Kripalu's Chef Deb Morgan writes: "Summer salad season is upon us! The popular, light salads below are easy to make, save well in the refrigerator, and are very versatile, not to mention nutritious. Serve any of these salads over a nice plate of field greens or even cooked greens with a light soup and/or your favorite whole grain bread. Leftovers can be used the next day to fill a whole wheat or vegetable wrap—just add fresh spinach or lettuce and roll it up. For a gluten-free treat, use a large lettuce or kale leaf as your wrap. Get together with some friends, make these salads together, sit outside—and enjoy."

Quinoa Avocado Salad

Serves four.
Prep time: 25 minutes, plus cooling time.

1 cup quinoa
1¾ cup water
½ cup red pepper, diced
2 scallions
¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 fresh ripe avocado
Optional add-ins: organic raw cheddar cheese, cooked black beans, roasted asparagus

Rinse quinoa and drain. Place in a saucepan and cover with measured water. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let remain covered for another 10 minutes until all water is absorbed. Remove and fluff with fork onto a tray to cool. When quinoa is cool, add peppers, scallions, and roasted pumpkin seeds. Combine olive oil, water, lime juice, and salt. Toss with quinoa. Garnish with fresh, sliced avocado and any of the other add-ins.

Read John Bagnulo’s commentary: Nutritional Superstars—Avocado and Quinoa

Exotic Carrot Salad

Serves four.
Prep time: 10 minutes.

2 cups grated carrots
¼ cup shredded coconut
¼ cup slivered or sliced almonds, raw or toasted
¼ cup chunked fresh pineapple

Dressing:
¼ cup vegenaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
Grated ginger and fresh cilantro to taste
Pinch salt

Simply mix together salad ingredients and top with dressing.

AND JOIN ME AT KRIPALU TO SAVOR SUMMER

Save your spot now for a weekend or week long immersion in yoga, meditation and nature at Kripalu. There are two opportunities to practice with me at Kripalu this summer:

July 27-29

July 29- August 3
Special Guest Musician Garth Stevenson will join us on the 28th.

Offered in the beauty of Kripalu’s natural environment, this retreat provides the perfect combination of yoga, meditation, and time in nature to leave you centered in your heart. Jillian Pransky weaves slow flow vinyasa, restorative poses, mindfulness, and walking meditations under the wide-open sky to leave you grounded, expansive, and with a deeper connection to yourself and the world.”

Learn More