Take a big bite of this healthy and delicious protein packed salad and you'll feel the energy start pulsing through your body. It's as easy to make as it is to eat!
Guess what time it is? It’s time to start training for my second marathon, and Alex’s first!! Can I get an Amen? Actually, Alex is super nervous about the race, but not me; been there, done that. I’ve been told that the second marathon is worse than the first because you know what to expect. I’m not feeling that way. In my mind, I know how to train, and I learned what to do, and what not to do, to be successful. So what’s scary about that? The unknown is far worse in my mind. I also know that it’s all about the journey, and I really loved all of the months leading up to the marathon. So yes, I’m excited to begin training again and to get my body back to its peak condition. More importantly, I’m so freaking excited to do this with my one and only mini me. How many moms can say that they started a vegan food blog, are writing their first cookbook, and are going to run the Chicago Marathon together? One of those things alone is inspiring, but all three, in three years, well, let’s just say that I couldn’t be happier, prouder, or feeling more fulfilled than I am right now. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Especially when you get to eat this protein packed salad with black beans, chickpeas, kale, spinach, black quinoa, and a spicy ginger dressing to kick things off.
If you followed my marathon journey last year, you know that I shared my menu and my activity with you every week. If you enjoyed it, and would like me to track all of my miles and eats with you again this year, let me know. It’s a lot of work, and I’m only going to take the time to do it if you’ll read it, learn from it, and get inspired. So leave a comment. Yay or nay?
Now on to this gorgeous and healthy protein salad.
I’m in love. ♥ This scrumptious compilation of plants has got it going on. There’s a ton of plant-based protein, antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and energy on this plate. It has all the things that you’ll need to rev up your engine and keep it going for miles. The garbanzo and black beans are clean protein that won’t weigh you down the way a piece of meat would. They’re also cholesterol free. You can’t say that about a piece of lean meat. Did you know that one cup of diced chicken has 41% of the daily recommended allowance of cholesterol? That’s huge! It also has 29% fat, and 25% of that is saturated. Yikes! Salmon isn’t much better. One filet of salmon has 37% cholesterol and 22% saturated fat. Beef and pork are similar. So if you want to run and recover better than ever, don’t clog your heart and arteries with fatty, cholesterol ridden food that will cause inflammation; choose beans, grains, and veggies that will do the same thing, only so much better. Last year, after running my first marathon, I was told by multiple runners that I’d feel like crap for at least a week. Well guess what? They were wrong. I was pretty sore the day of the marathon, I had a burn going the day after—but nothing I couldn’t deal with—and by the next day, I was feeling back to my old self. And please keep in mind, I was 52 years old. No spring chicken. I truly, with all of my heart, believe that my whole foods plant-based diet played a huge role in my speedy recovery.
Now you’re probably not training for a marathon, but that’s okay, because eating healthy quinoa and bean salads with lots of greens is for everyone. This salad will help you get through your day feeling strong and energized. It will satisfy you and keep you nourished. And best of all, you can eat a lot of it without feeling guilty. Trust me, you’re going to want to choose a dinner plate over a little salad plate once you take your first bite. It’s so yum.
The ginger dressing is straw worthy. Seriously, you could just sip on it. The ginger, green onion, garlic, and vegan honee complement each other so beautifully. There’s a little zing from the ginger and the green onions, plus a little sweet from the vegan honee
Make this salad and let me know what you think. And don’t forget to let me know if you want to hear about my path to the Chicago Marathon this October.
Enjoy your week!
Xoxo,
Linda
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Protein Superfood Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup 200 g uncooked black quinoa
- 2 cups 480 ml water
- 1 15 oz [425 g] can of black beans, rinsed well
- 1 15 oz [425 g] can of garbanzo beans, rinsed well
- 3 cups coarsely chopped kale
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- FOR THE DRESSING
- 1/3 cup 80 ml white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp 15 ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 green onions
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- ½ tsp Bee Free Honee
- ½ tsp ground ginger or 1 tsp fresh ground ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse well. Transfer to a saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the germ has separated from the grain. Let cool.
- Drain and rinse the beans and put them in a large salad bowl with the kale and spinach. Add the quinoa and toss with the dressing.
- FOR THE DRESSING
- Finely mince the white bulb of the green onions and add to the vinegar. Finely slice the green stems of the onions and set aside.
- Add the garlic, salt and pepper, and olive oil to the vinegar and whisk well.
- Enjoy!
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Christine @ Run Plant Based says
That is so exciting and fun on the marathon! I need to start thinking about my training too! And this recipe looks wonderful, love the ingredients. Thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Christine! I'm so excited to be back in training. 🙂
Sally says
Go runners! You're right, the second marathon goes better, for the reasons you listed. I learned so much from my first.
