Fancy Salad Greens, Goat Cheese, Pecans, Dates and More

Wednesday, January 25, 2012



I absolutely love fancy greens. I thought I would mix them with a bit of spinach. All organic. Added some
dates, pecans, dried cranberries, goat cheese and pureed some fresh raspberries, added a bit of balsamic vinegar. Add some other fruits and vegetables for sweetness that will wow your salad!  Try this healthy recipe, you will be surprised how delicious this one is.

Not only pretty but pretty tasty too!
A healthy lunch. For a whole meal you can add 4 oz of grilled salmon, blackened mahi mahi or grilled lemon chicken , goes very well with this salad.
Maybe you remember our Buffalo Chicken Salad click here
A real winner of choice here for us as well!

Healthy eating has to start with you. It's a commitment. Hard to stick by unless you have a long term goal in mind, hopefully it's to prolong you life.  Remember to drink lots of water remembering lemon is very healthy for you too.

Raspberries have many health benefits, helps prevent cancer, great source of fiber that helps burn fat and the best part they taste great. Using Organic mixed greens are grown without pesticides. Dates are also high in vitamins, helps prevent abdominal cancers and a great source of fiber as well.
Goat cheese had a tangy flavor and has allot less fat than regular cheese made with cows milk.

2 cups organic mixed salad greens
 1 tablespoon crumbled goat cheese
1 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
1 tablespoon dates
1/2 cup pureed fresh raspberries adding water or pure apple juice to thin down
optional: 2 or 3 teaspoons of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar
freshly cracked ground pepper
salt to taste if you prefer

 Arrange greens on a plate, top with cheese, pecans, dried cranberries, dates. Serve with raspberry sauce on the side, sprinkles with vinegar or lemon juice. (For recipes on fish and chicken click on the links above).

For other suggestion combinations:

Antipasto Salad : Use Romaine lettuce, cappicola, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, extra sharp block provolone, black crinkles olives, green olives in  crushed red pepper, genoa salami, tomatoes sliced, parmesan long shredds of cheese, buffalo milk chunks of mozzarella. Make an Italian vinegar and oil  Italian salad dressing.

Some other suggestions for salads, substitute low fat ingredients for healthier salads.

BLT Salad:  Preferred lettuce is ice berg, chopped tomatoes, crumbled crisp bacon, top with croutons. Creamy dressing. Combine mayonaise, pinch of garlic powder, pepper,  salt to taste and little milk to thin, beat till combined.

Black Bean Salad:   Start with iceberg lettuce, top with black beans, avocado chopped, tomato, cucumbers, chopped jalapeno's, and thawed mexican or frozen corn Top with crushed tortilla chips,  mexican blend cheeses and salsa.

Traditional Chef Salad:  Chopped lettuce, boiled eggs sliced, ham, american cheese, small chunks of tomato, cucumbers, celery, bacon bits. Top with your favorite dressing and croutons.

16 comments

  1. I love adding dried fruit and nuts to salads. The funny thing is some guests act like they have never heard of such a thing. Lettuce say they are shocked. :-) You can groan now.

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  2. What an interesting mix. Inusual for me but very tempting. Your salad look very good :) Bye bye

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  3. Now that's a salad! Even the pickiest vegetable eaters would empty their plates and dream sweet dreams.

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  4. Your salad is so pretty and yummy!I love it!Kisses,dear!

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  5. This does have some great ingredients, salads are so much better with fruit and nuts. Also it makes for a more rounded dish. A salad for dinner at least once a week is the healthy thing to do, but you do not have to shortchange yourself on the taste. This salad is a real example of that. Thanks Claudia!

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  6. I don't need encouragement to love raspberries. And I love to vary the greens in a salad, too. I read about a chef who said that mesclun was passé. Too bad for him! love the nuts and dates and cheese, oh my!

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  7. Love putting fruit in a salad - and pairing it with Mahi is just about perfect!

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  8. Your salad ideas look fabulous! I'd love the combination at the top with a nice piece of salmon. I could eat that 7 nights in a row!

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  9. Another great combo is pears, gorgonzola and pecans,yum! I enjoy reading your posts..

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  10. the goat cheese, dried cranberry, walnut combo sings to me; your other suggestions are duly noted! nothing beats a big salad

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  11. I love all of your salad ideas! When a salad has lots of textures and sweet and savory flavors then it's a winner for me!

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  12. What a beautiful salad! The combination of texture and flavor is delightful!

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  13. Awesome salad, great combination of flavors!

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  14. Goat cheese and nuts (usually walnuts but sometimes pecans) is a staple salad for us. I use raspberry vinegar to make the dressing. Yum!

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  15. Lovely salad. I could eat these all the time and additing the nuts and fruit really kick up the flavor. I am really into arugulas peppery taste right now, I put it in everything even marinara sauce, LOL.

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  16. That second photo made me drool. These all look so good.

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Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia