Taste the Rainbow Salad with Creamy Cashew “Ranch” Dressing

Warning: No skittles were harmed in the making of this post

Confession, I usually eat a salad at least once a day. Growing up, I would always order a salad when I went out to eat. The truth is, I love salad and always have. In college, I would get teased for eating “bird food” and would often get told to “eat a cheeseburger”. To be honest though, my salad eating habits back in the day were not always healthy. Sure, I loved tons of veggies, but I also loved tons of creamy dressing, bacon, and cheese.

Slowly through the years, I have cleaned up my eating habits for many different reasons (which I will hopefully post about at a later date). But I still love a hearty salad with a thick creamy dressing. Now, I enjoy a much healthier version and actually prefer it to the original. For all of you skeptics, I present to you the Taste the Rainbow Salad with creamy cashew ‘ranch” dressing.

It’s tasty, filling, and full of nutrients that will leave you feeling satisfied. The variety of colors from fresh vegetables offer a variety of nutrients to leave you energized. You can vary the specific ingredients, but shoot for a few different greens, then add in red, orange, purple, yellow, and even white (if you find a blue veggie, let me know). The more colors, the higher the nutrition.

Creamy Cashew “Ranch” Dressing:

(Adapted from Crazy, Sexy, Diet by Kris Carr and www.choosingraw.com)

¾ cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hour

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup water

2 tbsp lemon juice (adjust to taste)

3 tbsp oil

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 garlic cloves

1 tsp onion powder (adjust to taste)

½ tsp garlic powder (optional, adjust to taste)

3 tbsp parsley, dried of fresh

3 tbsp dill, dried or fresh

½ tsp oregano, dried

½ tsp thyme, dried

Pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in to a blender and blend. Voila! A creamy dressing, similar to ranch dressing in texture and taste. The cashews and nutritional yeast help to give it that slight cheesy flavor. You can add more water if desired to change the thickness.

Taste the Rainbow Salad:

(You can change the veggies around for your liking, just remember the color wheel)

1 bunch romaine lettuce chopped

¼ red onion diced

1 carrot peeled and chopped

¼ head of broccoli, chopped

¼ bell pepper (green, red, yellow, or orange), diced

½ cucumber, chopped and deseeded if you prefer (keep the skins on though)

1 small tomato cut into 4 wedges

½ avocado, sliced

½ can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 piece sprouted grain bread, toasted in broiler and cut into pieces, for croutons

*sprouted grain bread contains higher amounts of protein and easier to digest carbohydrates so you stay full longer without blood sugar spikes

Prepare all ingredients and pile high onto a plate or bowl. Top off with avocado, croutons, and dressing. It’s as simple as that – everything you need for a complete meal on one plate. Enjoy!

After you make this salad, remember to stop by the House of Healthy Facebook page and “like it, please! Thanks for all of your support. Hope you enjoyed the read (and my corny sense of humor).  Feel free to spread the word 🙂

Peace, love, and veggies,

Jessi