Layered Arugula and Spinach Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables, Quinoa, Smoked Trout, and Walnuts
This Layered Arugula and Spinach Salad has roasted root vegetables, quinoa, smoked fish, pickled beets, and a Creamy Apple Walnut Dressing. Finished off with more toasted walnuts, this salad is everything you need in a meal.
Why I Made This Recipe
I am always looking for different ways to incorporate a salad as the main meal. This salad does just that. Each layer adds a new element to the dish with different flavors, textures, and nutrition.
This vibrant spinach arugula salad features the added tanginess and color of quick-pickled beets, enhancing the overall flavor profile. Enjoy the medley of textures and tastes, complemented by the creamy apple walnut dressing.
Ingredients
For The Roasted Root Vegetables:
root vegetables diced (such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and turnips)
avocado oil (or olive oil)
Kosher salt
black pepper
For the Salad and Assembly:
8 cups mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, and mesclun)
Roasted Root Vegetables
2 cups cooked quinoa
14 oz locally sourced smoked fish (such as trout or salmon, about 3.5oz per serving)
Toss the cubed root vegetables with oil, salt, and pepper.
Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden and tender. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the Salad:
For family style: In a large bowl or platter, layer the mixed greens, roasted root vegetables, cooked quinoa, smoked fish fillets, and pickled beets. Drizzle the Creamy Apple Walnut Dressing over the salad and sprinkle with toasted walnuts.
For individual portions: Divide the salad among individual plates. For each serving layer 2 cups mixed greens, 1 cup roasted root vegetables, ¾ cup quinoa, 3.5oz smoked fish, ¼ cup sliced pickled beets, ¼ cup salad dressing, and 2 tbsp walnut pieces.
Making Layering Salads
When you break down a complex salad like this into its layers, it’s pretty simple and easy to recreate or make variations. Once you break it down, you will love making layered salad recipes over and over again.
Base: Fresh salad Greens such as arugula, baby spinach, kale, romaine, and butter lettuce.
Veggies: Raw or Cooked veggies such as carrots, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, or cucumber.
Grains/Starches: I like to include grains and starches for fiber and carbohydrates such as pasta, farro, crispy rice, quinoa, potatoes, or croutons.
Protein: Think animal or plant-based proteins such as fish, chicken, baked tofu, legumes, or hunks of feta cheese.
Layered Arugula and Spinach Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables, Quinoa, Smoked Trout, and Walnuts
Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN
This Layered Arugula and Spinach Salad has roasted root vegetables, quinoa, smoked fish, pickled beets, and a Creamy Apple Walnut Dressing. Finished off with more toasted walnuts, this salad is everything you need in a meal.
14ozsmoked troutor other high-temperature smoked fish like salmon or sablefish
1cuppickled beets, drained and sliced
1cupCreamy Apple Walnut Dressing
½cuptoasted walnut pieces
Instructions
Roast the Root Vegetables:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Toss the cubed root vegetables with oil, salt, and pepper.
Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until they are golden and tender. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the Salad:
For family style: In a large salad bowl or platter, layer the mixed greens, roasted root vegetables, cooked quinoa, smoked fish fillets, and pickled beets. Drizzle the creamy apple walnut dressing over the salad and top with toasted walnuts.
For individual portions: Divide the salad among individual plates. For each serving layer 2 cups mixed greens, 1 cup roasted root vegetables, ¾ cup quinoa, 3.5oz smoked fish, ¼ cup sliced pickled beets, ¼ cup salad dressing, and 2 tbsp walnut pieces.
Notes
nutrition information for creamy apple walnut dressing not included
Peel and slice or wedge the beets. Use a mandoline for even slices or cut them into uniform pieces by hand.
Step 2: Cook the Beets (Optional)
For a softer texture, place the beets in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and let cool slightly. If you prefer a firmer texture, you can skip this step and use raw beets.
Step 3: Prepare the Pickling Liquid
In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
Step 4: Add the Spices
Add the mustard seeds, black peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaf (if using) to the pickling liquid. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Pickle the Beets
Place the cooked or raw beet slices into a clean jar or container. Pour the hot pickling liquid over the beets, ensuring they are fully submerged.
