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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Healthy Everyday Rainbow Salad

    Feb 10, 2019 · Modified: Nov 13, 2022 by Tracy Halasz · 2 Comments · THIS WEBSITE EARNS INCOME FROM ADS, AFFILIATES, AND SPONSORSHIPS.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This delicious rainbow salad is incredible doused with a healthy lemon vinaigrette dressing that's oil-free, dairy-free, super creamy and delicious.
    Crunchy, fresh and packed full of veggies, this rainbow salad makes a fabulous side dish or healthy, protein-rich, vegan lunch!

    Bowlful of salad with chickpeas and avocado.

    Sometimes my body literally craves high vibrational, healthy, crunchy, fresh food; and I just feel like a BIG rainbow salad. I love the versatility of garden salads - add raw or roasted veggies, beans, quinoa, lentils, dairy-free cheese, tofu, a sprinkle of nuts or seeds, and a tasty dairy-free salad dressing. Presto you've got a nourishing, high protein, low carb side dish or light meal to feed your family.

    Why this Rainbow Salad Works

    • It's Healthy! - loaded with colorful leafy greens like kale, spinach and arugula, carrots, radish, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, purple cabbage, apples or berries - each with its own nutrient profile.
    • Quick and Easy - a great nourishing lunch or side dish for dinner depending on the add-ons that can be ready in 10 minutes. Easy to take for lunch - stick the salad in a jar for a convenient grab and go lunch.
    • Adaptable - choose a variety of colors and textures, add in leftover baked veggies, beans, marinated tofu or tempeh for an easy protein-rich meal.
    • Customizable - add a zesty, creamy, spicy, sweet or cheesy dairy free salad dressing each day of the week. Switch the beans and toppings to create a different salad every day.

    Salad Dressing (dairy-free)

    More than five years ago, I gave up buying commercial salad dressings. I mean let's be real, they take up a lot of real estate on the fridge door (especially when you've got six, half used bottles hanging around!). They can be expensive (for the same reason), and they usually aren't super healthy. Plus homemade salad dressing is a cinch to make so making my own seemed like a no brainer.

    Tall jar of oil-free lemon vinaigrette dressing on counter.
    Jar of creamy oil-free coleslaw dressing.

    Maple Dijon Vinaigrette takes 3 minutes to make! It's creamy and tangy made with Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and lemon juice. It's an oil-free, gluten-free and dairy-free vegan salad dressing. This is a family favorite.

    Creamy Red Wine Vinegar Dressing (or balsamic vinegar) is a quick and easy, dairy-free dressing that's one of my go-to salad dressings.

    Salad Add Ins

    This salad is super delicious just as a regular rainbow garden salad especially with a creamy, vegan salad dressing; but depending on the add ons, you can make this a full meal salad bowl. Here's some ideas to get you started:

    • Grains - warm rice, quinoa or lentils
    • Beans - baked or raw chickpeas, black beans, brown beans, pintos, etc
    • Leftovers - baked veggies (cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli)
    • Vegan Meat Replacement - Gardein Crispy Tenders, Field Roast Chipotle Sausage, Baked Tofu
    • Something Sour - pickled onions, hot peppers, capers, olives
    • Berries or Fruit - blueberries, raspberries, pears, apples
    Dressing being poured onto a bowl of spring mix salad with tomatoes and sprouts.

    Tips for Keeping Salad Greens Fresh

    • Place a paper towel or clean kitchen towel in the bag or container with leafy greens to keep extra moisture away.
    • If you buy leafy greens like kale, spinach or arugula in large containers at the grocery store, remove them when you get home.
      Place a paper towel in the bottom of the container then add back half the greens. Add another paper towel and the remaining greens.
    • If they are packed super tight, place half the produce in a separate container or bag. Air circulation will help keep leafy greens fresh longer.
    • Store fresh herbs in a paper towel to keep them fresh and crisp. Remove any tags or twist ties from herb bunches - especially cilantro - before storing.
      Fluff the herbs to ensure they are not tightly packed. Loosely wrap in paper towel, and place in container or bag.
    Two salad bowls, lemon dressing and fresh radishes on counter.

