I’m not huge on salads but every once in a while I get a craving for one then I can’t stop eating them for a week straight. While I’m binging on my greens though, I always try to incorporate protein the best that I can. However, sometimes I run out of ideals to keep it interesting. But have no fear! After some nifty research on new protein sources I’ve never tried, I decided to create a list on 5 ways to add protein to your salad.
Homemade Protein Heavy Salad Dressing
Salad dressing? Yep, you read that right! If you don’t eat your salad dry then why not amp up your dressing with more protein? Healthy on the shelf dressings though a better choice than others, they are still loaded with fat. So keep on indulging your taste buds with this homemade caeser dressing alternative.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2 anchovy filets, mashed
1 clove garlic, minced
Juice of one lemon
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
1. Use a whisk to mix together the Greek yogurt, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce.
2. Whisk in the oil, and add the cheese.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 124
Protein: 8 grams
Carbs: 4 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Black Beans
Most people assume black beans should only be used in Mexican oriented salads but boy are they wrong! One cup of black beans contains half your daily dose of fiber and almost 15 grams of protein. So liven that salad up already and throw in a cup of black beans.
Hummus or Chickpeas
Chickpeas pack approximately 2.4 grams of protein per tablespoon so adding them to your salad is a no brainer. Don’t like chickpeas but love hummus? Well throw together some pasta, veggies, and hummus and you’ve got another protein power salad. Thin hummus with olive oil and rice wine vinegar, then toss with cooked rotini pasta, chopped parsley, toasted almond slices, and plenty of coarsely ground fresh pepper.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
Love adding protein to your salads but you’d love a little crunch to add some texture? Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts are the way to go. This little super seed packs 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of Omegas per 30 gram serving. Just sprinkle them on a viola! Crunch away!
Now for the best part, Manitoba Harvest and I are giving away 1 package of Hemp Hearts for you to try out yourself! All you have to do is follow any of the accounts below and leave a comment for every one you complete. Don’t want to follow? No problem! Let me know which of these protein heavy options you would add to your salad? Good luck!
- Follow @SoIWillRun on Twitter
- Follow @ManitobaHarvest on Twitter
- Follow @SoIWillRun on Instagram
- Follow @ManitobaHarvest on Instagram
- Tweet about the giveaway using@ManitobaHarvest #hemphearts @FitApproach #sweatpink
One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Manitoba Harvest through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner. Open to US and Canada residents only.
I often add black beans or chickpeas to my salad, but I’ve never heard of hemp hearts. And I do love a good crunch. I’ll have to look for these in the grocery store.
Alli recently posted…November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
This looks like a great product! I’m always looking for easy ways to add protein to my salad! I’ve never heard of it before, but I will definitely check it out!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy recently posted…Reliving Beautiful Memories
These is really great way to add more nutrients to your salad. The Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts is a good mix to salad.
Franc Ramon recently posted…CDO Run for Odyssey
Chick peas are so good. That dressing sounds great. I never would have thought to mash anchovies in it! Great recipe.
Shell recently posted…Goldie & Bear Premieres on Disney Junior Tomorrow!
I love a good salad, but I always tend to add protein in the form of meat. I didn’t realize there were so many other options. Thanks for this list!
Megan Elford recently posted…How To Remove The Animoto Logo With Windows Movie Maker
I love the idea of adding protein to the dressing when it doesn’t fit the salad. That salad looks good.
Lisa recently posted…Buying Local with Wholeshare Buying Club
I have never heard of Hemp Hearts before! I am always looking for new ways to add protein into my diet great ideas!
Vera sweeney recently posted…The Star Wars Chess Game: Perfect Holiday Gift For Fans
I’m not a big salad dressing fan but this sounds good! I will need to make this for the weekend!
These are definitely some great ways to add some more protein to your salad! I’ve recently started adding black beans to my salad and I’ve been LOVING it <3
Angelic Sinova recently posted…Picking the Perfect Hallmark Ornament: A Yearly Tradition
i love adding beans to my salad! that and quinoa.
aaronica (the crunchy mommy) recently posted…Let’s Talk About Sex
I do love chick peas. I’ve never thought to put them in a leaf salad. Good thinking!
Thank you for all of your suggestions. I’ve been adding more and more black beans to my dishes and will try some of your other suggestions as well.
Terri Ramsey Beavers recently posted…DIY how to make a wall sign using LED wire lights #Oakleaf
Thank you for sharing this post! I was just looking for protein sources (I always think meat..) but will start adding beans now to my salad.
Shobha George recently posted…The Weekly RTW Roundup Ed. 7: All Change
Thank you for posting this! I always think of meat when I want to add protein on salads, but will now remember beans too!
Shobha George recently posted…The Weekly RTW Roundup Ed. 7: All Change
My family loves salads but I eat mine with now dressing. The extra crunch is what I love added to my salads so I would indeed try of the Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts.
Those are some great suggestions. I’m afraid my family would look at me funny if I put beans in the salad. I would love to try it in mine one day.
That salad dressing sounds exactly like what I love. I’m going to have to make it soon.
Stephanie of The TipToe Fairy recently posted…Share a Meal and Feed the Hungry
I don’t eat meat and I do weight training so I need to make sure I eat enough protein! All of my salads pretty consist of all of those ingredients!
lisa @bitesforbabies recently posted…Fall Harvest Granola
Great Suggestions! I am eating a salad right now!