Purple reigns in this salad, and all that color means it’s loaded with lots of healthful nutrients, a nice boost on those low energy days!
We’re two weeks in the month of January, often the Season of Resolutions and quests for foods that are nutritious but also hearty where the weather is cold, and it’s been chilly here in New England. While we don’t often think of salads as hearty, this one fits that bill. Loaded with fiber and texture, it is equally as satisfying as main course or side dish.
Check it out!
This is delicious served as a main course atop a bed of arugula, add a little tofu, shrimp, or chicken. I use a great little nutrition and exercise calculator on-line called myfitnesspal.com. It is free and has lots of great features, including a place to enter the ingredients of your own recipes to get the nutrition profile. I was delighted when I ran this one through. Information follows.
This stores well, too. I often make a batch and have it for lunch or a side for days.
Lots of options
You can swap out what you like for many of the ingredients; instead of the balsamic, use sherry or red wine vinegar, lemon or lime juice, freshly squeezed. Swap out dried cherries or cranberries for other dried fruit such as figs. Use any nut you like, pine nuts, almonds, or omit them altogether. Sometimes I add a little grated carrot for color, because this dish is also quite pretty, especially if you top it with a few black sesame seeds! You can, of course use green cabbage, or regular quinoa, but in most vegetables remember more color means more minerals.
And, just for the record, purple cabbage, onion, and quinoa are most definitely more purple than red, so let the purple reign!
Purple Reigns Salad
- 1 medium purple onion, sliced thinly
- 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. maple syrup
- 2 tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp. chia seeds
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries or tart cherries
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 cups cooked red quinoa
- 1 ½ cups cooked kidney beans or 1 can, unsalted, rinsed
- 2 cups sliced or shredded purple cabbage
- 1 scallion, sliced thinly on the diagonal, for garnish
- 3 or 4 apricots, sliced, for garnish
- 10 or 12 pecans, roughly chopped, for garnish and crunch
- Purple or pink radishes, to make it even more pretty!
In a large bowl, mix together the onion, vinegar, oil, syrup, ginger, chia, cranberries, and pepper. Let stand for 10 minutes to take the sharpness from the onion. Add the quinoa and beans, and coat well. Add the cabbage and toss well, then season with salt and taste.
Place in serving dish (or refrigerator container if storing), and top with the nuts, apricots, and scallions. When serving, add hot sauce if wanted.
Nutritional information for one-cup serving: 210 calories, 4 g. fat, 558 mg. potassium, 13 grams of fiber, 27 g. carbs, and 9 g. protein. Also, a good source of Vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium. That’s quite a full cup of goodness!
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Looks beautiful and delicious!
Thank you so much Laurie! We take the first bite with our eyes.
This looks like a great salad—I like all the healthy ingredients in this, so I know I’d love this salad!
It has so much texture and takes a while to chew and eat!
We love our purples they look so pretty and vibrant on the plate 🙂
They do Carol! Always brings a smile.
Look delicious and the vibrant color is gorgeous!
It makes the heart sing when it is so grey outside! 💜
I can’t believe I’m saying these words….This looks too pretty to eat. 💜🍃
I know. But I ate it anyway…
I’m sure my willpower would wane and I would eat it, too. 😍🌿
Irresistible!
I haven’t used quinoa in a while, so this pitiful and nutritionist salad definitely brings the motivation to go back to it. 🙂
I sometimes forget it for a while too, and I’m not sure why. It’s a perfect protein with all the amino acids, tasty, and really fast to cook!
Same here! 🙂
😘
Lovely. Of course, purple is my favorite color! I like what you did here.
Thanks Mimi! I love purple too, and all the vibrant colors. When its colorful food, even better.
That’s a great salad, dear Dorothy!
Thank you Dear Dolly!
My pleasure,darling.
What a beautiful salad! Such a unique combo of ingredients too!
Jenna
Thanks Jenna! I really love the texture of this one.
Funny to see the man in your post today as I just heard Colbert make a joke about “Andrew, formerly known as Prince”!
Ha ha! That is funny!
i love purple! purple is my friend 🙂 and so good for you.
Purple is our friend! And purple food is always good and good for you!
I’m all for healthy this year, thank you Dorothy <3
You’re welcome! So good to take a fresh start with the new year.
Lovely!!! I love all the colors, but what I’m really swooning about is all that texture! Chewy, soft, crunchy, snappy; you’ve covered all the bases! And healthy, to boot! 🙂
This is all about texture. It certainly is not boring to eat!
Love the choice of ingredients for this salad. Looks colourful and delicious.
I really love the flavors, but the textures definitely keep me interested!
Yes , i am sure with the wide variety of vegetables you had chosen, the flavours will be very good.
I love how versatile this is!
Thanks Diane! It’s really tasty too!
Just my kind of salad! Healthy and filled with nutrients! 😋
Thank you! It’s fun to eat too, with all that texture!
So pretty!
Thank you! It’s one of my personal favorites.
Yum! Let’s put on Prince’s music and make this salad 🙂
I am definitely going to try this one!!! I love it!
Thank you! It’s one of my go-to salads to make and munch on for a few days.
Don’t like the song, but do like the dish!
Thanks! I like them both! The song brings me to a place in time.
Nice blog..
Do visit to my blog and follow it if you like…
Thank you Shristy! I will definitely check you out. 😀
Delicious – and I love the title!
Thanks! Couldn’t resist…