Strawberry season is upon us! Although I love eating them fresh by themselves, I also like to include them in dishes whenever possible. I love fruit in salads. There is something refreshing and light about biting into a juicy strawberry alongside crisp greens. I recently traded in my bag of mixed greens for organic baby kale. Regular kale can be tough and bitter, but baby kale is absolutely delightful! If you do not have baby kale, you can use a spring mix, baby spinach, or even romaine lettuce for this salad.
I had an epiphany the other day when I realized that Chia seeds can be a healthy substitute for poppy seeds in dressings. This realization came as a result of not having poppy seeds for the dressing and debating whether or not to omit them. I love the crunch that poppy seeds add to salads, and because chia seeds are a similar shape and texture, they accomplish the same purpose. Added benefit? They are very healthy! If you’ve never heard of chia seeds before, here’s what you might want to know:
If you do not have chia seeds, you can obviously use poppy seeds or simply omit them. I promise you will still have a great homemade vinaigrette for your salad!
A note:I reduced the amount of olive oil in the dressing from 2 tbsp to 1 tbsp to cut back on calories and fat, but if you feel the salad is too dry you can add a little back in.
I recommend you serve this salad with my lemon and herb marinated grilled chicken. The citrus marinade pairs nicely with the strawberries in the salad. Also, feel free to be creative and add whatever you would like to this salad. Slivered almonds, crumbled gorgonzola or feta cheese, or even blueberries all sound like delicious additions!
Baby Kale Salad with Strawberries and Chia Seed Dressing
Ingredients for the salad:
- 5 oz baby kale (or other lettuce)
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- Any additions you would like (almonds, cheese, etc.)
For the dressing:
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds (or poppy seeds)
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp honey (or agave)
1) Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.
2) Assemble salad. Toss with dressing. Serve with main dish. Enjoy!
Serves: 4 Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 71 Fat: 1g Carbs: 16g Protein: 2g Sugar: 10g Fiber: 4g
WW Points Plus: 2 Old points: 1
Recipe adapted from skinnytaste.com
Audrey's Apron 