Ready to add more of a summery feel to your salad jars? Check out this Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar Meal Prep! This recipe is bursting with flavour, vibrant colours and crisp and crunchy fresh veggies. It is also loaded with protein to keep you fuelled all day long.
Hot summer days are the perfect time to let salads shine. They are light, nourishing refreshing, and vibrant. Also quite easy to put together leaving you time to enjoy the beautiful weather. Click here for more salad recipes by yours truly.
Why You Should Meal Prep
We are all super busy and it can be tough to find the mental energy to figure out what to eat sometimes. That is one of the reasons I meal prep. I like to remove the mental load and decision fatigue by having my meals all ready to go. By taking some time to meal prep, you’re saving yourself a whole bunch of time throughout the week so you can enjoy things that bring you joy.
On the days I don’t have meal prep, I find I put together the saddest lunches. Whether it’s scraps of leftovers, or odds and ends from the pantry, it’s rarely a full and balanced meal. Having meals prepped ensures that you’re eating healthy and balanced meals that will give you the energy to fuel you throughout the day.
Salad Jar Preparation
I love salad meal preps because they are super quick and require very little focus. For this Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar, you simply chop and layer. I like to have a few options for my jar layers, at least four, to make the salad more complex and tasty with various flavours and textures.
If you are looking for more meal preps in salad jars, check out these recipes.
The first step in the salad jar prep is to chop all of your veggies. Next, you’ll want to cook your quinoa and saute your tofu, giving them time to cool off before being added to the jars. While the veggies are drying, and the quinoa and tofu are cooling, make your dressing. Now, you’re ready to layer!
All the Ingredients of a Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar
While the layered look of veggies in a mason jar is visually appealing, the order of the components is quite important to ensure optimal freshness.
There is a general rule of thumb when making a salad jar salad. The sauce ALWAYS goes on the bottom and the lettuce ALWAYS goes on the top. But let’s break down the layers of this Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar.
1. Dressing: The star and inspiration for this salad jar is this dairy-free Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing. I wanted a creamy dressing, that had a summery sweetness, and a little crunch from the poppy seeds.
2. Red Pepper: The bright red hue of diced red peppers not only adds a pop of colour but also provides a sweet and slightly tangy crunch. Any pepper would work though.
3. Cucumber: Cool and refreshing. Cucumbers provide a fresh and juicy crisp contrast to the other ingredients while packing a big refreshing crunch.
4. Strawberries: Strawberries add a vibrant red colour, juicy texture, and sweet-tart flavour. They are packed with vitamins, particularly vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fibre.
5. Pickled Red Onion: I love adding these to dishes because add a pop of colour and a delicious acidic punch.
6. Quinoa: A nutritional powerhouse and also a great source of fibre to add to your salads.
7. Tofu: I like to saute tofu cubes in some spices until they get nice and crispy.
8. Pumpkin Seeds: They are a good source of magnesium, zinc and iron and give your salad an extra boost of protein.
9. Roasted Almonds: Another protein boost that helps curb blood sugar spikes after meals and is a source of magnesium, vitamin E, and fibre.
10. Arugula: Any greens would work but I always find strawberry and arugula to pair beautifully together. Arugula adds a fresh, tart, bitter, and peppery flavour, making this salad jar shine.
The Art of a Salad Jar: Strawberry Poppyseed
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar Layer Order:
- Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing
- Red pepper
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Tofu
- Strawberries
- Quinoa
- Pickled Red Onions
- Toasted Almonds
- Arugula
Steps to make a Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar
Step 1: If you don’t have quinoa already cooked, cook it now so it has time to cool. If you already have your quinoa cooked and prepped, move along to Step 2.
Step 2: Make your tofu. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp of vegetable broth or extra virgin olive oil, add tofu and saute. Add spices ( 1 tsp onion powder and 1 tsp garlic powder) and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 3: Chop all your veggies. While this part may seem tedious, once you get it out of the way it’s smooth sailing. Grab your red bell pepper, cucumber, and strawberries. Set them aside so they can dry a little.
