Extra-Healthy Spinach Salad
This irresistible salad is crammed with hard-to-get vegetarian goodies: protein, calcium, iron—even vitamin B12.
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Ingredients
Tofu croutons
- 4 oz. extra-firm herb tofu
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 tsp. garlic salt
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 3 Tbs. canola oil
Salad dressing
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 Tbs. mandarin orange juice
Spinach salad
- 3 oz. baby spinach, rinsed
- 3 oz. mesclun, rinsed
- 1 15-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained, juice reserved
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 red bell pepper, cut in 1/4-inch slices
- 1 7-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
- 1 cup feta cheese
Preparation
1. To make Tofu Croutons: Preheat oven to 350F. Bake tofu 20 minutes. When dry, cut into crouton-sized cubes.
2. Beat egg in small bowl. Combine flour, garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper in separate bowl. Dip tofu cubes in egg, and dust with flour mixture.
3. Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Sauté tofu cubes about 10 minutes, until golden and crispy on all sides. Cool.
4. To make Salad Dressing: Combine all ingredients in nonreactive pot. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, until sugar dissolves. Transfer to cruet. Let cool.
5. To make Spinach Salad: Place all ingredients in large serving bowl. Add half of dressing, toss well, garnish with croutons.
ALSO PER SERVING: 154 mg calcium; 2 mg iron; 3 IU vitamin D; 0.4 mcg vitamin b12; 1 mg zinc
Nutrition Information
- Calories 330
- Carbohydrate Content 26 g
- Cholesterol Content 44 mg
- Fat Content 21 g
- Fiber Content 4 g
- Protein Content 9 g
- Saturated Fat Content 4 g
- Sodium Content 746 mg
- Sugar Content 12 g