Sometimes a dish just screams summer, and this summer antioxidant salad is definitely one of those dishes! It is fresh, vibrant, zesty and delicious. Just look at all those colors and tell me you don't want to dive right in!
I am just loving this beautiful weather. We have been sitting on the back porch for dinner every night, and it is just so relaxing. My little one actually got annoyed when I set up the dining table inside the other night, and told me 'but it's lovely tonight in the neighbourhood' (thank you Daniel Tiger), so we quickly relocated 🙂
What was I thinking trying to set up inside? Silly mummy!
Onto the antioxidant salad. There's a healthy dose of greens, some fresh fruit to sweeten it up (and make it tempting for the kiddos), a handful of nuts and seeds, plus a really simple dressing, which blends in perfectly with all of the beautiful fresh flavours.
I served it up with some grilled lamb for the hubby and kids, but it would go so well with anything fresh from the grill (or all by itself). I have some big portobellos I plan on perusing this weekend, and I bet they would go great grilled and sliced on top.
I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, like on Facebook, tweet on twitter or pin to pinterest for later 🙂
What is your favourite thing about summer? Have a favourite recipe or a favourite place to visit? Link up your Summer Blog Posts below and let us all share in your experience!
Summer Antioxidant Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 4 radishes sliced thinly
- 3 spring onions white and light green parts only, cut into thin strips
- 1/2 orange capsicum thinly sliced
- 1/2 red capsicum thinly sliced
- 1/2 cucumber thinly sliced
- 10 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 10 strawberries hulled and quartered
- 1 slices fresh peach skin removed and cut into
- 2 tbsp each of chopped walnuts pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp walnut oil (if you don't have walnut oil just go without)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare all the fruits and vegetables. Lay them out on a large chopping board or serving plate
- Sprinkle with the nuts and seeds
- Mix all dressing ingredients together (EVOO, balsamic vinegar, walnut oil, lemon juice) in a glass jar and drizzle over the salad
- Serve and enjoy
Diane says
I love our fresh garden produce made into salads all summer. It's so fun to work with whatever my hubs delivers from the greenhouse and garden. Nothing better for a light summer meal. Your salad just looks amazing. The fresh fruit in there is a wonderful idea for a natural sweetener. So healthy!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thank you for your lovely words Diane! I hope to one day have a well stocked garden so we can provide all of our own produce throughout summer...we are getting there, but its slow 🙂
International Elf Service says
This looks absolutely divine. I love salads. I often use apple or pear in salads but this mix looks fantastic.
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I love apple and pear in my salads too 🙂 They aren't in season here at the moment, so taking full advantage of my strawberries and stone fruits!
Levan @ MyWifeMakes.com says
OMG this summer salad makes me think of Unicorns!
As in rainbows
Bursting with color!
Looks delicious, looks healthy --- I would like to formally present myself in front of this plate so that I may DEVOUR it.
Breakfast? Check
Lunch? Check
Dinner? Check!
All summer long? Check -- except we live in Melbourne so winter is like a shy little giraffe hiding among the trees.
AMAZING STUFF DONNA! 5 STARS!
Whole Food Bellies says
That is the most colourful comment I have received yet Levan 🙂 Thanks for making me smile!
lifestyletalks.wordpress.com says
This salad looks so yummy and beautiful! Summertime means 'saladtime!! A salad tastes so much better in summer then in winter. Don't you think? I have a recipe as well. very simple actually: advocade with crab and a little bit of cocktail sauce. You should try it!
Whole Food Bellies says
Defintely Bieke, I don't even bother with salads in winter (for the most part). Summer is a completely different story! Your salad sounds delicious - I LOVE fresh crab and we eat like 6 avocados a week in our house - so this would go down a treat! Thanks for sharing
Becky Winkler (A Calculated Whisk) says
There is so much colorful goodness in this beautiful salad! I bet it's a meal that would leave you energized, too, instead of sleepy like after heavier dishes 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Exactly Becky! There's nothing worse than a heavy meal on a hot day!
Domesticated Momster says
This salad looks delightful! I love salad in the summer for I hate to cook when it's so hot already. Your pictures are always so beautiful as well it's like I can almost take a bite of those veggies right from my desk. I will surely be linking up with you. I am going on a family vacay soon and will have lots to blog about. Thank you for once again sharing your recipe with us at #foodpornthursdays.
Whole Food Bellies says
Ooh enjoy the vacation, hope you get a chance to relax and unwind (haha, I know you have kids, that doesn't happen anymore). I feel like we haven't been away in ages! Oh and thanks for the photo comments - that is my aim, sometimes it works 🙂
Byron Thomas says
Everything about this makes me want to sit on my balcony with this salad and a glass of wine. Gorgeous!
Whole Food Bellies says
Ooh that sounds like a perfect evening Byron - I may have to copy you 🙂
Jen says
This looks perfect! So refreshing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Jen 🙂
Jenn says
The perfect summer salad! I love peaches in salad. This looks beautiful!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Jenn! Yes I am totally obsessed with peaches (or any stonefruit) in my salads - they just add such a pop of flavour!
Tina Marie says
I am a salad girl, and this looks amazing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Tina 🙂
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says
Gorgeous!!! I'm all about the salads right now...especially because our garden is on over-drive and I'm just trying to keep up. This looks absolutely delicious, and I think that I have almost all of the ingredients on hand. Dinner tonight?! Yummed! 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I can't wait for the day when I have to try and keep up with my veggie garden 🙂 We have that at the moment with stone fruit on our trees - but my veggies...no so much 🙂 Enjoy your dinner!!
