The Least Boring Salad You've Had in a While

Once upon a time, I lived in a hellish salad limbo. I was stuck in a vicious cycle that only consisted of the same three boring salads- I'm looking at you, Coleslaw, Garden, and Caesar. In this dark time of vegetable monotony, I decided to take charge of my own destiny. I set out to create a salad that was eclectic yet nutritious, and wouldn't leave me hungry an hour after consumption. I have accordingly dubbed it as the "cycle-breaking salad" (try saying that three times).

What makes this salad so special is that it contains all three primary macronutrients as well as some extra pizazz:

-The turkey bacon and manchego cheese provide protein.

-The avocado, olive oil, and almonds are perfect sources of healthy fats. 

-The sweet potatoes give us lil' somethings we all know and love called carbs (with a remarkable boost of fiber!)

-And if that wasn't enough, flax seeds, apple cider vinegar, kale, and sprouts are basically the Avengers of the food world, possessing a unique array of superpowers that combat any evil trying to harm your body (aka, a cold).

"Cycle-Breaking Salad" Recipe

• Prep Time:25 secs
• Cook Time:45 secs
• Total Time:1 min 10 secs
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 sweet potatoes
• 1 avocado
• 2 strips turkey bacon
• 14 oz baby kale
• 2 oz sprouts
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts
• 1 tbsp flax seeds
• Copious amounts manchego cheese
• any other add-ins you would like ie: cherry tomatoes
• For the dressing:
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 avocado
• For the sweet potato spice blend:
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1/8 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 pepper
• salt to taste

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 450 F. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into wedges (the yellow color is because they are Japanese sweet potatoes!). Place in a pan and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

  

• Step 2

  Combine all the ingredients for the spice blend in a bowl. Sprinkle contents of bowl on the sweet potatoes.

  

• Step 3

  With gloves on, massage the sweet potatoes to ensure each wedge is evenly coated with the oil and the spices- this is the trick to extra flavor fries!
  Pop the tray in the oven for 40 mins or until golden-brown.

  

• Step 4

  Gather your ingredients for the salad dressing.

  

• Step 5

  Start by smashing the avocado in a bowl using a fork, then add all the other ingredients of the dressing. Keep stirring until combined.

  

• Step 6

  Cook the two strips of turkey bacon until nice and crispy.

  

• Step 7

  Dice the avocado that garnishes the salad.
  #spoontip : the easiest way to get even cubes is to run the knife along the avocado while keeping the skin intact. Then just scoop the cubes with a spoon.

  

• Step 8

  Gather all the add-ins that will garnish the salad (nuts, bacon, avocado, manchego, flax seeds, etc...). Add any other toppings that you want! Be spontaneous! I added cherry tomatoes because I'm WILD. Just remember to chop everything into bite-size pieces, you crazy child.

  

• Step 9

  This is where it gets fun. Get creative!! Build your salad however you want. Channel your inner salt bae and sprinkle your garnishes in an insta worthy manner. I believe in you, young grasshopper.

  

Finally, enjoy the beautiful mess that you have created. Happy eating!!