- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes 4 jars
- Serving size: 1 jar salad
- Print/save recipe
This Mason jar salad is a great make-ahead meal to enjoy at home or on the go. A creamy pesto dressing anchors layers of rainbow veggies and hearty grains for a portable meal that will satisfy all your cravings for fresh produce. Feel free to switch it up with whatever greens, grains, and toppings you have on hand! Just add a lid and it will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tip: For the dressing, soak cashews in very hot water for 15 minutes. Drain the water and rinse the nuts before blending with the rest of the dressing ingredients.
Ingredients
- ½ cup soaked raw cashews (see tip in recipe intro)
- ⅔ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅔ cup unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 4 cups cooled cooked wheat berries
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into ½- inch slices
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- For Pesto Dressing, in a small blender or food processor combine the first six ingredients (through sea salt). Cover and blend until smooth, gradually adding plant-based milk. Dressing will be thin.
- In four 1-quart wide-mouth Mason jars, pour a few tablespoons of dressing into the bottom. Then layer the next seven ingredients (spinach through onion) in the order given. Season with salt and pepper.
Per serving (1 jar salad): 431 calories, 78 g carbohydrates, 18 g protein, 8 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 361 mg sodium, 16 g fiber, 5 g sugar
Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.
Comments (8)
(5 from 2 votes)What can be used in place of the cashews for people with severe tree nut allergies?
Hi Cleo, We recommend using white beans (such as cannellini) to replace the cashews. Their neutral taste and creamy texture are great for bulking up sauces and dressings. Just use the same amount that's indicated for the cashews, and you'll be good to go. Let us know how it turns out!
Sounds like a great idea.
What are wheat berries and where would I purchase?
The portions seem very big. Will that fit into one jar? There are 13 cups in the recipe
It says to divide into four one-quart jars.
Possibly a silly question, but I've never eaten summer squash and wonder if you cook the stuff you put in salads. I didn't see if it said anywhere in the recipe if it's raw or not. PS...the recipe sounds so good! THANKS!!
no don't cook your summer squash will be zucchini or yellow squash. No questions are sillly : )))