Simplicity is a beautiful thing. And this is about as simple as it gets. You can throw it together in minutes, and it works as a side dish for almost anything or even as a complete light lunch. Also, it is one of the most versatile dishes ever. I am listing below the ingredients I used, but honestly you could use any combination of your favorite veggies and cheese and even throw in some nuts and seeds if you like. The key to this salad (in my opinion) is to have plenty of crunch in the veggies you choose, and don't skip the dressing. It's just the right amount of sweet, tart and creamy for all those veggies. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 broccoli crown, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small head of cauliflower, separated into bite-size florets
1/2 lb. coarsely chopped portabella mushrooms
1 large orange (or red or yellow) bell pepper, stem and seeds removed and coarsely chopped
6 oz. mozzarella, freshly grated
1/2 lb. bacon, diced and fried very crispy (Dicing the bacon before cooking helps it to cook more evenly and become more crispy, but you could certainly just crumble leftover strips if that's what you have.)
3/4 cup light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons powdered stevia
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Combine all veggies in large bowl and toss together.
2. Sprinkle cheese and bacon bits over top.
3. Combine mayonnaise, stevia and vinegar and whisk to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle a bit over top of salad, reserving some to the side for those who would like to add a bit more.
4. Toss and serve while everything is nice and crisp.
***Suggestions for other great veggie additions include fresh carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, edamame, and grape tomatoes. (I would avoid chopped tomatoes or canned vegetables since they tend to add too much moisture.)