Welcome to the Heat Wave of 2011. Are you melting too?
Today it’s supposed to reach 38C (100F)…and 47C with humidity! Humidity is such a party pooper. Anyone who lives in a humid climate knows what I’m talking about.
And the hair.
Oh my hair.
Just picture a tumbleweed in the Sahara that got struck by lightening and then jumped in a puddle.
[source]
That’s my hair right now.
Sketchie did this when he saw me this morning. ahhh!
Thankfully, summer salads always look composed and pulled together no matter how hot it is. I love to grab some seasonal fresh fruit (or vegetables), greens, protein & grains, and mix it up with a homemade dressing. Presto magico.
Serving it with a huge margarita is highly encouraged.
Oh She Glows
Heat Wave Summer Salad
Yield: 4 servings
Salad:
- 1 cup uncooked Speltberries (or wheatberries or other grain- makes 2 cups cooked)
- 1 15-oz can chickpeas (or 1.5-2 cups cooked chickpeas or other bean)
- 2 cups chopped peaches
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup blueberries
- 4-5 cups raw kale (or other green)
- 1/2 cup almonds, chopped
- Salt, pepper, and cinnamon, to taste
Dressing:
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1.5-2 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon, to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp kosher salt, to taste
1. Cook one cup of dry speltberries (or wheatberries) in a pot with 3 cups water until tender (about 25-30 mins). Drain and place in large bowl with drained and rinsed chickpeas.
2. Meanwhile, sauté the kale leaves until tender. Chop the almonds, berries, and peaches. Place in bowl with chickpeas and speltberries.
3. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and adjust to taste. You may need more maple syrup or oil to suit your own taste buds. I like my dressing tangy! Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Serves 4.
After mixing together the chickpeas, speltberries, peaches, and berries…I felt something was missing…
Sautéed garden kale and chopped almonds did the trick. :) Of course, you can get creative with whatever you have on hand. There are no rules with salad making.
After mixing the Cinnamon Maple dressing, it all came together. Delicious and quite refreshing thanks to the summer fruit.
Ange = 1, Humidity = 647575
Hopefully kiddie pools don’t melt.
{ 115 comments… read them below or add one }
Gah that looks freaking amazing!
Hello!
I’ve been quietly following your blog for a while now, and this is my first comment! Just wanted to say you’re a real inspiration Angela, I just went vegan about a week ago – the only reason I hadn’t already was because I’m at other people’s houses for dinner a lot and didn’t want to be a pain. Now I’ve just thought, we can make it work. Your blog has given me lots of recipes to try and made me believe in what I’m doing.
Also, I’m in Tasmania (Australia), and today we’re expected to reach a maximum of 11C, so I’d swap with you anyday! And Sketchie is THE cutest cat (well, second to mine anyway :) ) !
Thanks so much Jacqui! Congrats :)
It is bah-rutal down here in Boston. Heat I’m ok with, but not this humidity. I don’t even bother doing my hair; I just throw it into a low pony tail and am done with it.
Love this salad!
Mmm, looks great! It’s between 105-110 here in Phoenix, and I’m going to Oklahoma where it’s 101 with tons of humidity. I love the photos of your cat. This looks delicious!
Ang, I totally feel you in the heat. Downtown Toronto is horrendous, even my daily 2 block walk to the bulk food and produce just around the corner took double the time- dragging my sandalled feet every step of the way.
I made this salad for dinner with some substitutions (didn’t have everything needed in the fridge, and didn’t want to go out in the heat again) and it worked out great!
I substituted:
quinoa for speltberry
mangoes, plums, and a nectarine for the peaches (used up fruit in the fridge)
black beans (just cooked a batch last night) for chickpeas
and added a little bit of nutmeg.
It was INCREDIBLE! You’re right, there are NO RULES in salad making, and the weirder you get, often, THE BETTER!
Stay cool, lovely lady.
Sara
Oh that cat!
This looks delicious!
Brooke Annessa
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
This looks delicious!
Brooke Annessa
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
I have leftover kale so this recipe is just what I was looking for! Thanks so much!
This looks incredible. I can’t wait to make it!
I NEED TO TRY THAT DRESSING. I’m all out of maple syrup at the moment (bad Canadian) so I might sub brown rice syrup. It won’t be nearly as good but I think (hope, really) it will be edible.
Send some heat over to the west coast! :)
This salad looks fantastic.
I can’t believe the heat wave is affecting you in Canada as well! Here in the midwest, it’s 110 degrees. I am dying. A salad sounds really nice – I, unfortunately, have been gorging on ice cream and pastries in this heat. I wish I could like kale… I am still not use to its taste.
Oh wow. What kind of cat is that?
I understand the humidity thing, it’s sooo humid in Halifax right now… I was moving a bit slow on my run this morning, the humidity really affects me!
This recipe looks awesome! Serving it with a margarita sounds fantastic.
Currently enjoying a green monster, inspired by the one you posted not long ago, with mango, berries and Vega Vanilla Almondilla; I love it! I ate a little too much sugar last night, and this is definitely detoxifying :).
This sounds sooooo yummy! I am definitely going to have to give this recipe a try this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
The high in Texas is 103 all week….I feel your pain!
Salad looks amazing!!!!
oh yeah.. that’s my hair too. and Sketchie is so cute! lovin me some Sketchie
HAHA! That tumbleweed picture made me bust out laughing!
My hair is so out of control in this humidity that I even sleep with it in a bun :( I am so making this salad on Sunday after the farmers market!
I am so interested in trying this salsd that I am going to go out and get my supplies tommorow!
Thank you so much!!
I honestly don’t know how you come up with such combinations but I’m so grateful that you share them. I just finished making it and only had a taste, but it is absolutely delicious.
Just made this and once again….FABULOUS!!! Havn’t tried a recipie yet that we havn’t all loved! Even the kids…HORAY!
Thank you so much for sharing…my life is changed for the better ever since I found your blog!!!
ohh this salad sounds super summery and delicious!! the heat wave finally broke here in the Philadelphia area…hope you stay cool!
Used mango in place of peaches since it was the only ingredient I didn’t have on hand…..So Delish that I just made it again for the second time this week. Thanks!!
Still tasty in the not-so-hot April in Maryland! Canned peaches made a decent sub, too. Love the cinnamon and maple syrup dressing with the fruit. I will be using that dressing again.