Pick two kinds of citrus fruits, segment them, combine them with some arugula, onion, and cashews. For a protein-rich meal, top the salad with salmon cooked however you like it (I bake mine in the oven).

The salmon is totally optional, and, to make this meal vegan, mushroom scallops can be the perfect way to have that similar seafood-y feel. With or without the mushroom scallops, though, I’m sure you’ll love the bright flavors of all the different citrus fruits with the peppery arugula.

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Salmon Citrus Salad

( 0 reviews )

Yield: 21x2x3x4x5x

Author: Dahlia Dei

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min

Grapefruit and arugula come together with spicy garlicky salmon and cashews, making the perfect summer lunch

IngredientsUSMetric

• 2 salmon fillets (preferably sockeye)
• paprika
• cayenne
• garlic powder
• 1 cup baby arugula
• 1 medium ruby red grapefruit
• 1 medium orange, blood orange, or tangelo
• 1/4 medium red onion, sliced
• A handful of cashews
• Juice of 1/2 of a large lime (or one small one)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Season the salmon with the paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and cook to your liking.
2. Supreme (segment) the orange and grapefruit, collecting the juices for the dressing.
3. Combine the citrus juice, the lime juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to make the dressing.
4. In a large bowl, combine the citrus, cashews, arugula, and onion. Top with salmon, and drizzle with dressing to taste. Enjoy!

Notes

• To make this vegan, omit the salmon or make mushroom scallops to accompany the salad.
• The citrus in this salad can be varied depending on the citrus in season, try making this with blood orange, tangelo, pomelo, mandarins, and more.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

553.51

Fat

32.02

Sat. Fat

4.85

Carbs

30.43

Fiber

5.31

Net carbs

25.15

Sugar

16.98

Protein

39.01

Sodium

179.06

Cholesterol

93.5

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Did you make this recipe?

Tag @dahliadei_wellness on instagram and hashtag it # dahliadei

Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Baked Oats

I have some big-ish news! Starting this week, I will be posting a new oat recipe every Monday for six weeks. That’s six creative and delicious (not to mention very easy) oat recipes.

I’ve got recipes coming up for baked oats, overnight oats, and even savory oats, so there’s something for everyone—even if you don’t like oats. Take me, for example, I really didn’t get the hype around oats. The texture, flavor, and all-around rich and dense mouthfeel really didn’t appeal to me. That being said, the idea of oats always sounded really good to me, health-wise, and I do like the flavor of oats in the right context. So these are going to be, naturally, me-approved recipes, but that means a little bit more in this context: if you like oats, I’m sure you’ll love these recipes. If you don’t like oats, I know at least one of these recipes will work its way into your heart. Sincerely, a fellow not-huge-fan-of-oats.

So, about this recipe: if you’ve never tried baked oats, you’re missing out. It’s very close to having cake for breakfast. I’m not going to lie and say it’s exactly the same, but it’s its own cake-adjacent vibe, like banana bread or muffins. It is a vastly different experience to your classic oatmeal, though.

What makes this recipe better than most other baked oats recipes? The straightforward answer is the brightness and acidity of the lemon. One thing I don’t love about traditional oatmeal recipes is how dense and rich they are, I get tired of eating them very quickly. The brightness of the lemon in the baked oats and in the lemon vanilla yogurt, combined with the freshness of the stewed blueberries, just makes this recipe relatively light. Bonus points: your house will smell like a lemon loaf all morning.

This recipe is dairy-free and refined sugar-free, but it’s not vegan. I do have tips at the end to make this recipe vegan and gluten-free.

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Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Baked Oats

( 0 reviews )

Yield: -2+

Author: Dahlia Dei

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

A healthy, yet decadent, breakfast option that will make your whole house smell like lemons and vanilla

IngredientsUSMetric

Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Baked Oats

• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Zest from half of a lemon
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (the juice of one small lemon)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/2 cup milk of choice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• Oil for greasing the pan

Stewed Blueberries

• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries

Lemon-Vanilla Yogurt

• 2 tablespoons coconut yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Zest and juice from 1/4 of a lemon

InstructionsFahrenheitCelsius

1. Preheat oven to 180° C
2. In a high-speed blender, blend the oats on the fastest setting until you have oat flour
3. Combine the egg, vanilla, honey, melted coconut oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, milk, and water in a bowl and whisk
4. Once the wet ingredients are well combined, add in the oat flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, and salt
5. Fold in the blueberries
6. Grease a 6” x 4” ramekin or two 4-inch ramekins with oil
7. Pour the batter into the ramekin(s) and bake for 35-50 minutes (the larger ramekin requires more time in the oven)
8. While the oats are in the oven, prepare the stewed blueberries by adding frozen blueberries to a saucepan and heating them up, covered, until the berries begin to release their juices
9. Once thawed and heated, take the berries off the heat, mash them gently with a fork, and leave covered in the pan until ready to serve
10. Remove the oats from the oven once the top and edges are golden-brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean
11. While the oats cool, combine the coconut yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and vanilla in a small bowl
12. Top the oats with the lemon-vanilla yogurt and the stewed berries and enjoy!

Notes

• To make this recipe vegan, replace the egg with one flax egg, which is one tablespoon flaxseed meal and three tablespoons of water, left to thicken for 15-30 minutes
• You can also substitute the honey in this recipe for maple syrup
• To make this recipe gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free oats
• If you’re not a fan of coconut, replace the coconut yogurt with greek yogurt or soy yogurt, and the coconut oil with butter or avocado oil
• To make greasing your pans and dishes easier, buy an oil spray—my favorite is a non-aerosol avocado oil
• For vanilla extract, for any recipe, use vanilla-bean paste, it’s a touch more expensive but it’s a very quick and easy way to make your desserts a little more refined and better tasting
• Almond extract is a touch controversial (at least among my friends) but adding the tiniest bit of almond extract to this (1/4 teaspoon) adds something a little extra
• This makes two servings and can be reheated the next morning in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, for about 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Calories

424.30

Fat

17.22

Sat. Fat

10.07

Carbs

63.50

Fiber

7.36

Net carbs

56.13

Sugar

29.39

Protein

12.54

Sodium

143.31

Cholesterol

97.88

Nutritional value for oats made on almond milk

https://dahliadei.com/recipes/blueberry-lemon-poppy-seed-baked-oats

Oats, Baked Oats, Lemon, Berries

Breakfast, Dessert

American

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Tag @dahliadei_wellness on instagram and hashtag it # dahliadei