Why go meatless?

  • Lose weight
  • Improve health and fitness
  • Support the environment

Here’s a delicious summer salad that everyone can enjoy!

STRAWBERRY TOMATO SALAD

Strawberries bring summertime’s sweetness to balance refreshing grape tomatoes, carrots and yellow bell peppers. Balsamic vinegar is tempered with maple syrup and lemon juice to create vinaigrette which tastes complex, but is simple to prepare. This recipe comes to us from Christy, The Blissful Chef.

Serves 5

For the balsamic vinaigrette:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
    2 teaspoons maple syrup
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon black pepper
    1 clove garlic*, diced

To complete the strawberry tomato salad:

  • 1 head butter lettuce, leaves torn or cut chiffonade
    2 avocados, chopped bite size
    1 medium carrot, julienned
    10 grape tomatoes, quartered
    6 strawberries, ends cut off and sliced
    1 cup yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
    salt and pepper, to taste

*optional

To make the balsamic vinaigrette:

In a medium bowl combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt, pepper and garlic if using. Whisk together until full blended.

To complete the strawberry tomato salad:

In a large bowl combine the lettuce, avocados, carrot, tomatoes, strawberries and yellow bell pepper. Toss salad together, dress with the balsamic vinaigrette and toss again until the salad is fully coated. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Enjoy!

Reprinted courtesy of www.MeatlessMonday.com! For more Meatless Monday recipes and other information about the benefits of reducing meat intake, check them out!