HEALTHY LITTLE VITTLES is a food blog created by certified health coach and published author, Gina Fontana, that focuses on gluten-free + vegan + plant-based recipes that anyone can make and everyone will enjoy! Here you'll find simple, flavorful meals, many made in 30 minutes or less. All eaters are welcome!
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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Suncore Foods. The opinions and text are all mine. The Suncore product mentioned in this post was sent to me as a gift to use in this recipe, thank you so much!
I think salads are just one of those things I’m good at creating. Maybe because I love them so much, and they are so versitile! They always turn out to be just what I needed when I’m feeling a little blah. And homemade dressings are also my jam (sometimes using jam!). Perhaps my new favorite ingredient to add to salads is some kind of high-protein grain or seed to really hardy it up and make it a more complete, filling meal. In this Kaniwa Pear Salad I added, you guessed it, kaniwa! Don’t worry, I’ll explain, because I’ve never heard of it before Suncore Foods introduced me to it either.
Before we dive into my new favorite “royal food”, let’s take a peek at the super salad ingredients I chose to pair with kaniwa in this nutritious salad:
☆ Rainbow Kaniwa Seeds from Suncore Foods ☆ pear ☆ a mix of arugula, lettuce, and spinach ☆ broccoli ☆ candied pecans ☆ homemade creamy avocado vinegarette ☆ vegan parmesan cheese
So much yum!
So now that I have your undivided attention, let’s chat about kaniwa. Other than the fact it’s super fun to say, kaniwa was treasured so much by the ancient Incas and Aztecs, it was referred to as “royal food” served exclusively to the emperor and his royal court. Today, we prize kaniwa for its high protein, fiber, iron, calcium, and antioxidants. Kaniwa has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor similar to quinoa and is perfect in this Kaniwa Pear Salad.
The pear and candied pecans add the perfect sweetness, the kaniwa adds the perfect nutty flavor and the avocado dressing finishes off this salad with dreamy creaminess. This Kaniwa Pear Salad is a great winter salad because of its hardiness, but can also make a refreshing salad in the summer too.
Head on over to Suncore Foods to get the full experience of this “royal food” and don’t forget to tag me in your re-creations on Instagram and Facebook!
1/2 cup dried kaniwa seeds + 1 cup water, (Kaniwa is from Suncore Foods)
2 cups arugula
1 cup green leaf lettuce
1 cup spinach
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
2 pears, diced/sliced
candied pecans, (see below)
vegan parmesan cheese
avocado vinaigrette, (see below)
Candied Pecans
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3 tbsp sugar
Avocado Vinaigrette
1 avocado
1 lemon, juiced
3/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
pinch salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
Make your kaniwa according to package directions. I boiled 1 cup of water with 1/2 cup of kaniwa seeds
Make your candied pecans by melting the sugar in a small skillet over medium heat. Once the sugar is melted, remove from heat and add the chopped pecans and stirring to coat them with the melted sugar. Place the pecan clusters on a plate to cool
Add your arugula, lettuce, and spinach to a large bowl, along with the chopped broccoli, diced pear, kaniwa and pecan cluster. Toss to combine
Make your avocado vinaigrette by blending all dressing ingredients together until smooth
You can either toss the salad with the dressing or serve the dressing on the side. Top with vegan parmesan cheese
Notes
** avocado vinaigrette adapted slightly from Wholefully
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The Healthy Little Vittles blog provides general information and discussions about health, health foods, nutritional content and value, and related subjects from time to time. The information, recipes, or other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended to and should not be taken as medical advice, nor should it be a substitute for seeking the advice from a medical professional or replacement of treatment.
If you or any other person has a medical concern, please consult with your health care provider, and don’t disregard medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. Always discuss the use of supplements, herbal ingredients, and those of the like, with your health care provider before incorporating into your diet.
The opinions and views expressed on the Healthy Little Vittles blog have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, health practice or other institution, and are simply provided on a health coaching basis.