Winter isn’t exactly prime time for produce, so I can understand why people feel uninspired or not “in the mood” for salads during colder months. But the fact remains, well-built salads can pack a nutritional punch so it would be a shame to miss out during an entire season. So, in an attempt to get you “in the mood” again, here are 5 ways to enjoy salad in the winter.

1. Make it warm

Enjoying a salad in the winter can be as simple as serving it with a warmed dressing. This maple-balsamic dressing is particularly good served warm.

 

Warm maple balsamic dressing

Ingredients

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove, halved

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

Method

1. In a small bowl, combine vinegar and honey, then gradually whisk -in the olive oil in a steady stream, until emulsified. Add the garlic, salt, pepper and whisk to combine.

2. Pour into a small saucepan over medium heat, until warmed through, about 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove garlic cloves. Serve over mixed greens or baby spinach, with parmesan shavings and toasted pecans.

 

2. Get roasting

I happen to be a big fan of combining hot and cold in a meal, the contrast is a party for the tastebuds. There’s also something really comforting about roasted vegetables in the winter, which is why adding them to fresh greens or making them the star of a salad is a great way to go.

Here are few good recipes to try:

• Salad for Roasted winter squash with goat cheese and pine nuts from Gourmande in the kitchen
• Roasted vegetable salad from Martha Stewart
• Root vegetable salad with herbed breadcrumbs from Bon Appétit

 

3. Wrap it up

Don’t feel like having a chopped salad? Then try switching it up and using your greens as the “vessel” instead.

Try:

• Butter lettuce, boston lettuce or radicchio cups
• Cabbage, romaine, kale or swiss chard  for wraps or “tacos”
• Endive spears for scooping dips and spreads

 

4. Highlight winter produce

When you’re looking for a freshness-fix in the dead of winter, in can be hard when most seasonal foods are roots and tubers. Fennel and oranges however, are a sure find at the grocery store this time of year and this combination of crunchy and sweet is bright and delicious and a great way to add that burst of freshness to your meal.

Fennel & orange salad

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

1 medium-sized fennel bulb, including fronds

2 navel or blood oranges

1/2 small onion, sliced thinly (optional)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

 

 

Method

1. Using a sharp knife or a mandolin, slice the fennel as thinly as possible and add to a large bowl. Coarsely chop fennel fronds and add to the bowl.

2. Cut oranges into supremes and squeeze the juice from one of the remaining orange membranes directly into the bowl.

3. Add onion*, olive oil, salt and pepper and toss.

* If adding onion, place in an ice cold water bath for 5-10 minutes before adding to salad, this helps to tame some of the sharpness.

 

 

5. Use hearty grains

If you feel the need for more sustenance in your salads, whole grains are the way to go. These wheat berries add heartiness, nuttiness and great texture to this salad.

 

 

Wheat berry salad with kale, apple and endive

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup wheat berries

1 cup steamed or cooked kale, roughly chopped

1 apple, diced

1 endive, chopped

Dressing:

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

Method

1. Rinse wheat berries thoroughly under running water, add to large pot and cover with 3 cups of salted water. Bring the water to a boil and reduced to a simmer and let cook 50 minutes, or until done. They should still be chewy. Strain and bring to room temperature.

2. In a large bowl, combine wheat berries, kale, apple and endive.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the vinegar, honey and whisk-in olive oil, in a steady stream, until emulsified. Add salt and pepper, mix again.

4. Pour dressing over salad and toss until combined.

 

How do you enjoy your salads in the winter?

Photo credit: Winter landscape Tumblr, Logs Pinterest