sweet pea

I feel like for me I’m either all about the salads or all I want is pasta. When I fall into a salad rut it is often due to the fact that I just get bored with my normal greens. I mean I love a bit of crunchy romaine, sweet mache or nice peppery arugula but then I run the rotation and get bored. That’s until my favorite greens, organicgirl, came out with their new PEPPERGREENS and Sweet Pea. I have never found a mix of greens that are as inventive as these two.

If I’m feeling a bit sweet I’ll go with the Sweet Pea which (depending on the season) have a pea shoots and a nice mix of tender leafy greens such as baby romaine and even baby bok choy. I love to add a small handful to my avocado toast or as a nice simple salad. It’s also great when combined with crunchy romaine hearts. Bonus if you’re looking to get a little protein, Sweet Pea provides you with 5 grams per serving!

 

When I’m feeling a like I want to turn up the heat a bit I go with the PEPPERGREENS. This mix of tender-leaf greens includes a mix of my favorite peppery arugula as well as a few different mustard greens and a new to me herb called cress. Cress is from the watercress and mustard family. These greens are my favorite on a sandwich or tossed with marinated tofu, cherry tomatoes, crispy croutons andorganicgirl‘s vegan Lemon Agave dressing. The dressing is made with real ingredients and you aren’t going to find it on the shelf but right next to the greens in the produce section of your grocery store. Bonus the PEPPERGREENS are an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K.

Now I want to share a few tips to turn your boring salad into something fun, fresh and delicious. 

Step 1. Greens. Get yourself some amazing greens that make you excited to enjoy your salad. Pick ones with features that appeal to you whether that is crunchy, sweet, or peppery. Choose high quality greens because they really do taste better and will make your salad munching experience more enjoyable. 

Step 2. Toppings. The topping options are really endless but I thought I’d share a few of my favorites:

Walnuts + Roasted Sweet Potato + Lemon Agave Dressing (pair with organicgirl Sweet Pea)

Peppered Tofurky + Avocado + Tomato (Pair with organicgirl Sweet Pea)

Crispy Chickpeas + Pepperoncini + Tomatoes + Zaatar (Pair with organicgirl PEPPERGREENS)

Roasted Potatoes + Red Onion + Orange Bell Pepper (Pair with organicgirl PEPPERGREENS or Sweet Pea)

Tempeh Bacon + Avocado + Jicama + Tomatoes (Pair with organicgirl PEPPERGREENS)

Roasted Beets + Hemp Seeds + Dried Figs + Lemon Agave Dressing (pair with organicgirl Sweet Pea)

Step 3. Dressing. Whether you prefer a creamy dressing, a vinaigrette or maybe you just like a simple drizzle of lemon juice make sure you are once again choosing something of quality. When looking for a vinaigrette or dressing avoid bottled dressings that are filled with sugar and preservatives and especially ones with ingredients you don’t recognize. Go for something simple, made from really great fresh ingredients and ideally something that you’ll find in the cooler or produce section such as organicgirl salad love dressings.  

I hope you find a bit of inspiration and new ways to make your salad fun and delicious. If you try out these new organicgirl salad mixes let me know what you think! Last night I enjoyed the Sweet Pea on a special vegan sausage waffle sandwich with apricot jam and it was so good and maybe, just maybe I’ll have a recipe soon…

So tell me what are your favorite salad combos? What kinds of greens do you prefer spicy or sweet? Crunchy or tender?

 

Where to find organicgirl: Available nationwide, including Whole Foods, Fred Meyer, New Seasons and many neighborhood markets in Portland.

 

Disclosure: This post was created in collaboration with organicgirl. I am thrilled to be working on a three part series with organicgirl because frankly I have been obsessed with organicgirl for years.  I was provided compensation for this post but since I should already have stock in orgaicgirl most of this money is going to go towards buying more of their delicious greens. 

About organicgirl: organicgirl is all about making great products people love. Created with premium quality, superior taste and a lot of love, organicgirl greens and salad love dressings are our answer to making a great salad with unmatched taste and freshness. A lot of attention to detail makes the difference; picky seed selection, diverse growing practices, tight specifications, triple washing, a cold, fast delivery system and the commitment of all our people. In addition to organicgirl greens, organicgirl salad love dressings are so great you will love them too! Premium quality organic vinaigrettes are made with fresh ingredients including whole produce to be delicious, fresh and tasty.