Fresh Summer Salad with Almond Crusted Feta

It finally feels like Summer, the temperatures are consistently in the 80s here and the daylight is lasting longer. There are gorgeous strawberries and blueberries at the farmer's market and in all the grocery stores. I finished grading all the final exams. It's Summer time!

I have a confession; I can not stop eating this salad. Second confession, I don't want to stop eating it. This salad is inspired by a similar salad I had at a restaurant with almond covered goat cheese. It was so good! Warm feta encrusted in a golden, toasted shell. Yes, please!

My recipe has more fruit, both in amount and variety. I also used my favorite salad green, spinach. Spinach is high in folate, which plays an important role in DNA and cell proliferation. Folate has been shown to play roles in preventing some types of cancer and is an essential nutrient especially during pregnancy. I hope you enjoy this quick, delicious, nutritious, nutrient-dense recipe.

Fresh Summer Salad with Almond Crusted Feta Cheese

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 7-10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 ounces feta cheese
1/4 cup fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced
1/4 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds

2 Tablespoons canola oil or olive oil
1 egg

For salad dressing:

1 Tablespoon pureed strawberries or strawberry jelly/jam

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Crack egg into a bowl and scramble.

Mix panko and 1 Tablespoon almonds in a second bowl.

Slice 2, one-ounce slices of feta. Place feta into egg mixture. Then, dip in panko and almonds. Cover all cheese with the crunchy coating. Repeat with second slice of feta. Place breaded feta on a place and put in freezer for ~5 minutes.

Wash and thoroughly dry vegetables.

Place spinach, strawberries, and blueberries in a salad bowl.

Mix strawberry puree or strawberry jelly, lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and olive oil to make salad dressing. Use 1-2 Tablespoons to dressing for your salad.

Preheat oven to 300*F. Heat a small oven-safe pan with 2 Tablespoons canola or olive oil on medium heat. Place feta into pan. Brown cheese for 2-3 minutes until crust is golden brown. Flip cheese and brown on second side for 2 minutes. Then, place in the oven for 4-5 minutes until cheese is golden brown and warmed through.

Top salad with 1 Tablespoon almonds and feta. Enjoy!

This red, white, and blue recipe is perfect to bring on a picnic, Fourth of July Party, or Memorial Day party. To make it more transportable, you can pack this salad in a mason jar or recyclable plastic cup. Layer the dressing first, Then the blueberries and strawberries. Add your salad greens and top with feta. 

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

10 Simple Salads Ideas with Dietitian Tips for Making Satisfying Salads

 

Chicken Marsala Recipe

Shrimp Poboy Recipe

6 Tips for a Healthy Vacation

Good morning! This is the time of the year where students are stressed taking finals, teachers are grading furiously, and many are planning summer vacations. My husband and I  are enjoying a beach vacation. How do you make a vacation fun and healthy? Here are a couple of my tips to a happy, healthy vacation.

• Pack Healthy Snacks
• Check out this post for ideas for healthy snacks.
• Relax
• We know stress is not healthy. You can read more here about the consequences of lack of sleep. Then, relax, rest up, and be healthy.
• Split a Meal
• This is an easy, economical way to be healthy. Most restaurant portions are notoriously large. So split and entree and add an extra salad or vegetable side.
• Pack a Picnic
• Picnics are a great way to get a variety of healthy foods. It is economical and fun! Simply visit a grocery store on vacation, pick up a checkered cloth, and enjoy time with your family.
• Hydrate
• We know hydration is important especially in the summer months. So, keep hydrated by keeping a water bottle handy for each member of your family. And, order water with meals, which is an easy, cheap, healthy choice.
• Be Physically Active
• Include physically activity into your vacation just like you do in your life. We will discuss more ways to include physical activity into your vacation later this week.

I hope these ideas will make it easy for you and your family or friends to have a healthy vacation. Stay tuned this week on Instagram, and Twitter for more tips on healthy eating while on vacation.