Sumptuous Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

Sumptuous Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

When the gals over at PETA Living talked to me about doing a recipe makeover on their site, I was thrilled. PETA is an organization I've respected for a long time. They do the dirty work on the side of veganism- fighting for the helpless, the voiceless, and the forgotten animals of the world. It can be easy to think of veganism as a trendy, slimming health fad, but for those of us who are committed it is a LIFESTYLE. Veganism is about saving the planet, saving the animals, AND being happy & healthy. Did you know that going vegan can potentially save nearly 200 animals each year?! If you're not already a committed vegan, its something to consider. (Even #MeatlessMondays are a GREAT start!)
With that said, I give you this Sumptuous Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing; Spinach is loaded with phytonutrients and vitamins like A, K, and C. The citrus works as an anti-inflammatory and ups the vitamin C content even higher. Plus, NO animals were harmed in the making of this (delicious) salad! This salad is best enjoyed on a warm afternoon with a squeeze of fresh orange and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Enjoy! 

INGREDIENTS:
Spinach Salad:
1 bunch fresh spinach (about 6 cups of leaves)
2 medium-sized sweet peppers, sliced & deseeded
1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced
half of an orange, sliced into rounds or halves
sesame seeds (for serving)

Orange Sesame Dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

DIRECTIONS:
Wash spinach and drain completely. Chop into bite-sized pieces, if desired. Chop peppers, onion, and orange slices and set aside. 
To make dressing combine olive oil, rice vinegar, orange juice, sesame oil, agave nectar, garlic, & smoked paprika in a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until combined, and taste test. Set aside. 
In a large bowl, or on individual plates, arrange spinach.  Toss or arrange peppers, onions, and orange slices and drizzle with the orange sesame dressing. Serve with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds & enjoy! Serves 4-6.

***Check out the post over on PETA.org HERE***

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