How to Make Yummy Satisfying Salads (video demo) + Classic Big Ass Salad with Miso Tahini Dressing
By Molly Patrick
Jan 4, 2020,
When most people think about salad they visualize a little bowl with some sad, limp lettuce, topped with a couple chunks of underripe tomato, some old slices of cucumber, and then drenched with bottled salad dressing. This type of salad isn’t something that people go out of their way to have for lunch.
One of the fears of going plant based, is people think they are doomed for a life of salads, twigs and berries. I’ve been plant based for a long time, and if I had to eat nothing but salads, twigs and berries, I wouldn’t want to be plant based either!
Trust me, if you follow our meal plans you will be delighted with the assortment, variety, taste, texture, and range of meals you will eat. We do have salads in our meal plans, but they aren’t your average sad, limp salads, and I can promise you, they will NEVER have twigs in them.
They are robust and bursting with ingredients.
They have a satisfying texture.
They are substantial and fill you up.
They are delicious and not at all boring.
And the best part? They leave you feeling so good and energized that you will surprise yourself when you randomly start craving salad instead of french fries. I see it happen all the time.
Today I’m showing you how I make my salads, which I like to call Big Ass Salad (or BAS for short).
Watch the video below to see how you can makeover your salads. Just wait, you will be craving salad in no time!
Are you pumped to make and devour a Big Ass Salad? Talk to me about it in the comments below!
Ingredients
- Lettuce, chopped (any kind works)
- Mixed greens, chopped
- Mint, chopped
- Parsley, chopped
- Kohlrabi, peeled and grated
- Fennel, thinly sliced
- Celery, chopped
- Carrot, chopped
- Kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- Apple, diced
- Sprouts (any kind)
- Sauerkraut
- Hummus
- Avocado, sliced
- Miso Tahini Dressing
- Toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Instructions
- In a huge salad bowl, add a generous amount of lettuce and mixed greens.
- Sprinkle some mint and parsley on top and then gently toss together.
- Add some kohlrabi, fennel, celery, and carrot and gently toss again.
- In a circle around the salad, add some kidney beans, apple, sprouts, sauerkraut, hummus, and avocado.
- Drizzle with dressing and top with seeds.
- Right before you eat, take a pair of salad tongs and toss the salad a few times so everything gets mixed up.
- Eat directly from the bowl or place in big salad bowls if you’re sharing.
Notes
Wishing you a happy week. May it be filled with eating like you give a fuck.
Xo
Molly
30 Comments
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You always put a smile on my face! I have to tell you something along this line that happened to me this week which your story reminded me of. I still crack up, every time I think about it. My husband and I are partners (27 years) working together in the same truck. All of a sudden he started complaining about a “natural gas odor” that he was smelling. He said, “don’t you smell it too” it must be coming from outside (as I sat giggling to myself). As we continued driving down the highway–the smell dissipated (thank god!) I didn’t have the balls to tell him that it was me that caused the odor–a very different type of natural gas!!!
lol! That’s hilarious – thank you for sharing.
xo
Molly
where is the beetroot, gotta have beetroot, you cant beet beetroot , chives, lemon balm leaves,little, radish tops, nuts, nuts and more nuts , Enjoy.
You’ve arranged it in the big bowl kinda like a Buddha bowl – I like that idea! It’s so annoying to toss a salad and lose all the good stuff on the bottom. Sometimes I put all the greens into a big bowl, then arrange the goodies on a plate and let everyone serve themselves whatever they prefer from that plate of goodies onto their greens. But for myself, I think I’ll start preparing my salads Buddha bowl style.
That’s the beauty of the Big Ass Salad – it’s super versatile and you can really make it your own!
xo
Molly
We love BAS! I mix greens in a huge bowl and chopped a variety of veggies that I can put in a Tupperware thing I got with like eight sections— and everyone can grab out what they want; toss on some beans, seeds, some nuts, fruit- berries are a favorite here. We like 3-2-1 dressing from Engine 7, or one of CFDG dressings from batching. The kid reminds me of I forget anything! (He’s 9–he’s good at reminding!). We a for one salad a day, sometimes a second side salad. Having everything prepped makes a huge difference! A little time spent is a LOT of time saved when facing a hanger fam.
