Zucchini Noodles Spinach Salad with Baked Salmon: A Healthy and Delicious Meal

If you're looking for a way to make healthy, flavorful meals without spending hours in the kitchen, you'll love this Zucchini Noodles Spinach Salad with Baked Salmon. As someone who believes that physical and mental health start with the foods we eat, I'm always on the lookout for recipes that use local, fresh ingredients to create delicious, nutrient-packed meals. This salad is the perfect example of how you can use food as medicine, making it easy to achieve optimal health and wellness.

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Fewer Ingredients with Loads of Flavor and Nutrients

When it comes to cooking, I'm all about keeping things simple. I don't like to use many ingredients, but I do like to use ingredients that pack a lot of flavor and nutrition. That's why I love this salad – it's made with just a few simple ingredients but bursting with flavor and nutrients.

One of the reasons I like to use fewer ingredients is that it makes it easier to focus on the flavors and textures of the ingredients I am using. When working with many ingredients, it can be difficult to create a dish where each ingredient shines. But when you're working with just a few ingredients, you can focus on how each ingredient contributes to the overall flavor and texture of the dish.

Another reason I like to use fewer ingredients is because it's more cost-effective. When you're cooking with many different ingredients, it can add up quickly. But using just a few ingredients, you can create a delicious meal without breaking the bank.

Using Local, Fresh Ingredients as Food as Medicine

One of the best ways to approach health and wellness is using food as medicine. This means choosing foods that taste good and have specific health benefits. When you choose local, fresh ingredients, you're not only getting foods packed with flavor, but you're also getting foods at their peak nutritional value.

Fresh produce grown locally is more likely to be picked at the peak of ripeness, which means it's packed with nutrients. In contrast, produce grown far away and transported long distances may be picked before it's fully ripe, affecting its nutritional value. You're getting the most nutrients from your food by choosing local, fresh ingredients.

In addition to being more nutrient-dense, local, fresh ingredients are also better for the environment. When you buy locally, you're supporting local farmers and reducing the carbon footprint of your food. And when you buy fresh ingredients, you reduce the packaging and processing required to get your food to your plate.

Zucchini Noodles Spinach Salad with Baked Salmon

Now let's talk about this amazing salad! The base of the salad is zucchini noodles, a great alternative to traditional pasta. Zucchini noodles are low in calories and carbs but rich in nutrients like vitamins C, A, and potassium.

The zucchini noodles are combined with fresh spinach, another nutrient-packed ingredient. Spinach is high in iron, calcium, and vitamin K, among other nutrients. It's also a great source of antioxidants, which can help protect your body from free radicals that can cause cellular damage.

The salad is topped with baked salmon, which is delicious and a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are important for heart health and can also help reduce inflammation in the body. The combination of salmon, zucchini noodles, and spinach makes for a delicious and nutritious meal that is easy to prepare.

Benefits of Zucchini Noodles

• Low in calories and carbs

• High in fiber

• Packed with vitamins and minerals

• Gluten-free and perfect for people with celiac disease

Nutritional Value of Spinach

• Rich in vitamins A, C, and K

• A good source of iron, calcium, and potassium

• Low in calories

• High in fiber

• Antioxidant properties

Advantages of Consuming Baked Salmon

• Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and prevent heart disease

• Good source of protein

• Contains vitamins B6, B12, and D

• High in selenium, which helps boost the immune system

• Low in calories

Zucchini Noodles Spinach Salad with Baked Salmon

Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Keto-Friendly

Recipe Makes 1 Serving

What You’ll Need

1 Small-Medium Zucchini (150g), spiralized

1/2 Small Avocado (50g)

10 Sprigs Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped

3 mini sweet peppers (85g), diced

2 cups Baby Spinach (55g)

Juice from 1/2 a lime

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Salmon Fillet (5 oz)

1/2 tbsp coconut oil

Mineral salt, to taste

Crushed red chili flakes, to taste

What You’ll Need To Know

Pre heat oven to 425F. Coat salmon with 1/2 tbsp coconut oil and sprinkle salt and red chili flakes. Bake for 15 minutes.

Using a spiralizer, spiral zucchini into “noodles” and add to a medium-large mixing bowl. Add in sweet peppers, parsley, spinach, salt, olive oil and lime juice. Mix together and plate in a bowl.

Once the salmon is ready, let it cool for 5 minutes before placing it on top of the salad.

Slice up avocado, fan it out and top it on the salad.

Enjoy!

Keto Macros:

45.2g Fat / 10.5 g Net Carbs / 44.7 g Protein