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.
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{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
You did an amazing job with salad recipes this year! They all looked so appetizing and unique! Definitely better than boring old lettuce! Thanks for all the amazing dishes! :)
I am so ready for salads! I love cookies, but I definitely ate more than my fair share over the holiday and I’m craving vegetables like crazy. All of your salad recipes sound wonderful – perhaps I’ll work my way through them over the next couple of weeks. :)
I absolutely adore your detox salad <3 And after Christmas food madness, I guess I'm going to make a new batch tonight :)
I think we need to educate the world on what a good salad is – at least the restaurants that serve you a measly pile of iceberg lettuce with a few chopped tomatoes and call it a salad for $5.
These all look wonderful, and I’ve made {and loved} a few of them!
My top 1 recipe this year was the lentil loaf!
Top 1 of your recipes, of course!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwJEIU-uSiI
I had to share this…
lol…too funny!
All of these look so pretty and are so full of goodness – I especially like your Weekend Glow Kale Salad and Lightened Up Protein Power Goddess Bowl!
I just made a kale salad yesterday to try and detox myself from the sugar high of the holiday and now that I look at it, it was very similar to your kale salad above! Delicious :)
I’ll be stuffing in some greens today as well, already had broccoli with breakfast! These all look delicious and satiating!
haha nice…how’d you eat it?
I forsee 2012 as a kale frenzy now that I have a dehydrator.
I think massaged kale made everyone like the leafy green just a bit more ;)
I’m flagging all of your salads down for when I’m in a snafu for lunch
I have been craving salad lately, what with all the rich delicious food I’ve been enjoying with the holidays. This post is perfect! Now I don’t have to search for all of my favorite salad recipes :) Thanks!
Oh I LOVE this post! I’m wanting to try new salads. This is the post for me! All of the dishes look so good and delicious!
Great work!
I love how bright and healthy all your photos look! I feel like I can taste each one!
I feel you on the need for green food – I never thought I’d say this… but I’m a little sick of pie. Yesterday I chugged a green smoothie despite the cold weather!
I’m going to have one for a snack after my workout I think. Looking forward to greeeeeens!
Great post! This Goddess indulged too much this weekend, and I think one of these salads might just hit the spot! ;)
Can’t wait to see what you come up with in 2012!
It is amazing how much easier it is to eat cookies than salads during the cold months. Your salads look mouth-watering and put a much needed spin on the simple lettuce, cuke, and tomato kind. Especially the red quinoa…looks exactly like the whole foods version!
After a week of too many sugary sweets, I was craving the greens as well! Didn’t make a Green Monster (too cold) but loaded up on steamed and roasted veggies…yum!
I am not at all surprised by this list. :) Your salads are THEBESTEVER. I love that they are meals in and of themselves, packed with veggies, protein, healthy grains, healthy fats… and just nutrients and goodness over all! I have made the Protein Power Goddess Bowl over and over again – and, none too ironically, have my spelt berries for the salad soaking at the moment, to be cooked in two hours!
And about the cookies – ah, this time of the year only comes around once a year (sorry that sounded so redundant!), so it’s definitely worth enjoying every moment of it! Besides, your cookie recipes always have some sort of healthy twist (e.g. nuts… or chocolate! Chocolate is healthy…) so that justifies eating a cookie. Or two. Or three. :P
Thanks Jenny you are too kind!!
I loved all the salads you posted this year. It especially became useful after we received bag after bag of greens from our CSA. And in the sweltering August heat, there was no way I was going to braise kale. Salad it was! Thank you!
Ok, ok, can you believe I ACTUALLY Ate Greens during the holidays? My guilt took over and made me buzz up a smoothie or eat a handful of greens mid day. There was one day I was too tired, sugar rushed and cranky to even think of making a full blown salad, so I plopped a handful of spinach on a plate and drizzle dijon. DONE.
I love KALE! This salad looks epic!
xxoo
Nice work!! I’m trying to think if I had any greens…brussels sprouts I guess! haha :)
These look especially good after all of the holiday treats! My all-time favorite salad is the back on track wheat berry and bean salad, and I also really like the protein power goddess bowl. I haven’t tried the other three, and I am not a huge fan of kale, but I was just telling someone that I am willing to try making anything on your blog because EVERYTHING has been delicious! So….kale here I come. :-)
hehe well I hope you like it! Eric hates kale and he loved the salad.