Great ideas!
xo
Molly
Hi!
Love this salad recipe but the dressing recipe did not come through!
Thanks!
Can’t wait to try it!!
Hi Sandra! At the bottom of the recipe, in the Notes section there are two “click here” links – to the Miso Tahini Dressing and to the Toasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe. Let us know if you try it! ~Karen
Thanks to your inspiration, I eat Big Ass Salads for lunch at work almost every day! Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sun dried tomatoes, olives, shredded carrot, heart of palm, water chestnuts, coconut “bacon”, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and a homemade dressing! Yummy!
Where do you get you Miso Tahini dressing from?
Hi Andrea – there’s a “click here” link to the Miso Tahini Dressing and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds recipes in the Notes section, just below the recipe. ~Karen
Do you like roasted veggies on top of your loaded salad?
I generally put roasted veggies in my Bowls with other warmed up ingredients, but if I have some leftover roasted veggies, I’m totally down to add them to my BAS!
xo
Molly
I do most of my BAS without the lettuce. I’m down for baby greens or just spinach though.
That works too!
xo
Molly
I made the mistake of adding a bag of chopped up raw broccoli and cauliflower. Now I am eating for days, a salad that smells like farts.
AWESOME video demo! GREAT salad bowl, by the way! I enjoyed reading all the comments that people left. I love to add some tofu or tempeh that I have marinated and baked. Also, we really enjoy berries of all kinds on a salad. The Miso Tahini dressing is THE BEST! That said, I have so many favorite dressings that can be found on your Blogs. I never ever buy dressings from the store because they just cannot beat a fresh made dressing. It takes so little time to put a salad dressing together! And what a treat it is to eat. Here’s to the BAS!
Thank you, mom!
I love you.
xo
Molly
Hi Molly! Happy New Year! I am definitely going to make this salad after I’m back home from traveling. Sauerkraut? Wow! I would never have thought about adding that to my salads. Cool! What is your best suggestion for sauerkraut? Thank you!
I loved this video. I make individual meal size salads, but embraced your idea of separating the greens, veggies, fruits, etc and have them readily available. Thanks so much!
Jacki
It was perfect the first time. This is very really unique helpful information.I learn so much from you as well! Thank you so much for sharing your helpful information. Keep it up.
I have tried the tahini dressing it is delicious B AD is the best way to go! I am a first timer to this but it is working out good! Hope I can stick with it.Thanks
Big Ass Salads are a key to plant based eating! You got this Stephanie!
Thanks for the recipe and the video! I feel empowered to make a BAS. I’m gonna keep an eye out for Kohlrabi, because I’ve never had it, and it seems interesting. I’m adding sauerkraut for the first time ever. I bought Bubbies. I hope that’s a good choice. I’m a little nervous about it, but my gut is fussing at me, and I hear it’s good for fussy guts. I made the dressing and it is AMAZING! Thanks for pouring yourself out to inspire all of us to make our cells happy.
Penny!
This is one of my favorite blog comments ever.
I am so glad you are inspired to eat big, beautiful, yummy salads!
Yes, Bubbies is one that I really like.
Miso is also super helpful for tummy / gut issues.
Here’s a yummy recipe if you want to try it out.
MUAH!
Molly
You mentioned a post on cleaning your greens when you get them home, can you share how you do that?
Hi Melanie! Absolutely! You can find Molly’s post about THE best way to prepare your leafy greens right here. Let us know if you have any other questions! Xo
Where did you get your big ass salad bowl?
The wooden bowl I got from a dear friend and the ceramic colorful bowl I found at a cool thrift store on The Big Island 🙂
Molly