It only makes sense that Valentine’s Day would fall in February. February is National Heart Health Month! With heart disease being the number one killer in the US, it’s always in fashion to Be wonderful to your heart.

I was happy to be sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios today on https://wcpo.egnyte.com/dl/EXnH3GCNHG and feature this delicious salad which includes pistachios, pomegranate arils, and apples in a tasty pistachio dressing.

Pistachios are a great food to take care of your ticker. One serving provides 6 grams of complete plant protein in addition to 3 grams of fiber.

Pistachios also contain 90% unsaturated fat, the type that helps curb your appetite and reduce blood cholesterol. Eating shelled pistachios helps to slow you down when you eat because you have to crack open their shells. A serving of shelled pistachios is 49 nuts (1/4 cup unshelled) compared to 23 almonds or 18 cashews. Get crackin’!

If you’d like, you can add grilled tofu, chicken, fish or shrimp to the salad to increase the protein content. Cooked grains such as bulgur, farro, or quinoa would also be a great addition.

I hope you enjoy this salad as much as the hosts did today!

#ad #sponsored #paidsegment #wonderfulpistachios #pomwonderful

Ingredients (salad)

One (10 oz) bag spinach leaves

½ cup POM Pomegranate arils

1 honey crisp apple, chopped

½ cucumber, chopped

½ cup No shells lightly salted Wonderful pistachios

Dressing

1/3 cup No shells lightly salted Wonderful pistachios

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. honey

Directions:

1.      Place the spinach, pomegranate arils, apples, and cucumbers in a medium bowl and set aside.

2.      Using a mini food processor, add the 1/3 cup pistachios, olive oil, lemon juice, ginger paste and honey together. Process the ingredients for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

3.      Drizzle the dressing over the spinach salad and top with remaining ½ cup of shelled pistachios.  Toss before serving. 

Makes 8 servings. Nutrition information per serving: 300 calories, 26 grams fat, 14 gm carbs, 3.9 gm fiber, 5 gm protein, 0 mg cholesterol, sodium 4 mg