Though I love traditional salads, I’m a big fan of salads that don’t include lettuce, especially in summer months when it’s warm. There’s something about a bowl of fresh, crisp veggies spiked with a bit of cheese that I find satisfying. And it doesn’t hurt that they provide fiber and fill you up with so few calories. Here’s one variation I make often.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 2 servings
Ingredients
1 cup 1/2-inch cubes English or seeded cucumber
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup small red onion slivers
2 teaspoons light balsamic vinaigrette (no more than 2 g of fat per tablespoon; I used Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette)
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, plus more to taste, if desired
1/2 ounce (2 tablespoons) goat cheese crumbles
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation
Step 1
Toss the cucumber, tomatoes, and onion with the vinaigrette and vinegar in a medium mixing bowl. Add the goat cheese, salt, and pepper, and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately.
nutrition information
Step 2
Each (about heaping 1-cup) serving has:
Step 3
Calories: 57
Step 4
Protein: 3g
Step 5
Carbohydrates: 7g
Step 6
Fat: 2g
Step 7
Saturated Fat: 1g
Step 8
Cholesterol: 3mg
Step 9
Fiber: 1g
Step 10
Sodium: 111mg
Reprinted with permission from I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening! by Devin Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Devin Alexander. Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Devin Alexander is the author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever, Fast Food Fix, and coauthor of The New York Times bestsellers The Biggest Loser Cookbook and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. She was a chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser and the host of Healthy Decadence on Discover Health and FitTV.