Step 4: Make your Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing. Puree 1 cup of strawberries in a blender. Remove from blender and add the remaining ingredients, then stir.
Step 5: Add all of your layers to the jar.
Layered for Success: Tips for the Perfect Salad Jar Prep
HOW TO AVOID SOGGY LETTUCE.
Now you’re probably thinking – won’t the lettuce get soggy and gross? Well, I can attest to the fact that they won’t and here’s why: the layers. The functionality of these layers expands beyond just making these meal preps look visually appealing, the order of each layer also serves a particular purpose. It is essential to avoid any soggy veggies, wilted lettuce, or unpleasant textures in general.
THE LESS MOISTURE, THE BETTER.
Make sure your veggies are dried out. After you finish cutting all of your veggies, let them sit while you carry on with the rest of the prep. Be sure to move them to a bowl or plate that is dry. Don’t leave them sitting on a cutting board marinating in their juices. You can also place a cloth or paper towel on the plate before putting your veggies on. It will help with a little extra absorption.
You’ll also want to make sure your quinoa is room temp. Having hot, fresh cooked quinoa, or cold, straight-from-the-fridge quinoa will add too much moisture to your jars. Adding room-temperature cooked quinoa is the key here.
Now I’ll be honest, I’ve forgotten to test my patience and added the veggies in without letting them fully dry before layering them so here’s what I did. I added a little slice of paper towel to each jar and left them in the fridge. This helped absorb any extra moisture sitting in the jars before adding my lettuce.
Why Mason Jars?
Mason jars are both aesthetic and functional. I like to use large 32 oz mason jars because they hold SO much and allow you to load up on delicious veggies. And, the airtight seal keeps your salad fresh longer, making this veggie-packed meal a perfect option for meal prep, easy to grab when you’re on the go.
Extras for your Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar Meal Prep
This salad jar is already extremely nutritious and delicious with all of its gorgeous layers. But, I like to jazz mine up a little more to give it that extra scrumptious zing. I like to drizzle a balsamic glaze over the salad and then sprinkle a bunch of plant-based feta on top. It makes this salad extra delicious!
This Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar meal prep makes for the perfect summery lunch or dinner. It’s both vibrant and delicious. The sweet but tangy Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing makes this whole jar the tasty treat that it is. Whether you’re enjoying it on the go or savouring it at home, this salad will become a meal prep favourite.
If you’re looking for more refreshing salad recipes like this, check these out!
I hope you enjoy this Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar meal prep! If you make them, please leave a comment below (it helps others to find the recipe). As always, please feel free to share your creations with me! Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest so that I can see your yummy dishes
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar Meal Prep
Ingredients
Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing
- 1 cup strawberries
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp salt or more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper or more to taste
- 2 tsp poppy seed
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 2 cups cucumber chopped
- 4 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 12 oz extra firm tofu cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil or veg broth
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 cups quinoa cooked
- 1 cup pickled red onions
- 1 cup roasted almonds
- 2 cups arugula
Instructions
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Jar
- On medium heat, add olive oil or vegetable broth to a medium skillet. Add in tofu cubes and spices (1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder). Saute for 15 minutes turning halfway. Remove from heat and allow them to cool.
- Meanwhile, chop red pepper, cucumber, and strawberries. Set aside.
- Make Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing: Blend 1 cup of strawberries until they are pureed. Pour into a jar and add the maple syrup, red wine vinegar, olive oil, ground mustard, salt, pepper, and poppy seeds. Whisk, taste and adjust.
- Layer your jars in this order: Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing, red bell pepper, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, tofu, strawberries, quinoa, pickled red onion, roasted almonds, and arugula.
Notes
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This looks absolutely delicious!! Love me a strawberry salad.
Me too! It adds such a fresh sweetness and a beautiful pop of colour.