    What to Serve with Salad Bowls

    Vegetable Bean Soup - soup and salad is a classic pairing.
    Veggie Pesto Pasta - made with dairy free walnut pesto and roasted veggies.
    Lentil Mushroom Bolognese - served on pasta or sweet potatoes.
    Vegan Chili Everyone Loves - with Beyond meat and lots of beans!
    Homemade Dinner Rolls or Olive Garden copycat Breadsticks - carbs!

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!
    Please let me know in the comments. Tag me on Instagram 
    Hungry for more?: Sign up for my Sunday morning NEWSLETTER!

    Bowl of green salad with carrots, avocados and beans.

    Healthy Rainbow Salad with Dairy Free Maple Dijon Vinaigrette (gf)

    This rainbow garden salad is fresh, nourishing and hearty. Packed with colorful vegetables, chickpeas, quinoa, seeds and tossed with a delicious creamy salad dressing it's a healthy protein rich, low carb weeknight meal to feed your family. Perfect as a side dish or healthy lunch.
    Author : Tracy Halasz
    Servings:2 servings

    Rate this recipe!

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 15 mins

    INGREDIENTS

    Salad Dressing (more options in post)

    • 2 tablespoons Vegenaise
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or any vinegar)
    • 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
    • 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
    • 1 - 2 teaspoons oregano, dry leaves
    • pinch hot pepper flakes (optional)
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Salad Ingredients

    • leafy greens of choice
    • cabbage (or bag of coleslaw)
    • tomatoes, halves
    • radish, sliced
    • cucumber, ribbons
    • carrots, grated
    • 1 avocado, slices or chunks
    • chickpeas
    • nuts and seeds, toasted
    • sprouts or fresh herbs

    Optional Add Ons (full list in post)

    • crispy onions
    • Gardein Tenders, crispy tofu, vegan sausage

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • If including crispy tenders, sausage or tofu (and you don't have leftovers), pop them into the oven now.

    Salad Dressing (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan)

    • Mix all dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Can be stored in fridge all week.

    Salad Ingredients

    • Drain and rinse the beans.
    • For the salad, use a variety of leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula, etc), shredded purple cabbage (or bag of coleslaw), shaved Brussels sprouts, pickled beets, cherry tomato halves, thin cucumber ribbons, radish slices, sweet bell peppers, avocado chunks, quinoa or lentils, and your favorite protein rich beans (I used chickpeas this time). 
    • Add a sprinkle of toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds and garnish with fresh herbs or sprouts. 
    • I enjoy a handful of fresh blueberries, sliced apples or pears in this salad as well.

    NOTES

    Meal Prep - Since you'll be making this salad anyway, make a huge batch. Store the juicy vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers in separate containers. Slice the avocado fresh each day. I love batch cooking a huge green salad and grains on a Sunday for the whole week!
    Add Ins - to turn your salad into a full meal deal try some of these plant-based meat replacement. Gardein Tenders (air fry or oven baked). Baked tofu or vegan sausage like Beyond or Field Roast are delicious. Add a grain like whole grain couscous, quinoa or lentils.
    Make or buy fried onions for a crunchy salad topper.
    Dairy-free salad dressing stores well in the fridge in a jar all week. Great for meal prep.

    This recipe is from simplyceecee.co food blog. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images or republish this recipe without prior permission. Thank you.

    Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @ceeceecooks or tag #ceeceecooks

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    Comments

    1. Julia

      March 27, 2022 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      I love this salad. It looks and tastes delicious. You give so many great ideas of ingredients to add to the salad. I really love the dressing - so quick and easy.

      Reply
      • Tracy Halasz

        March 27, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        Ahhh, thank you so much. Our family loves this healthy salad for lunch or light summer dinner too!

        Reply

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