Description
This vibrant blueberry salad (Indigo Feta Toss) is a family-friendly dish bursting with fresh flavors and beautiful indigo hues, making it perfect for healthy weeknight meals or elegant gatherings. It’s a simple, flavor-packed salad that is both beautiful and nourishing.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups fresh blueberries
- 0.75 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 5 oz mixed greens
- 0.5 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
- 0.25 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 0.5 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Greens & Produce: Wash and thoroughly spin dry mixed greens until crisp, then gently wash and pat dry blueberries. Thinly slice the red onion using a mandoline for uniform pieces.
- Toast Nuts: Lightly toast pecans or walnuts in a dry 10-inch skillet over medium heat until fragrant and slightly golden, stirring often to prevent burning.
- Whisk Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, whisking vigorously until well emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Assemble Salad: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the prepared greens, fresh blueberries, crumbled feta, thinly sliced red onion, and toasted nuts.
- Dress & Serve: Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad components just before serving, tossing gently to coat everything evenly without bruising the delicate greens.
Notes
Always dress the salad just before serving to prevent soggy greens. Watch nuts carefully while toasting to avoid burning, which can impart a bitter taste. Avoid aggressive tossing to prevent bruising delicate greens and crushing blueberries. For dairy-free, use vegan feta or omit. For nut-free, use toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Consider adding fresh mint or basil, lemon or orange zest, grilled corn, roasted butternut squash, red pepper flakes, or homemade croutons for extra flavor. For a complete meal, add grilled chicken, pan-seared shrimp, or chickpeas.
- Prep Time: 14 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing, Assembling
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (180 g)
- Calories: 270 calories
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg