How to Create a Restaurant Quality Summer Salad
In the past, there had been something so different about having a salad at a restaurant.
I remember when I would go long periods of times without a salad unless it was at a restaurant. The salad either came free with the meal, or I couldn't resist a summer type of salad that would come to my table.
If salads ever did happen at home, I bought the pre mixed bags at the grocery store. The ones that had the lettuce, dressing, and other ingredients included. But, I never got the real variety of choice that my heart desired :-(
I wanted that summery salad with the really good for you leafy greens, juicy ripe fruit, large crunchy nuts, crumbly cheese, seasoned to perfection grilled meat, and a salad dressing that didn't ruin all the benefits of an amazingly healthy summer salad!
After realizing that I couldn't live without one of those expensive summery restaurant styled salads in my life. I took note of what leafy greens, cheese, dressings, and other toppings worked best together to get the best restaurant quality salad at home for less.
My favorite QUICK and EASY summer styled salad is a "Strawberry Fields Salad". Usually it contain's greens, strawberries, onion, cranberries, feta cheese, chicken, bacon, pecans, and a vinaigrette Dressing tossed together.
My Faster Version ditches the onions and bacon. I also swap out the chicken for shrimp because they marinade in way less time, and cook much faster!
Top it all off with a really good oil based dressing!
Unlike most salad dressings on the market, Tessemae’s is as close to what you would make in your own kitchen… just already done for you!
Tessemae's only uses real and whole sourced food ingredients! :-D
Whole30 approved, gluten free, non-gmo, vegan, and are now Certified USDA Organic!
They also contain no added sugar, thickeners, preservatives, additives, and no xantham gum…ever!
Tessemae’s All Natural is a growing natural food company from Annapolis Maryland that makes 25 different organic dressings, marinades, and condiments. The perfect enhancement for your summer salads, marinating your meats, and dipping with!
Coupon Code: TesseLove
Then sauté or grill them within several minutes!
NOTE: Do NOT marinate shrimp for more than 30 Minutes!
Shrimp soaks up the marinade much faster than Chicken, Pork, or Beef. Marinating for too long will change the shrimps texture, and we don't want that!!
Layer and spread out your toppings...
BOOM!
A beautiful summer salad as fancy as all those restaurants out there! :-D
Strawberry Fields Shrimp Salad
Serves 2 Prep Time: 10 Min Cook Time: 7 Min
Ingredients
1 Cup Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pinch of Pepper
4 Cups Spinach
8 Strawberries, sliced
3/4 Cup Pecans, halved (Raw, Roasted, or Candied)
3 - 4 Tablespoons Dried Cranberries
3 - 4 Tablespoons Feta Cheese
Directions
- Mix shrimp, pepper, and lemon garlic marinade in a small bowl. Let marinade for 10 minutes.
- While shrimp is marinating, pre heat a skillet on medium heat
- After Shrimp has finished marinating. Add mixture into pre heated skillet and cook each side for about 3 minutes.
- NOTE: Shrimp should be done after it has changed color from grey to a light opaque pink and white color all over
- Once shrimp is cooked, remove from heat
- Begin layering other ingredients (in a large salad bowl or two separate dinner plates):
- Spinach
- Pecans
- Strawberries
- Cranberries
- Feta cheese
- Balsamic Dressing
- Shrimp