This harvest moon is just gorgeous and I can't WAIT to start decorating for fall. However, I'm finding it hard to get in the mood here when it's 100 flippin' degrees outside. Yellow leaves, hot apple cider, scarecrows and soup are the farthest things from my mind. All I want to do is jump in a pool, sip smoothies, and eat salads. So keeping with the theme here of hot fall nights, I am sharing three fun and easy salad ideas, all topped with one simple mango dressing. Theoretically, you could just blend up a super ripe mango and use that as a dressing, but I've added just a few other ingredients to give it some depth of flavor. I know we will get our cool down soon. Until then, you'll be seeing more warm weather dishes here on The Tasty Alternative. Salud.
*
Sweet and Simple Mango Dressing:
Ingredients:
-1 VERY ripe mango, peeled and chopped (2 cups)
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or coconut vinegar
-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
-3 tablespoons filtered water
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1/8 teaspoon salt
How To:
1. Blend all ingredients in food processor (or blender of choice) until smooth.
2. Will keep in fridge up to 4 days.
Notes:
*If the mango is not super ripe, I recommend adding a sweetener (such as honey, coconut nectar, maple syrup, or 2 - 3 drops orange stevia).
*For AIP, omit all nuts and seeds as salad toppings.
Here with Salad #1 we have a spinach and spring mix topped with crispy red apple, pumpkin seeds, dried figs and dried apricots. Pistachios or walnuts would also taste fabulous, as would chopped Asian pear or crunchy kohlrabi. Omit nuts and seeds for AIP.
Salad #2 is fiesta inspired. Spinach, romaine, and spring mix topped with garlic sauteed black beans, red onion, roasted pumpkin seeds, avocado and tomatoes. The mango dressing is the perfect sweet flavor against the savory toppings. Grilled chicken, green peppers, cilantro or cashew sour cream would also be fabulous on this salad. Omit black beans for AIP and Paleo. Also, omit seeds for AIP. 
Lastly, salad #3. A bed of spinach and spring mix topped with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds, diced shallot and dried cranberries. The warm sweet potatoes wilt the greens just enough and the splash of cool sweet mango adds quite the flavor dimension. Roasted delicata or butternut squash would taste divine, other ideas for this salad include fresh or dried figs, nectarine, or roasted sunflower seeds. Please note that this salad is not SCD legal due to use of sweet potatoes. Replace with baked butternut squash (or another squash) to make this suitable for SCD). Omit seeds for AIP.
Shared on: Melt in your Mouth Mondays, Motivate Me Mondays, Monday Mania, Mealtime Monday, My Meatless Monday, Just Another Meatless Monday, On The Menu Monday, Mix It Up Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Raw Foods Thursday,
I LOVE your salad dressing and salad ideas! Such a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteMango dressing?!?! This is an entirely new concept to me and it looks SO amazing! I cannot wait to try this tonight! I have some chopped mango in my freezer and the rest of the ingredients in my pantry.
ReplyDeleteWow, that dressing looks awesome! I love mango. I'm embarrassed to say that my last one got buried in the fridge until it was too late. :-( Now as far as my salad choices ... I'd have to go with #2 or #3, but they all look and sound terrific! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amber!
Shirley
Ahh I am not alone-it is sooo hot here too! I am sweating right now. We got spoiled with some cool days a few weeks ago and now back to the hot grind. These salads look perfectly cooling and scrumptious. Mango dressing is the perfect way to get my kids to eat salad!
ReplyDeleteooh! I could have this dressing everyday. Heck I could drink it hehehe.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, you weren't kidding! We ARE on the same wavelength with salads! These literally made my mouth water! Mangoes just went on the grocery list. I'm trying to decide between Salads 2 & 3. I might have to start with 3 because just imagining the rich flavors with the tangy dressing is making me hungry! Love these! You are brilliant! (Please link up your dressing to Raw Foods Thursdays this week!!!)
ReplyDeleteI love these salad ideas Amber! I'd eat every one of them happily! I love the idea of mango dressing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJen
oh Amber, that dressing sounds marvelous! i love anything mango. this is perfect! and what beautiful salads!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to keep me in salads for a while. I couldn't select a favorite so I featured all three photos on My Meatless Mondays. Thanks for making it so easy on me.
ReplyDelete