5 Ingredient Salads

When you’re running short on time it can be daunting to think of a recipe to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies.  That’s why we love quick and easy salads!  These delicious salads only have 5 ingredients (plus your favourite dressing), and will leave you feeling satisfied.  You can also easily prep any of these in mason jars on a prep day and have lunch for the week! Just make sure your dressing is the bottom layer, followed by the “sturdier” ingredients/vegetables (tomatoes, onions etc.) and topped with the lettuce.

1. Chicken, spring mix, red onions, walnuts, raisins. If you have leftover cooked chicken this salad is refreshing and delicious.  The sweetness from the red onions and raisins are a perfect topping for fresh spring mix.   Top with a simple balsamic dressing. Tip: Picking up a roast chicken from the grocery store is time saving and will give you chicken for days!
2. If you love your BLT sandwiches you can have the same satisfaction in salad form! Toss crispy turkey bacon, romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, croutons and avocado with a light ranch dressing for all the taste of your favourite sandwich in salad form!
3. Nectarines, baby spinach, feta cheese, fresh cucumbers and green peppers come together for a sweet taste of summer. Top with a honey Dijon dressing. If you have pork tenderloin or chops lay them on top for a great source of protein
4. Make a great Greek salad by combining tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers, feta cheese and onion. You can also make your own easy dressing by mixing thyme, olive oil, garlic and lemon.
5. We love beets and they go great in a salad with strawberries, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. Top this salad with a sweet lemon dressing or a light apple cider vinaigrette.
6. Try a southwest style salad with black beans, corn, pico de gallo, avocado and peppers. You could top this with salsa and even eat with a side of tortilla chips.
7. Roasted sweet potatoes pair well with quinoa, red peppers, sliced almonds, and celery. These flavours are so delicious on their own that you only need a light dressing of olive oil, pepper and lemon juice!

The possibilities for 5 ingredient salads are endless (even our zucchini slaw is less 5 ingredients – not including the dressing) .  All it takes is a bit of creativity and a look into your fridge!

Let us know what combinations you come up with and you could be featured in a future blog post!