A few weeks ago, I stopped at the Vitamin Shoppe to pick up a few goodies (and buy my first box of Quest bars!), and they had a store party going on. I walked out with a bag of samples to try, which I was obviously excited about. It’s the little things in life people!
One of the samples in the bag were hemp seeds, which I’ve heard a lot about but have never tried (at home at least). Today I used my sample and whipped up one awesome salad for lunch.
I adapted this recipe from Vegetarian Times, switching around some ingredients and amounts, and making a single serving portion since it was just little ole me. You can view their original recipe here.
To make the clusters, I toasted the hemp seeds with walnut pieces, honey and cinnamon. So easy to make, and such a tasty addition to a salad that I’m definitely going to be making again soon!
At the last minute, I decided that the salad could use some cheese in it. Goat cheese was a great add-in, but you can easily leave it out and have a vegan salad.
Mixed Green Salad with Blueberries, Goat Cheese & Honey Walnut Hemp Seed Clusters
Ingredients
- 3 cups mixed baby salad greens
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 TBSP honey
- 1 oz creamy goat cheese
- 1 1/2 TBSP raw shelled hemp seeds
- 2 TBSP walnut pieces
- 1/4 TSP ground cinnamon
- 1/2 TBSP safflower oil
- Juice from 1/2 small lemon
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Line a plate with parchment paper. Mix hemp seeds with cinnamon and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add the walnuts, and toast for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the hemp seed mixture, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the honey, and stir constantly until it's completely mixed in with walnuts & seeds and the entire mixture is lightly browned.
- Transfer to the parchment-lined plated. Lightly press into the plate, and allow to cool.
- Whisk safflower oil and lemon juice together, then toss with lettuce. Put into a bowl, and add in blueberries and the goat cheese in chunks. Sprinkle additional salt on top, if desired.
- Once walnut/hemp mixture has cooled a bit, break into clusters and add to the salad. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Have you ever tried hemp seeds? Thoughts?
Oh I totally got a free packet of hemp seeds this summer but threw them out because they scared me! Man, now I wish I had kept them because this recipe looks delicious! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you! I know what you mean, hence why I mixed them with other ingredients I know I like!
Yup, I sprinkle hemp seeds into smoothies or on top of yogurt bowls. The salad looks great!
Oooh adding them in smoothies sounds like a good idea!