Sarah’s Salad with Paleo Green Goddess Dressing

My three brothers and I were all born in four years and four months. Yes, you read that correctly. Four years, four children. My parents didn’t waste any time creating a family, ha! In an effort to stick to our close-knit timeframe, my now grown-up brothers have all decided to get married within nine months of each other! It’s literally made my heart the happiest to watch them fall in love + commit to their other halves.

And while not everyone is a huge fan of weddings, I LOVE family celebrations. They’re the most fun. It’s basically like reliving your own wedding, but without any of the stress or the planning. I especially love these weddings because my brothers decided to follow their older, wiser sister’s lead and book the best wedding caterers in all of the land – Mountain Laurel Catering Company.

Who the Heck is Sarah?

In March I attended the second of the brotherly weddings + had a meal that was worth the entire transatlantic flight. Pat + Sarah knocked it out of the absolute park. There were roasted turkey thighs + tender cuts of beef, sweet roasted root vegetables and sautéed greens. But, the real star of the show, the menu item that people just couldn’t stop eating and talking about was….the salad.

I know.

I was shocked too, as was every single woman at our dinner table who watched their husbands go back for second and thirds of this salad. It was literally insane. Immediately after the wedding, I emailed Sarah and BEGGED her for the recipe. She graciously sent it along + I’ve used it as the inspiration for this recipe. Hence, Sarah’s Salad.

Unlike Pat + Sarah’s recipe, however, I’ve made this salad a bit more allergen friendly, sadly removing the 2 cups of blue cheese in the dressing. I’ve swapped the dairy buttermilk base for coconut milk + have adjusted the toppings + seasonings to what I have readily available in my grocery store. It’s a hearty, fresh salad with a paleo green goddess style dressing. So, while it’s not exactly the same as the life changing salad that Pat + Sarah dreamed up, this inspired recipe has become my family’s new fav.

It’s chock full of fresh spring + summer produce, tastes + textures. This recipe is one that you’re going to want to try. Thanks, Pat + Sarah!

(If anyone living in Pennsylvania ever has a need for a caterer for literally anything, these guys are IT. They are probably two of my favourite people, who serve the best food you’ve ever tasted. Promise.)

Building a Better Salad

To start with, I chose a really hearty green mix. I’m talking something with radicchio or frisee, something to stand up to the paleo green goddess dressing. For a little note of pepper and a softer mouth feel, I love to add some arugula to the mix as well. This combination is our base.

To add all sorts of interesting flavour + texture, I chose to add both fresh + dried fruits to this salad. Dried apricots add a nice bit of chew, and fresh blueberries a pop of sweetness. My husband prefers the dried blueberries of the original recipe, so feel free to experiment! Dried cranberries would be lovely here as would thinly sliced apple. Make it your own! Half-moon slices of red onion add a bit of bite and a nice crunch. I added walnuts to my version for an additional textural element, but almonds or pecans would be lovely too!

Lastly, fresh asparagus, RAW. I know that this sounds weird, but trust me. For me, this is the real clincher of this salad. If you buy thin asparagus and break off the woody ends, you’re left with the most tender, crispy, fresh pieces of springtime produce. They really do bring something special to this salad – aside from their body benefitting fibre and vitamins.

The Secret Sauce (Paleo Green Goddess)

But the real magic of this salad is in the paleo green goddess dressing. Guys, it’s SO GOOD. So good, in fact, that I couldn’t just use it for dressing. (Stay tuned because another recipe using the leftovers of this gorgeous sauce is on its way soon + it’s one that you don’t want to miss! Cook once, eat twice. #win)

This dressing is the easiest thing you’ll make all week. You simply throw all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor and let it do the work for you. This dressing is made from real food ingredients – no nasties like msg, vegetable oils or refined sugar here. It’s clean, nutritious + delish.

The flavour of this dressing is similar to that of a green goddess style dressing, but with a little extra kick. To start with, the main ingredient is full fat coconut milk. The coconut milk makes this dressing creamy, dreamy + luscious without any added oils. Simple things like apple cider vinegar, honey + fresh herbs really take it to the next level. But, the real MVP of this dressing is the Worcestershire sauce. Weird, right?! But please, please, please don’t leave it out. It makes SUCH a difference.

You’ll want to pour this stuff on everything + I wouldn’t blame you. I bet it would be incredible on a sandwich as a sauce, on coleslaw or heated over chicken. It really is finger licking good.

Time to Dig In

This salad on it’s own doesn’t have any form of protein, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a stand alone meal. My husband and I will frequently top it with some grilled chicken (like these apricot glazed chicken thighs or blueberry barbecue chicken) and some extra paleo green goddess dressing. Or, if I’m on my own, I’ll fry up a salmon fillet for the top. However, if you’re meat-free, I imagine that some tofu marinated in this dressing + fried would be DIVINE too. If you’re really not into the protein options, just add some avocado. The extra healthy fats will make it much more satisfying.

To prep this salad in advance, I’d recommend combining all of your salad ingredients + making your dressing, but waiting until the last minute to toss them together. Arugula doesn’t hold up particularly well to sitting in liquid.

But GUYS, if you’re looking for a salad that is the farthest thing from boring + is packed with all sorts of health fats, antioxidants + fresh produce, this is it. It’s so fresh, so surprising, and so dang good.

If you do throw this salad together, I’d love to know if you love it as much as I do. Tag me in your photos on instagram or leave me a rating/comment down below. It really makes my day + helps other people find my recipes too 🙂

0