Well, here we are in the dead of winter here in the Mid-Atlantic, and the last thing you want to do is nibble on lettuce leaves with dressing on the side. We just need to remake salads for the winter and everything will be fine. Swapping out light summer produce for heartier winter vegetables does the trick. Building up such salads with additional seasonings and proteins provides the extra energy needed to brave the cold season.
Even though salads with winter vegetables can be so ingenious, they can be served up as a light lunch or a side dish at dinner. Part of the reason we crave these dishes is that we begin to physically crave warmer, heartier food. But the truth is, just because the weather has changed does not mean we have to give up beloved, healthy fresh produce.
Winter produce actually makes some of the best salads. And they're hearty also, which is what our bodies crave when it's cold outside.
Ingredients and Preparation:
For the salad – sliced ½ fennel bulb, 1-2 sliced apples, preferably honeycrisp , sliced radishes, 1 pear and an assortment of bitter winter greens such as arugula.
For the vinaigrette, 2 tbs cider vinegar, 6 tbs olive oil, 1 tbs Dijon mustard, 1 tbs chopped shallot, salt & pepper to taste. Whisk together the vinaigrette and then dress the salad. Add toasted pecans, goat cheese and chopped chicken if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings then serve.
Here are an awesome set of recipes from my friends at the Sunday Supper movement to celebrate winter salads,
#SundaySupper Winter Salads
- Amish Ham Salad from Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Arugula, Butternut & White Bean Salad with Maple Vinaigrette from Pook’s Pantry
- Arugula Salad with Maple Vinaigrette from Cooking Chat
- Blood Orange and Salmon Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Blood Orange, Beet, and Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Citrus Honey Vinaigrette from Renee's Kitchen Adventures
- Blue Cheese and Pear Salad from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Breakfast Salad from Our Good Life
- Carrot Salad from Recipes Food and Cooking
- Chill Chasing Matchstick Vegetable Pasta Salad from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Chopped Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables and Bacon from MyGourmetConnection
- Citrus Salad from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Cobb Salad from Palatable Pastime
- Colorful Veggie Filled Quinoa with a Ginger-Lemon Dressing from Positively Stacy
- Crunchy Beet & Arugula Salad from The Crumby Cupcake
- Escarole and Roasted Broccoli Salad with Anchovy Dressing from The Texan New Yorker
- Farro Salad with Roasted Squash, Radicchio and Lemon-Tahini Dressing from Caroline’s Cooking
- Fennel, Apple & Radish Salad from Delaware Girl Eats
- German Hot Noodle Salad from Seduction in the Kitchen
- Grilled Chicken Salad from Real Food Real Deals
- Grilled Sweet Potato Salad from Brunch-n-Bites
- Kale & Chickpea Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing from My Life Cookbook
- Lemony Couscous Lentil Salad from Magnolia Days
- Low-Carb Spinach Breakfast Salad from Life Tastes Good
- Mandarin Orange Salad from Meal Planning Magic
- Orange and Walnut Baby Spinach Salad w/ Quinoa and Citrus Vinaigrette from The Freshman Cook
- Pear and Goat Cheese Terrine Salad from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Pork and Kale Salad from The Complete Savorist
- Quinoa Salad with Apples, Pecans and Dried Cranberries from The Chef Next Door
- Radicchio, Pear and Walnut Salad from The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Roasted Butternut Squash Pearl Couscous Salad from Mysavoryspoon
- Roasted Savoy Cabbage Slaw with Spicy Bacon Dressing from Food Lust People Love
- Roasted Squash and Winter Veggie Salad with Crispy Chick Peas from Monica’s Table
- Roasted Squash Quinoa Salad with Curried Tahini Dressing from Kitchen Gidget
- Shredded Beet Salad from Wholistic Woman
- Shredded Sprouts with White Bean Dressing and Pecan Crisps from Beauty and the Beets
- Simple Arugula, Fennel and Leek Salad w/ Citrus from Simply Healthy Family
- Spinach and Shrimp Salad with Chile and Ginger Dressing from Feeding Big and More
- Spinach Citrus Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette from From Gate to Plate
- Spinach Cobb Salad With Lardons from And She Cooks
- Warm Balsamic Steak Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing from Momma's Meals
- Warm Cabbage Salad with Bacon and Goat Cheese from Nik Snacks
- Warm Cauliflower Spinach Salad with Pancetta from Taste and See
- Warm Potato and Broccoli Buffalo Salad from Sweet Mornings
- Warm Potato Salad with Arugula, Bacon and Brown Butter from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Warm Steak Tomato and Mozzarella Salad from Family Foodie
- Wilted Lettuce Salad from Confessions of a Cooking Diva
- Winter BLT Panzanella Salad from Hardly a Goddess
- Winter Citrus and Endive Salad from An Appealing Plan
- Winter Fruit Salad from Pies and Plots
- Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad from Moore or Less Cooking
- Winter Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Wild Rice Salad plus more Winter Salad Recipes #SundaySupper from Sunday Supper Movement 
