Meatless Monday – Sweet Maple-Nut Salad with Blueberry Dressing

Will You Be the Sweet Maple-Nut to My Blueberry Dressing?

This salad is one of those dishes that you take a good amount of time to prepare and then savor every last AMAZING bite. My love for this perfect, plant based salad runs deep! I guarantee you are about to fall in love with this meal.. go ahead and tell you significant other that you’ve moved on 😉

The true brilliance of this recipe are the homemade nut clusters. Not only do they taste like heaven but they’re completely healthy for you! Let me run you through some of the phenomenal benefits of this salad (because trust me, once you take your first sweet and delectable bite you’re going to be wondering how something so great for you can taste this good!)

Blueberries – In a popularity contest blueberries will almost always win! Ranking 2nd favorite fruit in the USA (after Strawberries) this delicious, antioxidant rich berry is a go-to for most of us. But what makes it so great for you? They are nutrient packed, including Vitamins C & K, Maganese, and 14% fiber. Did you know that a study was conducted on older adults (ranging ethnicities and genders) where each individual had 2 cups of blueberries a day for 6 weeks and 95% of them had immense memory growth! Also, studies show that freezing blueberries for as long as 6 months does not cause the fruit to lose it’s nutrients. The blueberry is just as great for you weeks and weeks later!

Walnuts – Rich with vitamin E the walnut has been known to provide protection, for men, from heart problems. A recent study was conducted on individuals who eat walnuts everyday and those who do not. The walnut eaters were found to have 5 grams more fiber, 260 milligrams more potassium, 73 more milligrams of calcium, 95 more milligrams of magnesium, 3.7 milligrams more vitamin E, and 157 milligrams less sodium. Phytonutrient researches continually move walnuts further and further up the ladder for antioxidant and anit-inflammatory benefits as they’re now finding that walnuts protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Mixed Greens – Greens are nutritional power houses! There is a nutritional professor who has said that our ancestors were known to eat up to 6 pounds of leaves per day. Mixed greens are an amazing source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats.

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Ingredients:

Maple-Nut Clusters
1/3 cup sesame seeds
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
½ cup raw walnut halves
2 tbs maple syrup

Salad and Dressing
2 cups fresh blueberries, divided
2 tbs unsweetened applesauce
3 tbs lemon juice
1 medium package of mixed greens
½ cup fresh mint, minced
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Maple-Nut Clusters
1. Mix sesame seeds with cinnamon and salt and put to the side.

2. Smal skillet over medium heat and add walnuts and toast for about 5 minutes or until fragrant.
Continue shake around pan. Add sesame seed mixture and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in maple syrup and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer to you Silpat (or parchment
paper)

3. Put this to the side and let it cool, once it has cooled down break nut clusters into smaller pieces.

Salad and Dressing
1. Puree 1 cup of blueberries, applesauce, lemon juice, sea salt and pepper (to taste) in a blender.

2. toss the mixed greens with mint in a large bowl, with some of the dressing. Garnish with nuts and rest
of dressing.

3. Serve!

Did this recipe speak to your palate? Take a look at my recipe page!
You may also like:
Banana Rolls
Edamame Pineapple Multi Grain Bowl
Lemon Infused Stuffed Artichoke

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Do you want to learn more about eating delicious meals like this that are great for you and promote weight loss? Click Here to register for the Dare 2 Be Raw free online telesummit! I am a part of the 20+ speakers have come together to give you the best, most intense, and previously top secret information about the food we put in our bodies and how to live that perfect, healthy lifestyle. Save a space in your calender Wednesday afternoon, as that is when my speech will go live!

Are you equally as in love with the sweet maple-nuts and creamy blueberry salad as I am? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below!