Peanut Sesame Salad Dressing

I try pretty desperately to not waste food, so that results in a lot of what I call trash meals. Just combining the remains of meals past to make something that will get me through the day. I've found that knowing how to make a solid dressing can really add some lovely and interesting jazz and makes a super satisfying meal. Below, I've included a recipe not only for a dang good Peanut Sesame Salad Dressing that I made on a whim one day but also a serving suggestion for a salad that uses leftovers from a meal I've previously written about. This whole thing was great, and I'm not even a huge salad person - at only 366 calories, but 24 grams of protein, 33 grams of carbs, and a scant 16 grams of fat - plus 60% of your daily value (DV) of vitamin A, 18% DV vitamin C, 22% DV calcium, and 29% calcium, this easy trash meal is a great place to start. It's also super versatile - easy to modify and make all your own!

Please note: this is for one serving. The recipe can be easily scaled up or down simply by doubling, tripling, etc. the ingredients.

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Ingredients - Salad Dressing

• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 1 Tsp mirin

• 1 Tbsp peanut butter powder+

• 1 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce

• 1/4 Tbsp agave, honey, molasses, syrup or other similar sweetener++

Ingredients - Salad serving suggestions

• 1 Serving Sesame Tempeh

• 1 cup baby spinach

• 1/2 Tbsp pepitas

• 1/4 cup edamame beans

• 1 Tbsp cashews, crushed (or broken up with your hands - it's super easy)

• 1/4 Tsp flax seeds

Instructions

1. Combine all salad dressing ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together until combined - using the fork you intend to eat with is fine; no need to make extra dishes. Alternatively, pour into a jar, close tight, shake vigorously until combined.

2. Place spinach in a bowl. Top with sesame tempeh, pepitas, and edamame. Pour the dressing over the dish, and finish off with cashews and flax seeds.

Yes, it's that simple. And it's even more satisfying!

Notes

+I used peanut butter powder because I prefer it - more protein, less fat, and fewer ingredients. If you don't have this on hand, no problem. You can use an equal amount of peanut butter, and just adjust the thickness of the dressing to your liking with a little bit of lukewarm water (or sesame oil, if that's your thing).

++I almost always use agave because I have it in spades. If you're not worried about keeping it vegan, honey is the next best alternative. I've found that molasses or syrup make this a little too sweet, but if you're looking for that, now you know! If you're using traditional peanut butter, some simple syrup here can make up for the water you may need to add to get this to a pourable thickness.