Step 6: Cool and Refrigerate
Allow the beets to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover the jar or container and refrigerate. The beets will be ready to eat after at least 2 hours, but they taste even better after a day or two in the fridge.
This Creamy Vegan Apple Walnut Dressing has apple cider, apple cider vinegar, walnut oil, and walnuts to a sweet and creamy dressing that is perfect for those autumn and winter time salads.
Ever crave a big ole’ bowl of noodles? I sure do. Noodles are my favorite food. I don’t make such a statement lightly. There is something about the mouthfeel of noodles, so smooth and chewy, that is just so comforting.
Why I Love This Rice Noodle with Spicy Tahini Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
I love this recipe because, it’s a quick, easy, and healthy noodle recipe but also super delicious. The Tahini Sauce is a perfect complement. It creates a velvety, nutty flavor and aroma.
Many of my noodle dishes are inspired by other marvelous dishes. This dish is inspired by Thai peanut noodles and Dan Dan noodles some of my favorite noodle slurping dishes!
Ingredients
Noodles: I use rice noodles in this dish. Noodles come in many widths and sizes. Some Noodles are thin like vermicelli or round and wide like udon. I recommend using a Pad Thai style, which is known for its dried, flat, and wide noodles. Here is one noodle I like to use, from the Thai kitchen.
Veggies: You can get creative with veggies for this recipe. I chose carrots, bell peppers, and jalapenos. I love carrots in a warm and cozy noodle dish. The jalapenos and green bell peppers also pair nicely.
Some other veggie variations to try:
Broccoli, napa cabbage, onion
Celery, carrot, snow peas
Edamame, red cabbage, cauliflower
Spicy: As always, spiciness is optional because it is not for everyone. But hey, this is a Spicy Tahini Noodle recipe! You could omit the spicy element and bump up the flavor with some garlic too.
Protein: Go ahead and use your favorite protein in this noodle dish. I chose a yummy, yet spicy, homemade jalapeno-picked egg. Keep things vegan by topping this recipe with some Baked Tofu.
Tahini Sauce: I make noodles so often that I have tried hundreds of combinations and ratios of ingredients. Due to my long history of noodle adventures, I usually eyeball the sauce, give it a taste, and adjust the ingredients as needed. However, if you need a blueprint, no worries! This combination (written in the recipe at the bottom of this post) will leave you blown away.
Garnish: A garnish can transform any dish into a work of art. When considering the following elements, color, taste, texture, and nutrition garnishes are not something that is thrown aside! In this recipe, I garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, and basil. But technically the egg is a garnish too!
Other garnish ideas include a wedge of lime or freshly squeezed lime juice, black pepper, a drizzle of maple syrup, a splash of soy sauce, or even an extra drizzle of creamy sauce.
How To Make This Recipe
A standout feature of noodle recipes is the ease of its creation. Check out my instructions below.
To make Spicy Tahini Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Tahini
What is Tahini?
Tahini is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. It is similar to peanut butter but instead of grounding peanuts to a pulp (or butter), it is made from ground sesame seeds. In tahini, the sesame seeds are toasted, ground, and finally emulsified with oil, creating a smooth and creamy consistency.
Tahini has its own wonderful flavor, much like a nutty earthy nut or seed butter. If you don’t have tahini for a recipe, you may be able to substitute a nut or seed butter along with some sesame oil.
Tahini is a major ingredient in a very popular snack food, hummus! Some other culinary uses for tahini include salad dressings, dips (such as hummus or baba ghanoush), used as a condiment, in a baked good (like cake), stirred into a soup, sauce, or smoothie, or you might also want to drizzle over some chickpeas or falafel.
If you want to learn more about how to use tahini in your kitchen check out these articles by Serious Eats, and Bon Appetit.
In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
Cook The Noodles
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
Heat avocado oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Add the carrot, bell peppers, jalapeno, and scallions to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they are crisp-tender.
Pour the spicy tahini stir fry sauce over the vegetables and toss until well coated.
Add Sauce and Noodles
Add the cooked rice noodles to the pan and gently toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce and the vegetables are distributed throughout.
Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through.
Garnish and Serve
Remove the pan from the heat and add the desired garnish. Serve immediately.
My Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits are not only delicious but they are also made with coconut flour and cornmeal! These Drop Biscuits have texture, are buttery, and are super versatile! You can eat this sweet summery biscuit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Bonus, it is gluten-free!
In this article, I will bring you behind the scenes of my test kitchen, discuss some of these Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits’ key ingredients, and then dive into this article’s Sharper Nutrition Fix: Coconut Flour.
Sarah’s Biscuit Recipe Background
A little background behind these Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits. I LOVE fresh-baked, cornbread. I especially love from-scratch cornbread with little chunks of love inside, like corn, jalapenos, herbs, and you guessed it, strawberries.
Additionally, I recently discovered coconut flour and I am fascinated with it! You can find more information about coconut flour below, in the Sharper Nutrition Fix section.
I found myself in the kitchen wanting to create a filling drop biscuit recipe. Yet, I also wanted to create a recipe that incorporated cornmeal and my newfound favorite, coconut flour. Usually, I like my cornbread recipes savory and baked in a cast-iron skillet. However, for this recipe, I wanted something light, a bit chunky, and perfect for a spring or summertime meal.
My Test Kitchen
After my 5th attempt at work-shopping my Strawberry Cornbread Muffin recipe in the test kitchen, I put my apron up and said, “Okay, coconut flour muffins are hard”. One of my Cornbread Muffin batches came out similar to the texture of a biscuit. Um, I LOVE biscuits. Following some yummy tweaks, this Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuit recipe was born!
Key Ingredients in Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits
Strawberries: Truly the star of the show, strawberries make this drop biscuit what they are, Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits. This recipe is a great way to incorporate your next strawberry haul from your local strawberry farmer! With 2 whole cups incorporated into these biscuits, it’s just another way to incorporate the beautiful rose-colored fruit into your diet.
Corn: One of the things I love most about this ingredient is how it is available at any time of year! I LOVE canned corn. Canned corn is a sustainable and tasty way to enjoy these heavenly golden kernels we call corn. Furthermore, corn adds a pop of sweet-nutty flavor to every bite of this drop biscuit.
Strawberry Honey Butter: Enjoy these delicious Strawberry Cornbread Drop Biscuits with some sweet and delectable Strawberry Honey Butter! This honey butter goes great with any fresh baked goods. The Honey Butter is made with Sarah’s Strawberry Sauce, Honey, and Butter. I have been known to swap out my Strawberry Sauce for garlic and slather this over some salmon! Yum!
How to Make These Biscuits
Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut up butter into cubes, place on a plate, and pop in the freezer while you mix your dry ingredients.
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Mix the eggs and milk in a separate smaller bowl.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients, strawberries, and corn. Stir the mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; it’s okay if there are some lumps.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop portions of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown on the edges.
Make Honey butter while the biscuits are baking. Melt butter in the microwave. Mix in Honey and Strawberry sauce or jam.
Remove from the oven and allow the biscuits to cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Coconut Flour
There are three reasons I like to bake and cook with coconut flour.
Coconut flour is the natural byproduct of coconut milk production.
It is cheaper than Almond Flour! Like, a lot cheaper. This makes sense, it is a natural byproduct of another industry.
It is high in fiber! Just ½ cup of Coconut flour has 20 grams.
½cupCold buttercubed and frozen for 5 min prior to use
1 cupSkim milkor any other milk of choice
2Eggs
Add ins
1cupCorn
2cupsStrawberries, diced
Strawberry Honey Butter
¼cupSarah's Strawberry Sauceor store bought strawberry jam or preserves
¼cup Honey
½cupButtermelted
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut up butter into cubes, place on a plate and pop in the freezer while you mix your dry ingredients.
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Mix the eggs and milk in a separate smaller bowl.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients, strawberries, and corn. Stir the mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; it's okay if there are some lumps.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop portions of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown on the edges.
Make Honey butter while the biscuits are baking. Melt butter in the microwave. Mix in Honey and Strawberry sauce or jam.
Remove from the oven and allow the biscuits to cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Sharper Tip: Serve these with Honey Butter and Sarah’s Strawberry Sauce drizzled over top!The left over Honey Butter, if any, can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week.
