A salad with spa panache! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free home made creamy dressing with coconut milk.

This refreshing and healthy salad will transport you to a tropical paradise spa! Feel the island breeze as you devour this salad made of massaged greens and radicchio tossed with fresh pineapple, apple and blackberries in delectable coconut pineapple dressing…… and…..wait for it…. topped with roasted pumpkin seeds !
And if the Destination Spa Salad has this kind of power transporting me from chilly, snowy New England, imagine what it could do for you! I am telling you, it is so totally worth giving the greens a massage 😉
I tempered the spices in coconut oil. According to Ayurveda, mustard seeds are said to have anti cancerous properties, asafetida is good for digestion, turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and blood purifier and the green chili helps with metabolism. Tempering the spices helps bring out their volatile oils and hence their goodness. This tempered oil was used to massage the kale, radicchio, shaved Brussel sprouts, broccoli rabe and cabbage.

The creamy, nectarous dressing is fresh pineapple blended with coconut powder, Dijon mustard and Himalayan pink rock salt.

My daughter believes that I am a ‘certifiable’ health nut 🙂 and my children will be happy to relate many funny stories about how I take up a cooking challenge. It is no surprise then that when I saw Angie’s brilliant idea for Fiesta Friday healthy recipe challenge , I knew it was calling my name! I cannot wait to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with. They are all so super talented. Do check out their recipes too.
Here is my recipe-
Destination Spa Salad
Ingredients-
For the tempering-
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon asafetida powder
- ½ green chili, slit in the middle (or to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder
- About 4 cups of mixed greens- I used a prewashed precut bag with a combination of kale, broccoli rabe, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and radicchio.
- ½ fresh ripe pineapple, skin removed, cored and chopped into chunks.
- 1 small red delicious apple, cored and diced
- 8 blackberries
For the dressing-
- ¾ cup pineapple pieces (I reserved the better looking pieces to toss in the salad)
- 1/8 cup coconut milk powder or coconut cream from a can
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Pink Himalayan rock salt to taste
Topping-
- 2 tablespoons roasted pumpkin seeds
To make the Destination Spa salad-
- In a small pan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and when they start to sputter, add the asafetida, green chili and turmeric powder. As soon as they sizzle and are fragrant, remove from heat. Let it cool a bit.
- Chop the washed and dried mixed greens if not using a fresh package of salad greens mix.
- Put them in a bowl, add the tempered oil and spices and massage the greens for about a minute. remove and discard the chili pepper. Set aside.
- Make the dressing- Simply combine all ingredients for the dressing and blend until smooth and creamy. If the pineapple is not sweet and tangy, you may need to add some sugar and lime juice. It makes about ½ cup dressing.
- To the massaged greens, add the reserved pineapple pieces, diced apple, blackberries. Pour some of the dressing, toss and serve topped with the roasted pumpkin seeds. Serve extra dressing on the side!
Note: This salad can also be made with the addition of 1 cup of shredded rotisserie chicken
Enjoy your Destination Spa staycation with this moreish salad!
Love,
❤
Sandhya
Beautiful!
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Thanks so much Cindy!
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Absolutely gorgeous!! Who needs an island vacation when you can have this at home?! Can I come over, pleeeease… 😄😄 I really, really love the idea of massaging the greens with the spices and coconut oil. Especially on “tough” leaves like kale. What an incredible idea, Sandhya! 👏👏
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Thank you Angie for your sweet words and for the brilliant challenge. I am absolutely enjoying reading (and drooling over)all the fabulous entries- hats off to all the super talented bloggers at Fiesta Friday!
I love how the texture of the tougher greens, especially the kale, changes when massaged for a few minutes. And it seems to absorb the flavor of the coconut oil and spices…..just like me….with a little massage, I would assimilate better with my surroundings too 🙂
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Wonderful combination of ingredients in this delicious looking salad. Definitely makes me feel like I’m at a Spa in the islands. 🙂
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Thanks so much Ronit!
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Such a gorgeous salad, I absolutely adore this❤
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Thanks so much Marisa! ❤
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Wow Sandhya, I honestly said oooooh out loud when I saw the picture. I am pinning this because I love everything about it. Thank you.
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Thanks so much Myra! You made my day!
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Wow! Looks delightful.. great recipe
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Thanks so much Lina!
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What a great idea bringing this destination spa salad together! I was imagining myself on a beach with a salad like this in my lap and a margarita on the side 🙂 Great idea, wonderful vibrant and healthy ingredients. Win! Win! Sandhya 🙂
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Thank you so much Loretta. You always inspire me to try new ideas,with your kind words. Yes a margarita would go perfectly with this, right?
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So creative Sandhya!!
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Thanks so much Archana!
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This looks so good, Sandhya! Love it!
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Thanks so much Freda! Always appreciate your kind words.
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Thanks so much Freda!
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Mind blowing presentation, Sandhya.
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Thanks so much Anuradha! I truly appreciate the kind words.
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Thanks so much Anuradha!
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My pleasure Sandhya.
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Massaging greens sounds like fun. What a creative and beautiful salad. Your photos are amazing Sandhya 🙂
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Thanks so much Judi- I found quite a difference in especially the kale after massaging it. I always struggle with the photos.So appreciate your kind words a lot!
