Fiber and Protein Packed Sorghum and Seed Salad
Some of you might know that we don’t eat a lot of grains around here, none at all for my husband — but this salad is perfection to me.
It’s packed with fiber, plant protein and healthy fats. It has an awesome texture, it’s simple to make and is PACKED with nutrients.
You might recognize sorghum from many gluten free flour mixtures, but this grain deserves a place at the table!
Below I share a bit about it’s nutritional values if you’re interested.
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Ingredients
1 cup uncooked sorghum — cooked ;)
1/4 cup dried cranberries, apple juice sweetened. If you don’t have these use organic raisins or chopped up dates. You’re going for little jewels of sweetness.
1/4 cup pecans, pistachios, slivered almonds… any nut really
1 TBSP hemp hearts
1 TBSP sunflower seeds
1 TBSP pumpkin seeds
a really big handful of arugula
a small handful of parsley
a pinch of salt and a few good grinds of fresh pepper
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice — or apple cider or whatever salad dressing vinegar you’ve got in the cupboard!
OPTIONAL — I also like to add in shredded carrots, beets, broccoli florets, celery, jicama, and really any other veggies I have in the fridge. Be warned, the shredded beets will make your salad pink. ;)
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Instructions
Cook the sorghum as per packaging suggestion. It’s not hard. It’s like cooking brown rice in the amount of time it takes though, so do it when you’re not in a huge rush. I actually love this as lunch so I don’t even bother trying to have it ready for dinner.
While the sorghum is cooking mix the olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper in a good size bowl.
Chop the nuts up if you would like.
When the sorghum has cooled mostly dump it over the dressing mixture and stir it up.
Add in the nuts, seeds, arugula, and parsley.
Enjoy.
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Nutrition And Tips
Sorghum is worth googling if you want the full nutritional breakdown, as it’s IMPRESSIVE, but let me share a few things that I think are awesome.
Sorghum is high in fiber (hello gut health), protein and B vitamins — which support our metabolism, neural development, and skin and hair health.
Another rockstar moment for sorghum is that it’s high in antioxidants which help lower inflammation in our body… hello health! (Inflammation in our body is where disease starts to flourish).
It’s also high in magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
So you know, it’s cool.
Plants are cool.
ALSO! In this recipe the addition of nuts and seeds allows for greater access to the nutrients from the grain itself, (with many grains we don’t optimize the nutrients they provide without adding in extra ingredients like nuts or beans… something to keep in mind if your primarily plant based) as well as BUCKETS of extra nutrients.
I hope you love this as much as I do.
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Final Thoughts
Yes, you could try this recipe with quinoa or rice, but I love the idea of challenging us all to try new things.
To diversify our diets and nutrients, because that’s the easiest way to support our health.
I do want to mention that this would also be delicious with cauliflower rice, for any of my grain free friends out there!
So, I hope you give this a try and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Let me know on Instagram @goodtograteful or send me an email!
I love hearing from you!
Xox
Gwen
