The other day my best friend’s mom asked when I was going to start seriously dating someone that I was just sort-of seeing?
Ummmm I don’t know, I just turned 24? And what is this — an intervention? I mean is there a deadline I missed out on that says you have to be in a super serious relationship by a certain age? Can’t it all be casual and cool? I like going on dates, I’m just not on the marriage train. I prefer to live in the reality that love is a fairy tale, you know after I chase down all of my dreams and travel around the globe.
Speaking of romance, Valentine’s Day is coming up! Quick, let’s eat salads before we overcompensate by shoving heart-shaped Reese’s in our mouths!
Just kidding… Sort of?
Lately, I have been a complete train wreck. Okay not necessarily in a bad way though; I’ve just been focusing on prioritizing my projects for work AND keeping up with the blog. Juggling them can be difficult and most of the time I end up working on the weekends with little time for guzzling my favorite margaritas. Wait, now that I think about it… aren’t margaritas a priority? Hmmmm. I’ll have to ponder that one.
Anyway this whole getting my life organized thing has forced me to become incredibly prepared since I’m always on the go. This includes making my meals ahead of time: oat muffins for the morning, greek yogurt with caramelized almonds for a sweet afternoon snack, and this pretty super fruit and nut salad that I’ve enjoyed chowing down on for lunch.
The salad was inspired by a fresh peach and strawberry arugula salad I made last summer for some friends. I had used peaches, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil to create the dressing. So to recreate it, the only change I made was to sub in the blueberries for the peaches.
Ohhhhh you guys, that blueberry balsamic vinaigrette is just so good! But it’s not the only thing that’s delicious. The salad is packed with good-for you things including:
- Blueberries: they’re loaded with vitamin C & K and packed with fiber and antioxidants. Hello beautiful skin!
- Dried cherries: perfect for your metabolism and help to improve sleep.
- Dried apricots: another great source of vitamin C, and also vitamins A & E.
- Sunflower seeds: a great source of protein and high in essential fatty acids, which help promote good cholesterol They’re also high in vitamin E, B1, and provide a rich source of minerals.
- Almonds: packed with fiber and manganese and heart healthy fats to help you stay full, longer.
I finished the salad with a bit of goat cheese, and I must tell you, it was what pulled it all together! It just pairs perfectly with the blueberry vinaigrette for a tangy and sweet bite. Plus, you get the delicious crunch from all of the good-for-you nuts. I just loveeee it! But you know if cheese isn’t your thing, simply omit!
I promise you’ll really enjoy this salad, and you better because chocolate is in our future.
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Toasted Almond & Blueberry Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese + Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 6 cups organic arugula or 1-10 oz bag of organic arugula
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/4 cup dried apricots, finely diced
- 2/3 cup fresh organic blueberries
- 3 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
- 3 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
- goat cheese, for topping
- For the dressing:
- 2 teaspoons low-sugar blueberry or strawberry jam
- 1/2 cup fresh organic blueberries
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, plus more if desired
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl add arugula; top with dried apricot, dried cherries, and fresh blueberries. Toss gently.
- Next make the blueberry balsamic vinaigrette by placing jam, blueberries, olive oil and balsamic vinegar into a food processor or blender and pulse to combine. Add a pinch of salt, and if necessary adjust vinaigrette to your liking by adding additional fruit and/or balsamic vinegar.
- Drizzle some of dressing all over salad and toss gently to combine. I always start with a little bit of dressing and add more if necessary. The trick is to remember that you can always add more, and a little bit goes a long way. You don't want a soggy salad!
- Sprinkle almonds and sunflower seeds over the top of the salad. Place salad into cold bowls and sprinkle on goat cheese if desired. Enjoy!
This salad is the best salad I have ever made! Oh my goodness, the flavours from the dressing made me want more. I didn’t even add cheese or dried cherries. I paired it with fan-fried salmon. Thank you so much for the recipe Monique
Amazing! So happy to hear that, Tobi đŸ™‚
This salad is filled with all my favorite things
Mine too! đŸ™‚
the salad looks fantastic!!
Made this for a small dinner party last night; it was a true hit! and gorgeous besides.
Your recipes are some of my favorites. Love your blog!
This sounds sooooooo good…. Have to make it…
This looks so good! All my favorite things.
The blueberries in the dressing sounds awesome! And date and get married whenever you like! đŸ˜€ Who says there`s an age limit…
Oh my gosh, I just ate dinner but I’m practically salivating looking at this salad. It combines pretty much all of my favorite salad components: arugula, balsamic vinegar, dried fruit, goat cheese…I can’t wait to make this. đŸ™‚
I have been OBSESSED with arugula lately. I’ve even been putting it on my egg sandwiches every morning. This salad is filled with all my favorite things. Also…thanks a lot for reminding me about Reese’s hearts đŸ™‚ I’ve managed to avoid those so far this V-day season, and now I feel the need to run out and buy some!
LOVE the flavors! I have a recipe coming up with goat cheese and I bought blueberries to use with it, but ended up forgetting to add them…gah! And balsamic is my fave. I bet the Blueberry Balsamic here is just crazy good! Wow!
And people ask all kinds of crazy things that aren’t their business. Just wait til after you’ve been married for like a week…people will ask when you’re going to start turning out babies. And how many and what their names will be. Something to look forward to đŸ™‚