Make Your Salad More Unique

We all know what it takes to make the most basic of salads – lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers coated in store-bought dressing. But why not put together a dish that is both nutritious and packed with flavor? There are some interesting salad recipes out there, combining the traditional with the unexpected. Try combining more fruits and vegetables, and experiment with protein. This recipe includes cabbage, pears, black beans, and corn – intriguing, yes? And don’t shy away from the wholegrain mustard; I’m not a big fan of the neon yellow condiment-version, but the wholegrains add a great taste and texture. 

Black Bean & Pear Salad (Serves 2)

1 cup red cabbage, sliced thinly
2 pears, cubed
1 cup canned sweet corn
1 cup canned black beans
1/2 cup red onion, sliced thinly
2 tsp olive oil
2 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
1/4 cup sunflower or chia seeds
Salt and pepper, to taste

-After slicing the red cabbage, pears, and red onion, combine in a salad bowl with the corn, black beans, and seeds. 
-Mix olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper to create the dressing. 
-Toss the salad with the dressing and serve. 

For protein, I added grilled chicken in a simple marinade. Mix 4 TBSP olive oil, 3 TBSP lemon juice, and 1 TBSP whole grain mustard in a bowl, then let the chicken marinade for an hour before cooking. 

–Lindsay Putnam