Hearing about your diet is helpful because you remind us that we don't have to inhale cookies because we're working hard! Capturing your eating habits for one week a month would be great. Thanks.
Linda Meyer says
I'm so happy to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks the second will be less scary. 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment, I like the idea about posting one week for the month.
Strength and Sunshine says
Love the light dressing to pull it together!
Linda Meyer says
The dressing is so good. You can't go wrong with ginger.
MaryEllen@VNutrition says
Sounds like you have so many great things going on! This salad looks so delicious and healthy. I really need to try that beefree honey too.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Mary Ellen! The bee free honey is really good. I bought mine at Whole Foods.
Becky says
Oh wow! Now this looks like a salad I can get behind.
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Becky!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
That is so cool you're going to run the marathon together! And of course the cookbook! Wow!
Great looking salad, too.
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Amy. I'm so excited to experience this together. She's so cute, she's sending me early morning snapchats of her running. 🙂
nicoleanndawson says
I use to have high intentions of running a marathon but I'll seriously just live through you! Way to go on prepping for #2. I always love reading what you do to get ready.
Linda Meyer says
You should do it! It sounds scarier than it is, and the big plus is that you get to eat more. 😉 Thanks, Nicole.
Dianne says
So many yummy ingredients in one recipe!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you!
Jenn says
I love that you and Alex are doing all of this together. I'm enjoying my young ones right now, but I'm also looking forward to the day when my girls will (hopefully) be some of my best friends too. And this salad looks super yummy!
Linda Meyer says
It's so inspiring to do all of these things with my girl. If I can give you one word of advice, don't look ahead, just stay in the moment with your lovely little girls. I did too much, "I can't wait until....," and it made time seem to pass even quicker than it normally does. Trust me, you'll be in my shoes sooner than you think. Having said that, it's nice to have an adult daughter. Now we can be friends. When she was a kid I was her mom first and foremost, which meant doing all of the hard stuff. Today she makes her own rules and I just get to enjoy the woman she has become. Priceless!
Dreena says
Beautiful combo of plant-power, indeed! Good luck with your training, you'll be well nourished eating foods like this for sure!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Dreena!
alisamarie says
Wow, that is so impressive! But with delicious fuel like this, you've got training tackled.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Alisa! I sure hope so. 🙂
Mel | avirtualvegan.com says
This looks like one delicious, nutritious salad. Perfect for powering you through your training!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Melanie! I'm going to need all of the plant power I can get. 🙂
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says
Ok this salad looks right up my alley! All the protein beans, and kale...love it! Your photography for this one is stunning!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Anjali! I appreciate your kind words. 🙂
Uma Srinivas says
First good luck for your marathon, I know about your last marathon journey that was super cool:)
You are amazing mom! This salad looks delicious and healthy with all the nutrition, perfect for your training too:)
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Uma!!! You're too kind. 🙂
veggiesdontbite says
Only way I do salad is when it's hearty and full of filling ingredients. Looks delicious!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks girlfriend! 🙂
Vegan Heaven says
So many great things going on, Linda. Big congrats on the cookbook!! And this salad looks amazing. 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much, Sina!
The Vegan 8 says
Good luck on your marathon Linda, you will do fantastic! And I agree with you about not being scared for the 2nd. I have not done a marathon, but I've done a half and well, let's just say I was a little too ambitious and only trained for 6 weeks and I wasn't a runner for very long before that. I nearly died at that half and struggled BADLY to finish. It was horrible and I should have been more prepared and listened to my hubby telling me it was too soon. I'm glad I did it and finished it, but I suffered injuries and a lot of pain. I know you are a longtime runner and will do great!
This salad looks amazing and that ginger dressing sounds divine...I absolutely LOVE ginger!
Linda Meyer says
Oh wow, a half-marathon is nothing to take lightly. I'm happy you finished, but not with injuries. Thanks for the kind words, my friend. I appreciate them. xoxo
J L Gulliver says
I finally got around to making this salad, and it sure lives up to its promises (your picture and descriptions). Plus, it's great tasting and good for everyone, marathoners included. My husband & I loved it.
Linda Meyer says
You're so kind, thank you so much! 🙂
Elyse says
Training for a marathon here in LA and needed some meatless options for my diet so trying this one out today. Personally, I hate when dressing just tastes too much like straight vinegar. The ginger and garlic help but it’s missing something for me. I’ll probably swap to an Italian dressing next time. I also made the quinoa crunchy in my oven and I love it way more bc I need CRUNCH in my salad and I added sunflower seeds to amp that.
Linda Meyer says
Hi Elyse, good luck in the marathon! We're happy you made the dressing your own. We love vinegar, so this was just right for us, but can totally understand if it was too strong. Toasting the quinoa is a great idea!!