Lisa | Drop The Sugar says
I'm not a huge salad fan, but the salad looks really colorful and good! Believe it or not, I have NEVER tried radishes.. but I hear they are really good. So, I'm still 50/50 on trying them lol.
Whole Food Bellies says
I get you Lisa - I have never been one to order a salad at a restaurant - unless it comes as a side 🙂 At home though, I can live on salads, as they are usually beefed up to ensure they fill my hungry belly 🙂 You should definitely try radishes - they have a very subtle flavour, and are crispy and refreshing (esp straight from the fridge) so don't be scared 🙂
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
Ahh, summer produce! This salad looks fantastic, and your photos make me want to be home in the States having a BBQ with my family. Been living in the tropics too long-- and it makes you not appreciate the warm weather. It's just not the same!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I can totally imagine!! Although I am jealous of you living in the tropics (especially if you are close to a beach 🙂 ) - fun!!
Cristie @ Little Big H says
Love this salad. I'm making it ASAP. Thanks
Whole Food Bellies says
🙂 Hope you enjoy Cristie!
[email protected] says
You are so right when you say this salad screams summer! It looks so beautiful, fresh and light.I can't wait to try it sometime soon.
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Mel! I hope you give it a go 🙂
Karissa says
This looks so healthy and beautiful!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Karissa 🙂
Amanda Cross says
This looks absolutely delicious, but then again your recipes never fail to look absolutely amazing. I love all the beautiful colors in this salad!
Whole Food Bellies says
Awww thanks Amanda, that brightened up my day 🙂
Lindsay says
I make a similar salad as well and it's so yummy! I like to add goat cheese too!
Whole Food Bellies says
Yum, goats cheese would be a great addition!! Its a great summer salad hey!
Denea Duran says
I love spinach and this salad just looks fun! I will have to try this! Thanks for sharing.
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks for stopping by Denea! Hope you give it a go 🙂
Jessica @ The Silvah Lining says
This salad looks to die for! I'm always looking for fun, new salad ideas.
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh thanks Jessica 🙂 This is definitely a fun salad!
Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments says
This looks so good! I love all of the colors involved in this salad. 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Pam! It is certainly jammed packed full of colour 🙂
Kirsten says
This salad looks delicious. I am always looking for variety and forget about using peppers and beets. Thanks for the recipe!
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome Kirsten 🙂 I am totally addicted to peppers in salad - they give such a great crunch!
Jaclyn says
That salad looks delicious! It's always great to see unexpected ingredients that can be added and make things more flavorful!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Jaclyn! yes, I tend to throw a little bit of randomness into every salad these days 🙂
Michelle says
That looks delicious! I love a colorful summer salad, pinning for later!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Michelle 🙂
Michelle | Divas With A Purpose says
This looks absolutely scrumptious! Summertime is when I definitely increase my salad intake - how can you not with all the yummy fresh fruit and veggies that are in season.
Whole Food Bellies says
I know right! We have been eating so many salads lately!
Emily | Rainbow Delicious says
This is my kind of salad... garden fresh and full of variety! And that is the cutest thing that your child requested you eat outside, you must be doing something right! 😉
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha thanks Emily - she is very much the outdoorsy type (at 2.5) 🙂 Definitely a fan of variety in a salad - makes it more exciting!
Debra says
Wow this looks so amazing! Your pictures of the food at perfect!
Whole Food Bellies says
Aww thanks Debra 🙂
Jeanine says
Yum. That looks absolutely amazing. I'll have to make it for my family they love salads so I'm sure they'd love it!
Whole Food Bellies says
I hope they do Jeanine!
Jacynta says
this looks SO good! definitely going to give it a try! thanks for sharing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Very welcome Jacinta! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Kat from curlsnchard.com says
I love this salad! So colorful and delicious - I always love adding some fruit into my salad, it makes it so much more fun to eat 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Kat! Fruit is the best in salads hey! I have only recently started getting on board with it, but now I am definitely hooked 🙂
Francesca @The Hungry Homemaker Blog says
That salad looks amazing! I love all of the fresh fruits and veggies available this time of year!
Whole Food Bellies says
I know, theres so much beautiful produce around at the moment hey!
Alex says
This looks amazing! I definitely must try this! thanks for sharing
Whole Food Bellies says
Very welcome Alex - enjoy!
Maggie says
Looks delicious! Peaches are in season here and I just picked up some from a local farm. Thanks for suggesting a new salad for them!
Whole Food Bellies says
Very welcome Maggie! How good are fresh peaches - I am totally addicted atm (lucky we have a peach tree 🙂 )
Cole says
This salad looks so delicious! I've been on a spinach craze lately!
Whole Food Bellies says
Same here 🙂 Finally getting my husband on board with the spinach obsession (only taken like 2 years 🙂 )
Julie @ Girl on the Move says
Yum, yum, yum! I absolutely love salads in the summer...so light after a day in the sun! Will be sharing this on social media!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Julie! Definitely, after a day in the sun the last thing you want is a heavy meal 🙂
Sandra Gonzalez says
OMG! This looks fabulous! I love salads and am always on the lookout for new and creative ways to eat them! Thanks for the recipe!
Whole Food Bellies says
Very welcome Sandra 🙂 Same here, I have a salad ideas book which is ridiculously big!
Taylor S. says
This looks so delicious and I could totally eat it on the Whole30 I'm doing! Pinning for later!
Whole Food Bellies says
Hope you enjoy Taylor! Good luck with the Whole30 🙂
Jamie Walton says
These are gorgeous! I love all the color! (And now I'm hungry!)
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha thanks Jamie! Hope you had something yummy to nibble on 🙂