I need to scarf down all of these salads after my sugar coma this past weekend…
I totally OD”d on the Goddess Bowl this summer…. mmmmm
After all the holiday eating, I am ready for some salads, too!
I love how these salads aren’t just lettuce and tomatoes! They look amazing and protein packed ;)
So glad you put up this post! These salads look amazing. Thanks!!
I am so glad you posted this! I have been looking for some good substantial salads to bring to work! Hope your week is going well!
I keep meaning to make your Detox Salad – I will do that this week, I have been craving salads like crazy since all the indulging over Christmas!
My goal in 2012 is to eat more kale. These recipes are just what I needed. The holidays haven’t been too hard on me, but a couple of pounds crept on and I look forward to the energizing taste of truly nutritious foods like these fabulous salads! Thanks for the tip about taking out the stems of the kale. I can only get curly kale at the grocery store.
I seriously can’t wait to try one of these. You are amazing! I am so over lettuce salads! xo
Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
Thank you so much for posting these salad recipes! I can’t want to try them out! I have also been craving salad lately, so if I can find motivation to get to the grocery, I may just have one for dinner tonight. :)
I need all of those. Right now. GOLLY I need a cleanse. Hello, Holidays!!
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve made the Kale salad and the Goddess Bowl. Two of my favorite salads ever, and my kids love them so double bonus points for that!
back on track is my go to meal when i need to detox and get back to healthy habits. so healthy and SO yummy!
Oh my Ange, you’ve got me salivating right now. I’m currently in veggie withdrawal over here in Italy and I can’t wait to eat nothing but when I get home tomorrow night!! I agree with you on the detox salad making the top 5 – it’s a stunner!
Thank you!! Thank you!! I love all of your salads!!! Im going to make the red quinoa salad next!!! All the best for New Years! Xo Michelle Hnilica
I need to make one of these soon!
Salads…what are those? Oh yes, I forgot for a minute with all the holiday goodies in full swing :)
Thanks for the reminders of your faves. And just the bright colored bowls, the rainbow-bright pretty colors…makes me want to dive in. Your light and bright salad pictures are the best for making me wanna get my crunch on!
I looove salads! My favorite salad recipe of yours is the Heat Wave Summer Salad. It’s amazing!
Thank you so much for posting a top 5 list! I love it when you put all of the “bests” together on one page. They are easy sort through and I can find new recipes that I might have missed earlier in the year. I would love to see a list of the all time favorites from 2011!
Your kale salad was definitely one of my 2011 go-to recipes. I still make it all the time : )
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 :)
Hahah I had the same sort of revelation the other day too!
After a weekend of eating cookies, cakes, and other rich, holiday food nonstop, I was CRAVING vegetables. Yesterday, I made a great wrap (on an Ezekiel tortilla, which you got me hooked on!) that was chock full of veggies, and I had so much energy throughout the day!
Amazing what good food will do :)
YOu read my mind! We have just finished a big salad for dinner tonight!
I love all the salads. Thank you Angela for showing different foods and different ways to eating! I now love wheatberries and quinoa.
I have tried each and every one of these salads and my all time favorite was the back on track. My gosh, it’s so deliciously good! Thanks for posting these, Angela :)
They all look so good!! I am going to be trying each one very soon!! But…. I cannot stand Kale!! : ( What could be substituted in your opinion??
I love making your detox salad, except I actually use the broccoli and cauliflower stems and save the florets for different recipes! It is a great way to use the stalks and it’s super crunchy. I chop them up small. Thanks for sharing, this is definitely one of my go to salads :-)
I love your salads, they are also my favorite !
Happy holidays !!
Your photo with all your chopped veggies is delish :-)
My friend made the Kale Salad for a dinner party last night. It tastes wonderful, and the tahini lemon dressing is fantastic. Had to have the recipe! Thanks!
