Curried Cauliflower Sorghum Salad

Popular in India and Africa, gluten-free sorghum has a firmer texture than quinoa. The round, yellow-tinged seeds have plenty of disease-fighting antioxidants and a lower glycemic index, meaning their carbs deliver more sustained energy.

Curry cauliflower salad
Mitch Mandel

Salad Ingredients
1 cup sorghum
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cups diced pineapple
1 Tbsp. curry powder
2 carrots, shredded
3 scallions, sliced
Seeds from pomegranate
⅓ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Dressing Ingredients
⅓ cup light coconut milk
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
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¼ tsp. salt

Instructions
Place sorghum and 2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered until tender, about 50 minutes. Drain well.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss cauliflower with oil, curry powder, and a couple pinches of salt. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast until darkened, stirring once, about 30 minutes.

In a large bowl, toss sorghum, cauliflower, and remaining salad ingredients. Whisk dressing and toss with salad. Makes 6 servings.

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Quinoa Fruit Salad With Maple Dressing

Made up of beige, red, and black grains, tricolored South American quinoa packs a bigger antioxidant punch that may help improve recovery from training. Fruits add an extra layer of antioxidant protection to this postrun breakfast or dessert-worthy salad. Nutty hemp seeds are rich in protein and heart-healthy omega fats.

Quinoa fruit salad
Mitch Mandel

Salad Ingredients
¾ cup tricolored quinoa
2 cups blackberries or blueberries
2 frac12; tsp. ginger powder
½ cup dried tart cherries
⅓ cup coconut chips
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⅓ cup sliced fresh mint
3 Tbsp. hemp seeds (hemp hearts)

Dressing Ingredients
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
Juice of ½ lime
½ tsp. ginger powder
¼ tsp. salt

Instructions
Bring ¾ cup quinoa and 1 ½ cups water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 12 minutes or until grains are tender and water has been absorbed. Set aside covered for 5 minutes, and then fluff with a fork.

Place quinoa in a large bowl and toss with remaining salad ingredients. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with quinoa salad. Makes 6 servings.

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Spelt, Tuna, and Roasted Fennel Salad

An ancient variety of wheat, slightly sweet spelt is armed with plenty of nutritional firepower, including energy-boosting iron and fiber.

Tuna Spelt salad
Mitch Mandel

Salad Ingredients
1 cup spelt
1 large fennel bulb, sliced into ½” pieces
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3 (5-oz.) cans albacore tuna, drained
6 oz. mini bocconcini balls

Dressing Ingredients
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2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh oregano
½ tsp. smoked paprika
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. black pepper

Instructions
Place spelt and 3 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain well.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss fennel with 2 tsp. oil, spread on a baking sheet, and roast for 20 minutes, stirring once. Toss tomatoes with 2 tsp. oil; place on baking sheet with fennel. Continue roasting about 12 minutes. Let cool.

In a large bowl, toss spelt, roasted vegetables, tuna, and bocconcini. Whisk dressing ingredients and toss with spelt salad. Makes 6 servings.

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Shaved Vegetable Freekeh Chickpea Salad

Middle Eastern freekeh (freak-eh) is an immature form of “green” wheat that is roasted, giving it a signature nutty, smoky flavor. Because it’s gathered young, it retains maximum nutritional value, including the vision-protecting antioxidant duo lutein and zeaxanthin.

Shaved vegetable chickpea salad
Mitch Mandel

Salad Ingredients
1 cup cracked freekeh
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2 medium carrots
1 ½ cups canned chickpeas
2 stalks celery, sliced
½ cup chopped parsley
1 cup sliced dates
6 oz. diced fontina cheese
⅓ cup dried cranberries

Dressing Ingredients
3 large fennel bulb, sliced into ½” pieces
3 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
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½ tsp. cumin powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. red chili flakes

Instructions
Bring 2 ½ cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add freekeh, return to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered until water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Let stand covered for 5 minutes, and then fluff with a fork.

Slice peeled squash lengthwise into thin ribbons. Place in a bowl, cover with boiled water, and let soak 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Slice carrots into thin ribbons.

In a large bowl, toss freekeh, squash, carrots, and remaining salad ingredients. Whisk dressing and toss with salad. Makes 6 servings.

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Millet Chicken Waldorf Salad

Millet is a stellar source of manganese, a mineral necessary for proper metabolism and bone formation.

Chicken waldorf salad
Mitch Mandel

Salad Ingredients
1 cup millet
5 cups chopped curly kale
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2 large apples, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
⅓ cup dried cranberries

Dressing Ingredients
¼ cup EV olive oil
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. water
¼ cup chopped walnuts
1 shallot, chopped
frac12; cups canned chickpeas
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¼ tsp. salt

Instructions
Place millet and 2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered until water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Set aside covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Blend dressing until nearly smooth. Place kale in a large bowl; add 2 tablespoons dressing and massage with hands until kale is tender, about 2 minutes. Add millet and remaining salad ingredients and toss with remaining dressing. Makes 6 servings.

Headshot of Tbsp. canola oil.

Matthew Kadey, M.S. R.D. is a Canada-based registered dietitian and nutrition journalist with two decades of experience in reporting about food and nutrition for dozens of print and online publications. Kadey is the author of Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sports + Adventure. He is also an adventure cyclist and creator of several bikepacking routes in North America and beyond. Find him at matthewkadey.com, @rocketfuelfood