Because I’m on a mission to defy portion control have no self-control, I did some more bin candy grazing throughout the afternoon… and perhaps into the evening. This left me less-than-hungry come dinnertime, so I just had this:
Jokes, people. That was the boring base of what came to be a veggie-loaded ensalada deliciosa. I know I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. Salads should taste good! If you’ve ever created a Whole Foods salad—hot bar mix-ins included, of course—you understand the flavorful potential that every bed of lettuce holds. One of my favorite “breeds” of salad are the kinds that host a mix of veggies from both the raw and cooked disciples. I’m mildly obsessed with throwing grilled vegetables in my salad.
Tonight I added a veggie I’d not previously salad-ified into the mix, one of my fall favorites: butternut squash! It can be a pain to prepare—but it is seriously so rich and versatile. Tonight I steamed it without peeling it first, which completely took the pain out of the prep.
It literally just fell out of its skin after steaming for about 40 minutes. (Expect to see a lot of b-nut squash in the next few days because I’m pretty sure I have upwards of a pound leftover…)
Needless to say, b-nut was one of my cooked veggie components in this hot and cold mix. Its other hot brethren were peas and grilled zucchini. (Grilled zucchini boosts any salad’s savory status. Never fails.) The cold mix-ins were celery, yellow peppers, sweet onion and garbanzo beans.
Dressed up in balsamic and celery salt, and accompanied by a whole wheat pita. My new thing: smearing a LC wedge in the warmed WW pita and occasionally stuffing in some of the salad goods.
Halfway through, I realized I should’ve thrown these slivered almonds in…
So I did! You see, I do exercise control with nuts if I happen to be polishing off the perfectly portioned remainder of a container… That counts, right?
I am so in love with the grilled-meets-raw veggie salad combo right now. Like so contentedly in love that I’m not even thinking about dessert. Sometimes I freak myself out when vegetables invoke this level of elation…
Buenos noches, bloggies,
-Sarah
Totally agree- salads should absolutely taste good!!! I’m jealous for your love of vegetables though – it sounds intense! I love!
oh i love the addition of grilled veggies to the regular salad! i will have to try that.
i love butternut squashh ahh yumm!
yumm loove butternut squash and totally agree with you on the importance of spicing up your salad. lettuce is boring, but tons of mix-ins makes me feel like i’m having a real meal! have a great day
How did you steam the squash? I hate prepping them so I don’t buy them as often as I want.
Looks delish!!
They are really annoying to make when you want to bake them because you have to peel the skin off first (so you can cut the squash into pieces). But if you want steamed b-nut squash, it’s pretty easy. I just cut it in half length-wise, scooped out the seeds and threw in it the steamer for about 35 mins. When it was done, the squash seriously just fell out of the skin. Unless I am like CRAVING baked b-nut squash, this will be my method from now on haha
I loved this post because I have been eating the most gaggy salads of my life from the dining hall and it is straight up no bueno. I was so repulsed by the thought of salad UNTIL I went to my WF-wannabe store in town and got DELICIOUS baked tofu, garbanzos, shredded carrots and drizzled Annie’s ginger dressing on top… AMAZE
I love grilled chicken or salmon with a cold salad or grilled veggies with a salad.
Um, I am so glad you commented on my blog because I LOVE yours. Butternut squash is pretty much the best thing, and that salad is beautiful.
I <3 butternut squash! I love mine with some butta and brown sugar.
I am definitely looking forward to butternut squash dominating your blog
j’adore!