I read the ingredients for your kale salad and it looks and sounds delish but…how did you manage 20 kale plants in your garden without them going to seed or to waste? Even with just the 2 of you at home, did you not find yourself buried in kale? I’d love to plant a lot of veggies this coming year, but I’m concerned that I’m going to have them all ripen at once, and have an overabundance that would go to waste.
The protein power goddess bowl is a definite winner in our house. My husband asks for it all the time!
So delicious! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and the salads have compelled me to comment! :-) Thanks for this and all of your recipes. Happy New Year!
these=GREATNESS! Thanks Ang. :)
These are going to be great lunch ideas for work! One of my goals over the past month & for the new year is to continue bringing my lunch as much as possible. It’s so easy to spend too much money on lunches over a month.
Thanks for the recipe roundup!
where, oh where, can i find speltberries?? i’m in toronto, by the way.
i made the Goddess Bowl yesterday with brown rice instead of the speltberries, and it was so amazing, but i have a feeling it can be even better because speltberries are so tasty : )
I’m surprised my favorite didn’t make the list! I’ve been trying to search for it recentlty with little success. It was a huuuge salad you recreated from a vegan restaurant you visited this year, if I’m not mistaken. Involved avacados, bean sprouts, carrots, possibly cabbage, possibly with tahini dressing— was a very colorful salad and kept me so full. Can you help me find this salad in your archives, pretty please :)
This was a timely post! I was getting myself back into “healthy meal planning” mode and working on next week’s meal plan (after the past two weeks of ridiculous indulgence :-) ). Of course I had to hit up your blog for some great veggie dishes…and now I am dying to try the protein power goddess bowl AND the kale salad! I remember seeing them when you first posted but somehow never got around to making them. Now they are on my list!
Happy New Year, Angela. I hope that 2012 is a great year for you and your family!
I just tried your weekend glow salad. I never would have thought I would enjoy raw kale. who knew? I’m glad I tried the lemon-tahini dressing before I added it the salad, I wasn’t a fan. Instead, I tossed the salad with olive oil, lemon juice and a little salt. It was very good. Thanks for inspiring me to try kale.
The kale and goddess salads are two of my favorite lunch staples. That lemon-tahini dressing? The stuff of dreams!
BBQ chilli looks great. Yummy!
I made the Back On Track salad (with black beans instead of navy, and red quinoa instead of wheatberries, thanks to some allergies)… You wouldn’t believe how fast my sisters ate it up! We are certainly back on track! Thanks!
I just made the Protein Goddess bowl – yummy! Random question…is it meant to be eaten hot or cold? I just reheated my left overs, but wasn’t sure if it’s meant to be eaten cold like a salad? Thanks!
Back on Track salad is just about the best salad EVER. I can not wait for the next “food day” at work to share this amazing salad. I am way excited for lunch this week.
My roommate has made your Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad several times and it’s awesome!
My favorite salad right now is with Kale, apple slices, sunflower seeds, and the light poppyseed/vinegar based slaw dressing! Yummo!!!
These salads make me happy!
Funny you said, “back on track” because today is the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby and everyone here in Louisville is at our favorite track, Churchill Downs!!
Thanks for salad recipes!!!
Hi Angela,
Thanks for all these recipes. I would like to try all of them, however most of the time when i feel like making salads for lunch or dinner i don’t find all the right ingredients & dressings to make a good salad.. would be really helpful if you could do a post on staples for making salads and different home made salad dressings…sorry to ask this because i’m from a place where we don’t eat a lot of salads and most of the time salad means only slices of carrots, cucumbers and onions !
Hi Angela! This is my first comment, but I have been following your blog for about 3 years now. I just wanted to say how much I love your recipes and posts. I was a vegetarian for about ten years, and now allow myself fish and an occasional turkey sandwich–but I mostly eat meat free. My husband is a HUGE carnivore, and even he loves your recipes! Thanks and keep doing what you’re doing:).
I see several questions, with no answers. I am curious also, as to whether this “salad” can be eaten cold (or at room temp). Please advise? I am considering it for a winter potluck event, with all due credits to be paid, of course.
With many thanks,
~k
Hi Karen, I’d be happy to help…which salad are you referring to? :)