Mason Jar Salads are one of my favorite make-ahead meal options. They help make healthy eating a breeze during a busy week. You simply layer ingredients into large mason jars (I use these quart-sized jars) so that the dressing and sturdier ingredients are on the bottom. The softer toppings and leafy greens stay on top, so nothing gets soggy.
When it’s time to eat, you take off the lid and dump the ingredients out of the jar into a large salad bowl. The simple action of turning the jar over is usually enough to coat all of the ingredients in the dressing that was on the bottom, so all you have to do at meal time is dig in with a fork!
This salad is ultra-filling, thanks to the addition of white beans, which are loaded with protein (nearly 8 grams per 1/2 cup serving). These pulses are also a great source of iron and magnesium, which are thought to help promote healthy muscles and blood flow in the body. Butternut squash is jam-packed with Vitamin A. Just 1 cup provides 350% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA), and is thought to help promote healthy eyesight. This squash is also loaded with potassium, which may help promote healthy blood pressure.
All together, this salad is going to leave you feeling totally nourished and satisfied. Though it does take a bit of time to prepare, most of it is hands-off time that you can spend doing something else around your house while the squash and quinoa cook to perfection. I hope it will make eating well a little easier for you!
Recipe Notes:
This salad is totally customizable, so feel free to add in or leave out any ingredients you choose to. I used maple syrup to keep this dressing vegan, but you could use honey if you prefer, or leave out the sweetener entirely for a more pungent dressing.
Half-Cup Habit
This salad is a great way to make sure you’re reaching your Half-Cup Habit goals. This 4-week challenge encourages readers to add 1/2 cup serving of pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas, or dry peas) to their diets three times a week. In other words, you simply have to eat 1 1/2 cups of cooked pulses a week. By participating, users will receive free recipes, pulses cooking tips and more. Click here to join me in taking the Half-Cup Habit today! — Reader Feedback: Have you made a Mason Jar salad before? What’s your favorite salad combination lately? Disclosure: I developed this recipe as part of my ongoing sponsorship with USA Pulses and Pulse Canada. SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave