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Oh my goodness, Sandhya! Can I book in to your spa, please? Your recipe is just emanating health! I could eat this every day of the week and not get tired! Awesome! 😀
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Thanks so much Julianna! I try to eat healthy (most of the time:) and food has to look and taste good for me to stay on track.
This is such a fun challenge isn’t it?
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Awesome pineapple dish Sandhya! I really like the flavors and textures! Your kids are lucky to have a health-nut and such a talented cook as a mom. Love this 😀
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Thanks so much Antonia. Sometimes I go overboard with the healthy 🙂 They never forget how i ruined their perfect rice krispy treats with mine packed with almonds and all things nutritious 🙂
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Wonderful Sandhya! Love how you have put this together.<3
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Thanks so much Zeba!
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Thanks so much Zeba! This challenge is so much fun, isn’t it?
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Yes it is Sandhya!
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That’s a party in your mouth. Lovely.
Tracey
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Thanks so much Tracey! Yes for me to eat healthy food has to look and taste yummy as well 🙂
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I agree.
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Wow! Looks amazing! 😉👍👏
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Thanks so much Tamara for visiting and for your kind comments. I try to eat healthy (most of the time:) and look forward to reading more of your informative posts!
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What a brilliant idea for the challenge! Wohoo!
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Thanks so much Jhuls! It is such a fun challenge, isn’t it?
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Just an amazing presentation!
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Thanks so much!
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you’re making me hungry! Ha!
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Ha ha Stacey! But it is all healthy…so good right? 🙂
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I am such a salad lover…even when it is cold outside. This is so beautiful and vibrant.
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Thanks so much Amanda!
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love the tropical flavor of your salad! coconut and pineapple are never wrong !
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Thanks so much! Truly appreciate your kind words, Carine.
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Wow,this is very amazing!
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Beautiful, healthy, and delicious! 🙂
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Thanks so much Tonya ! You have an awesome blog!
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That’s really nice!! Many thanks. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Indian and Indian Fusion Cooking in America and commented:
With juicy fruit and farm fresh greens in the market now, it is time to make this scrumptious salad!
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Reblogged this on frankensportblog.
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Thanks so much!
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beautifully decorated!!
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Thanks so much!
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One will read the recipe if be able to skip the beautiful picture of salad accumulated in half sliced pineapple. Such a tongue tingling recipe.
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Looks beautiful, healthy, and delicious. I love Indian dressings in a salad recipe. Will try this soon 🙂
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Thanks so much Uma!
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That salad looks just like out of the spa! So refreshing! Especially love how you arranged it in a pineapple boat… the dressing and the tempering gives it such an interesting feel… LOL at your kids calling you a health nut… Sometimes they can’t understand why moms behave the way they are… 😉
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This salad looks so amazing. Loved the way you have served it. Can’t wait to try it, it sounds so delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
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Super, super awesome salad Sandhya!! As I have said before on FB, this will definitely transport anyone to a breezy destination and I can vouch for the wintery, cold New England weather! Definitely trying this when I get there and I am sure my kids would enjoy this thoroughly!
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WOW!!!! I think I had commented on this post may be on FB. Looks awesome it is the kind of salad that we as a family are crazy about. I will definitely want some of the action here,
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This definitely is a much needed salad recipe in times like this when we are stuck at home and yearning to go on a tropical vacation. Love the dressing for the salad and how you have presented it.
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Very interesting and unique Salad recipe Sandhya…How beautifully you have presented the tropical theme in this salad.. awesome creativity…
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This is such a beautiful salad addition to that spa day. I love the way you have used tadka to flavour this salad.
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Oh I wish I could just grab the whole salad. Its so beautiful and so much care has been taken to include all healthy ingredients. What sets it apart from most salads is the addition of the Indian tadka.
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Wow, the salad looks so tropical and delicious. Loved the presentation of the salad too.
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Oh my gosh…this salad looks absolutely gorgeous!! What an awesome presentation…Loved the dressing for the salad!!
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Love your presentation and it looks so tempting with lot of tropical fruits and dressing. Very catchy and apt name of the dish.
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Love this refreshing and mind-blowing salad. I wish we were neighbors so I could get to taste this amazing salad.
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Thanks Sapana! I wish we were neighbors too!
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