Last night, as I was eating my 4th holiday cookie in a row dunked in Holly Nog, I started to think about salad.
and Green Monsters.
Funny how that works, eh?
and then my thoughts drifted back to more holiday cookies.
So I ate the last Chocolate Chip Cookie with toasted pecans (sorry Eric) and decided today I would revisit some of the most popular salad recipes of 2011 on Oh She Glows.
If a miracle happens, I might even find the motivation to get my butt to the grocery store and make one too.
Here are the 5 most popular salad recipes of 2011 according to you. Dig in!
5) Detox Salad
This vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and soy-free salad is based off the Detox Salad at Whole Foods…while being easier on the wallet to boot. It makes me want to dance in my kitchen when I eat this! I love it drizzled with a touch of maple syrup and sprinkle of cinnamon just before serving.
4) Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
Extremely light, fresh, and packed with protein and healthy fats, this tangy salad will have you dreaming of Spring and Summer. Not that you weren’t already when you stepped your feet on the icy bathroom floor this morning.
3) Back on Track Salad
Who says you have to wait until January 1st to get your eating back on track? Wheatberries give this salad a great chewy texture and can be found in bulk food stores such as Bulk Barn. If you don’t want to use wheatberries you can probably substitute brown rice or quinoa too.
2) Weekend Glow Kale Salad
I used to hate kale.
The only way I could bring myself to eat kale was if I put it in a Green Monster, and even then it was always quite bitter. Or I would bake kale chips and cook them so long that you couldn’t even tell it was kale.
Well, lucky for the 20 kale plants I planted in my garden this summer, it grew on me.
This kale salad is easily one of my favourite salads of all time. I learned with the right preparation techniques (such as marinating), kale could be just as good, if not better, than my previous go-to romaine lettuce. Not to mention, kale’s nutritional profile blows romaine out of the water. I always tell kale skeptics to try this salad because it will often change your mind…
Last but not least, I present to you the most popular salad recipe of 2011…
1) Lightened Up Protein Power Goddess Bowl
All women are Goddesses, so it only makes sense that this recipe was #1 in 2011. If the holidays have left you feeling a bit less than Goddess-like, energize yourself with this high-protein vegetable bowl. It fills me up for hours and even takes my mind off cookies occasionally too.
Other honourable mention:
Over The Rainbow Cabbage Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing
Well, I’m going to mow down on a salad today. And then I’ll have a holiday cookie or two for dessert. If there are any left, that is.
I need to try all of these asap!
I’ve just read some comments and everybody feel the need of eating greens, after all the indulging over Christmas… I usually love greens, veggies and healthy style food but now I’m wondering what happens to me: I’ve eaten lots and lots of sugar and desserts during holidays and I would go on without stopping!!! :-) It’s a drug! Too much sugar… Help me, I’ve to stay motivated in getting back to my healthy habits! Suggestions requested, please!
I find a good workout and a green monster sets a great tone for the entire day. :) It’s not fool proof but I do find that it makes me crave less sugary things later on.
I made both your Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad and Weekend Glow Kale Salad this year and I must say I loved them both! I think next week I’m going to make the Detox Salad – perfect time for after the holidays :)
I usually start to fall off the salad band-wagon once the weather cools off in October…and I can’t say that I’ve really been craving them yet, but sometimes it just takes a push in the right direction! Thanks, Angela! To health & happiness in the new year! =)
I haven’t had a salad since summer. They aren’t my favorite so I usually just crave them when it’s warm.
All of these are amazing!! I loved the black bean and quinoa one :D
Love ’em all!
I love your Power Goddess Salad! But next time I make it, I’m going to need to find a tahini that doesn’t cause me to break out in hives! :P
Isn’t it amazing how the body will crave vegetables after eating nothing but sweets? All the salads look delicious and will be made very soon!
going to check out that delicious looking quinoa salad. devine!
and after all this holiday food, I am definitely in need of some green.
Your protein goddess bowl has become a favorite. I made it this week to compensate for all of the extra holiday treats.
Many thanks to you – I have been trying to eat healthier this year and your blog has really helped me.
Hi Cady, I’m so happy to hear that. Happy New Year to you!
I’d love it if you did a fruit salad recipe that would be good for winter! I find I don’t consume as many fresh fruits in the winter, which isn’t ideal.
Great idea :)
Angela…great looking recipes. This type of thing isn’t my specialty, but I can make some mean nachos!
My girlfriend would love the Goddess Salad (actually it looks good to me as well). We take turn cooking…more often than not, I make some sort of Mexican food or stir fry. This would be a great change of pace.
-Rusty
Salad has never looked so scrumptious!
Just made the detox salad!! It really is delicious! I don’t think I’ll put 1/2t of salt in next time…I’m finding it a little bit too much!
Thanks for the feedback! Maybe I will change the ingredients to “salt to taste” or “1/4-1/2 tsp to taste”?
I actually have it on my meal plan this week to make the red quinoa and black bean salad.
I wanna try one by one!!! And I will!
Great job with these ;)
Thanks Angela! This post could not have come at a better time!!! It’s definitely salad season in Sydney as the weather begins to heat up. Detox salad is definitely necessary after all the holiday festivities. The the lightened up protein power goddess bowl is on my ‘to make for lunch list this week’. Can’t wait :)
All of them are perfect main meal salads, and all of them look very yummy! Red Quinoa and Black Bean one looks especially tempting!
I love colorful salads — it’s so inviting and encourages me to eat more! Which is good, right? :D
Happy New Year, sweetie :)