Revitalize your plate with this incredibly clean and vibrant Spinach and Beetroot Salad, generously packed with an array of fresh, wholesome vegetables and drizzled with a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. This perfect blend of flavors and textures makes it an ideal choice for a healthy, satisfying lunch or a light, nourishing dinner.
Happy weekend, friends!
My culinary journey this month continues to be guided by a profound love for fresh, wholesome salads! Prioritizing fresh vegetables has been my steadfast commitment, and despite a couple of minor “snaccidents” (we all have them, right?), I’ve largely stayed on track. Today, I’m thrilled to share another delightful, intensely fresh, and satisfyingly crunchy salad with you. It’s not just good; it’s truly a ‘must-try’ that I believe will quickly become a staple in your healthy eating repertoire.
While the humble lettuce often serves as a go-to base, its routine presence can sometimes lead to culinary boredom. That’s why I frequently opt for spinach as a more exciting and nutrient-dense foundation for my salads. Spinach isn’t just a versatile greens option; it’s a powerhouse of nutrition, teeming with an impressive array of vitamins and minerals. Just 100 grams of fresh spinach provides over 20% of your daily needs for essential nutrients like Vitamin A (crucial for vision and immune function), Vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant), and Vitamin K (vital for bone health and blood clotting). Beyond these, it’s also an excellent source of magnesium (supporting muscle and nerve function), iron (essential for energy and combating fatigue), folate (important for cell growth), riboflavin (a B vitamin for energy metabolism), Vitamin E (another antioxidant), calcium (for strong bones), potassium (for blood pressure regulation), and abundant dietary fiber. It’s clear Popeye truly understood the incredible health benefits of this leafy green wonder!
It’s somewhat amusing to reflect on my childhood, where the thought of eating spinach felt like an insurmountable challenge. Today, I genuinely can’t imagine my diet without it. Alongside broccoli (you can explore my Broccoli Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing here), spinach stands out as my absolute favorite green vegetable, and I make it a point to consume it almost daily. If it’s not accompanying my lunch or dinner, you can bet it’s blended into my morning smoothie. Its nutritional value is simply too great to pass up! For those who still harbor a childhood aversion to spinach, here’s a secret: adding a handful of fresh or frozen spinach to your smoothie will go virtually unnoticed, yet deliver all its amazing benefits.
Beyond the magnificent spinach, another key component that truly elevates this “super clean” salad is roasted buckwheat. Often mistaken for a grain, buckwheat is actually a pseudo-cereal, naturally gluten-free, and an exceptional source of dietary fiber, much like spinach. Its nutty flavor and satisfying texture add a wonderful dimension to the salad, transforming it from a simple side dish into a truly substantial and fulfilling meal. Buckwheat also boasts a robust nutritional profile, offering a complete protein source, as well as essential minerals such as magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. It’s these thoughtful ingredient choices that allow me to confidently label this creation as “super clean” – a testament to its composition of entirely wholesome, nourishing elements.
To further enhance the nutritional richness and vibrant crunch, this salad incorporates additional star players: crisp carrots, peppery radishes, protein-packed edamame beans, and a sprinkle of toasted flaked almonds and pistachios. Carrots contribute a sweet undertone and a wealth of beta-carotene, converting to Vitamin A in the body. Radishes add a delightful bite and a burst of Vitamin C. Edamame beans provide a fantastic plant-based protein boost, helping you stay full and energized. The almonds and pistachios not only offer healthy fats and Vitamin E but also an irresistible textural contrast. Optionally, a touch of goji berries can introduce a hint of natural sweetness and additional antioxidants, making every mouthful an exciting experience.
And as if all that goodness weren’t enough, the salad is perfectly complemented by a delicate, fragrant lemon olive oil dressing. This dressing is crafted with high-quality extra virgin olive oil, renowned for its heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and powerful antioxidants. Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides a bright, zesty tang and a boost of Vitamin C, cutting through the earthiness of the beetroot beautifully. For those who appreciate an extra layer of freshness, incorporating finely chopped fresh mint leaves into the dressing is a game-changer. It’s a small addition, but it makes a huge difference to the taste buds, adding an invigorating aromatic lift that ties all the flavors together harmoniously. This simple yet sophisticated dressing truly embodies the clean eating philosophy.
For those of you, like me, who are diligently embracing more vegetables and fewer indulgent treats this month, I have great news – we’re already halfway to achieving our healthy eating goals! What I’ve recently come to realize is that my craving isn’t necessarily for the cake itself, but rather for the creative process of baking. This insight is actually inspiring me to engage with my local community, where I can share my passion for baking, and they can enjoy the delicious results (a win-win!). However, with profoundly satisfying and flavorful salads like this Spinach and Beetroot creation, I find myself effortlessly extending my healthy resolutions far longer than I initially thought possible.
This “Super Clean Spinach and Beetroot Salad” is not only naturally vegan and gluten-free but also remarkably simple to prepare. Yes, the task of meticulously cutting beetroots and carrots into perfect matchsticks does require a little effort and patience. However, I promise you, the visual appeal is utterly fantastic, and I truly believe this careful preparation makes them taste even better, enhancing their crisp texture and allowing them to meld more effectively with the other ingredients. The effort is absolutely worth it for a salad that looks as good as it tastes!
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Super Clean Spinach and Beetroot Salad (with Lemon Olive Oil Dressing)
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 150 g fresh spinach stalks removed
- 2 medium beetroots (cut into matchsticks)
- 2 medium carrots (cut into matchsticks)
- 300 g radishes thinly sliced
- 120 g edamame beans (or broad beans)
- 40 g flaked almonds lightly toasted
- 1 small handful pistachios roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon goji berries optional
- 150 g roasted buckwheat cooked
salt and pepper to taste
For the lemon olive oil dressing:
- 70 ml olive oil
- ½ medium lemon juice only
- 5-10 leaves fresh mint finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large, spacious bowl, combine the fresh spinach, carefully prepared matchstick beetroots and carrots, vibrant edamame beans, and thinly sliced radishes. Gently toss these ingredients together to ensure an even distribution of colors and textures.
- Add the cooked roasted buckwheat to the vegetable mixture and mix gently until well incorporated. Next, fold in 30g of the lightly toasted flaked almonds, the optional goji berries, and the roughly chopped pistachios. Toss everything together one more time to evenly distribute these crunchy and flavorful additions.
- To prepare the exquisite lemon olive oil dressing, simply combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Whisk vigorously or shake well until they are thoroughly emulsified and blended into a harmonious, fragrant mixture.
- Generously pour the freshly prepared dressing over the entire salad. Toss all the components together thoroughly, ensuring every leaf and vegetable is lightly coated. Finish by sprinkling the remaining toasted almonds over the top for an extra layer of crunch and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately and enjoy this incredibly fresh, vibrant, and satisfying “Super Clean Spinach and Beetroot Salad” as a wholesome meal!
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams for accuracy. I highly recommend using digital scales for the most consistent and reliable results. While I have provided a conversion to US customary measurements within the recipe, please be aware that I haven’t personally tested the recipe using this method.
Notes
Nutrition
If you enjoyed this incredibly nourishing and delicious recipe, make sure to explore my other healthy salad creations:
- Avocado and Clementine Salad – A delightful blend of creamy avocado and sweet, tangy clementines.
- Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Walnuts – A warm, comforting salad perfect for cooler weather, rich in autumnal flavors.
- Peach Salad with Fresh Dill – A surprisingly refreshing and aromatic salad, showcasing the sweetness of peaches.
- Roasted Vegetable Salad with Millet – A hearty and satisfying bowl packed with tender roasted vegetables and wholesome millet.
