Three words, 18 letters… “Winter is coming.” And this usually means it’s time to break up with lettuce and tomatoes. Salads are great for getting through hot, sweaty summers, but as the air gets crispier, that refreshing element starts to lose its appeal. But don’t start hooking up with that hot, creamy mashed potato just yet, because warm winter salads might just be the besties you need to get through stormy weather.
Why You Need Salads
Have you ever noticed how you tend to have more energy & good health during the summer? When exposed to the sun, the skin converts UV rays to vitamin D, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties and supports healthy bones and immune health. As the days get gloomier during fall and winter, vitamin D levels tend to drop. It becomes increasingly important to boost your immunity by absorbing nutrient-rich meals. Think kale, spinach, broccoli, bell pepper, mushrooms, and Orange Juice!
Is it Bad to Eat Salads in Winter?
During colder months, our bodies naturally crave more warming and high-calorie foods to generate heat and energy. Some medicinal practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda have expressed concerns about eating cold and raw meals during the frigid months. Based on their beliefs, traditional summer salads can be harder on the digestive system and might lead to imbalances.
“The body needs to use energy to warm the raw nutrients up and extract the goods –which can leave your energy (Qi) more drained instead of nourished.” Instead, they recommend warm and cooked foods to promote better digestion. All the more reason to beef up your recipe book with warm salads.
Here’s a list of 14 Delicious Warm Salads for Winter or cold weather in general
1. Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans
2. Warm Brussels Sprout Salad with Apples and Pecans
Apples, pecans, and cheese are the three musketeers of salad in my book. it’s a combo that always keeps things interesting. This vegetarian salad is perfect as is, and includes a sprinkle of cranberries for a tarty kick. But, if you’re a meat lover and would like to bulk it up, you can always add some chicken to the mix.
3. Roasted Eggplant Lentil Salad
This dish pairs tender roasted eggplant with seasoned lentils, drizzled with a garlic-lemon dressing, and blessed with crumbs of feta. The two core ingredients warm up the cherry tomatoes and arugula. It’s a warm salad that tastes as good as it looks. Huzzah!
4. Thai Butternut Quinoa Salad
I’d say yes to a good quinoa salad, any day. This recipe is vegan and gluten-free, but you can top it up with your favorite animal protein. It’s a blend of colorful, crunchy, and tasty ingredients – an adventure with every bite!
5. Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Tieghan calls it a summer salad, but I think this will work quite well for winter too. The creaminess of the avocadoes pairs perfectly with the roasted chickpeas. Although this salad appears simple (and elegant) it would still make a filling lunch or dinner option, thanks to the roasted cauliflower base.
6. Warm Balsamic Kale Salad
Is it breakfast, lunch, or a side dish? It’s anything you want it to be, love. I’m a sucker for portobellos, but it’s the vitamin C-rich bell peppers that give me butterflies with this recipe. It’s also quite customizable – add chicken or beans to bulk it up for lunch, or slap on a sunny side egg for a ‘healthylicious’ breakfast.
7. Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing
Don’t you just love that warm fuzzy feeling you get when a meal has all your favorite things? This salad gives me all the feels! The grilled chicken and peppers, tossed with bacon and topped with avocadoes and honey mustard dressing (I seriously put honey mustard on every sandwich). As if that wasn’t juicy enough, there’s also a mix of both cheddar and blue cheese. Agh! now I’m hungry.
8. Warm Tuna Salad
Tuna is just a great guy. And this canned tuna salad definitely deserves a spot on this list. It’s tasty, it’s budget-friendly, it’s a classic. It’s an easy way to get your dose of vitamin D and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. You can also have it with bread as a sandwich or chips!
9. Roast Pumpkin Feta Salad (With Chorizo)
If you’re looking to try something different, and if your tastebuds can handle the flava, then this chorizo salad might just be your perfect match. Take it from Helen – “It will make your taste buds very happy!”
10. Warm Potato Salad
I know I had cautioned against running into the arms of creamy potatoes, but I really couldn’t finish this list without at least one potato recipe. This warm salad is unpretentious and easy to make. It’s paired with naughty bacon bits and vibrant soft-boiled eggs to create a delicious winter comfort salad.
11. Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Walnuts & Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette
If you suffer from fatigue due to iron deficiency, you might want to cozy up to this salad. Beetroot is an unsung hero in the healthy food world. It doesn’t get as much screen time, yet it is packed with antioxidants and is believed to support heart and brain health, fight inflammation, and potentially slow the growth of cancer cells. This recipe gives it the praise it deserves by making it the main character. Oh and did I mention the goat cheese?
12. Warm Salmon Salad Nicoise
Looking for something a little more schmancy? Check out this spin on a salad niçoise. The Puritans might disagree, but I think it’s both simple and bold. And honestly, I prefer the vibrant asparagus over green beans. Plus, Salmon offers high levels of omega-3 fats and vitamin D.
13. Mushroom Arugula Warm Salad
This salad might look simple compared to the others on this list, but make no mistake, it still packs a flavorful punch. It is powered by shitake mushrooms, the humble arugula, and topped with walnuts – hello brain food!
It’s warm, appetizing, and can be ready in 20 minutes. *drops Mic*
14. Ultimate (Warm) Winter Salad
What better way to finish off this list than with a recipe aptly titled the “ultimate winter salad”? A delicious treat of apples and pecans
and goat cheese. With a healthy serving of cruciferous veggies like kale, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprout – yay fiber! This is one salad party you wouldn’t want to miss.
Leave a Reply