Plant Based BLT Salad
Growing up, a BLT was my favorite lunch. I remember as a young child having a BLT with sliced tomatoes picked fresh from my grandmothers tomato garden and savoring every bite. When I decided at the age of 13 to go vegetarian, I had to say goodbye to my beloved BLTs. That is until I learned much later on that you could make plant based “bacon”.
The “bacon” for this recipe is my go to quick “bacon”. It requires only a few simple ingredients to make and requires minimal effort. While it is not real bacon, it does offer the smoky maple flavor that you would get from bacon. I use tempeh to make the “bacon” for this salad. I love that it contains sufficient complete protein per serving to help keep you full and satiated till your next meal.
I also included sunflower seeds in this recipe. I love the crunch that they add as well as the additional healthy fats, protein and fiber. Don’t have sunflower seeds at home? You can substitute them for flax seed, hemp hearts or pumpkin seeds.
This salad is incredible in a wrap!
What you need (serves 2-3):
1 8 oz block of tempeh cubed
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp smoked paprika
Optional 1/2 tsp garlic powder
A few pinches of salt
2 tbsp of cooking oil
4 cup of green leaf lettuce
1/2 an avocado diced
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 medium tomato diced
*Tangy Tahini Dressing
Directions: Preheat your oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the tempeh, maple syrup, paprika, optional garlic powder, salt and cooking oil to a mixing bowl. Toss and let it sit for about 10 minutes or while your oven preheats. Transfer the tempeh to the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. In a large salad bowl combine all of the ingredients including the cooked tempeh. Toss and enjoy immediately.
If you would like to meal prep this ahead of time you can use kale as your leafy greens which hold dressing well for a few days without becoming soggy or you can wait to add the dressing until serving. Just be sure to store in a glass airtight container!
*The Tangy Tahini Dressing is located in my 7 Day Clean Eating Challenge here. However you can simply use your favorite creamy dressing at home like this one here.
Eating healthier can have a huge impact on your health, but it can be especially hard to start. This is why I created my 7 Day Clean Eating Challenge to help you jumpstart your healthy eating goals in just 7 days. This challenge includes added sugar free recipes for all 7 days as well as a sample meal plan to follow to help you get well on your way to reaching your health and wellness goals. This guide includes helpful tips and guidance to help make the 7 Day Clean eating challenge easier and to help make healthier eating beyond the challenge a breeze. Check it out here!