Quick and Easy Salad: California Roll in a Bowl

SparkPeople.com

By Stepfanie Romine, for SparkPeople

Ever get stuck in a dinner rut? I sure do! Recently, while digging around in the 100-page homemade recipe file I keep on my computer, (I like to cook. Can you tell?) I found a salad I created years ago.

Delicious and easy, it combines all of my favorite sushi ingredients in one bowl! And, because it's based on a California roll, it uses fully cooked seafood. This is a great way to introduce friends and family to the taste of sushi. Add slivered sushi ginger, bits of nori (seaweed), and sesame seeds to make it even more authentic.


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown rice, cooked (1/2 c dry)

  • 1 head butter or romaine lettuce, chopped

  • 8 oz. imitation crab meat or cooked shrimp, chopped

  • 1 English (seedless) cucumber, thinly sliced (and peeled if not organic)

  • 1 ripe avocado, diced

  • 1 carrot, grated

  • 3 T pickled ginger, chopped (available in the Asian section of most supermarkets)


Dressing:

  • 3 T rice wine vinegar

  • 2 T light soy sauce

  • Wasabi powder to taste (start with 1/2 t)


Combine all ingredients for dressing in a small bowl and whisk ingredients together.

Optional garnishes:

  • 1 T sesame seeds

  • 1 large sheet nori (seaweed), toasted and broken into small pieces


Divide clean, dry and chopped lettuce among four large bowls. Top with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, carrot, rice and ginger. Drizzle dressing over salads, then top with sesame seeds and nori.

Nutrition info:
Calories: 199.2
Total Fat: 8.3 g (mostly good fat from the avocado)
Cholesterol: 2.5 mg
Sodium: 668.3 mg (from the soy sauce)
Total Carbs: 27.3 g
Dietary Fiber: 6.0 g
Protein: 6.5 g

Would you try this salad? What's your favorite salad to mix up when you're short on time?


Related links:

2 New Healthy Recipes to Try Tonight

Habits of Healthy Eaters: Cook at Home

4-Ingredient Recipes


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