Need a super quick side salad that works with a huge variety of meals? Well this could be the perfect salad! With only a few simple, fresh ingredients, you could make your very own toasted walnut side salad in under 10 minutes! The crunch from the walnuts works so well with the crisp freshness of all the vibrant veggies in this bright salad!
I think toasted walnuts work so well with this salad because it adds a rich taste and bitterness to the salad. Nuts are a great ingredient to add to salads since they elevate the texture and nutritional value of a simple salad. You want to add healthy fats to a salad to help you to stay fuller for longer, and more satisfied after consuming the salad. In addition, healthy fats have been said to help you absorb more nutrients from your dish, so that’s always a great thing to keep in mind when you are making a nutrient dense dish like a salad!
A salad dressing I love to add to this salad is my lemon tahini dressing since it just adds a lovely creaminess and helps to bring the salad together. I usually use this salad to accompany my maple and walnut crusted salmon, since it links the two elements of the dish together. It is also great to have on its own as a light summer lunch. I would recommend also adding some protein to this dish like chicken or salmon if you choose to make this dish on its own.
Ingredients: (serves 2 as a side salad, or 1 as a meal)
- 1 cup walnuts
- 3 cups spinach
- 1/2 head romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 5 leaves fresh mint
- Lime wedge to serve
Method:
Step 1: to toast your walnuts, fry them on a frying pan. Toss and stir constantly to stop them from burning.
Step 2: chop up all your veggies into bite size pieces (I like to make them slightly smaller than bite-sized).
Step 3: toss all ingredients together and serve with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
I recommend eating this salad when it is fresh. If you want to store it, keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Please send me pictures of your toasted walnut side salad, I would love to see them! My Instagram is TheLazyLowFODMAP – tag me in your posts or DM me your images so that I see them!
