Moroccan Inspired Salad

This one is not from the Delish Magazine, but solely inspired by myself and what I think will match a store bought Moroccan meatball sauce I bought. This jar had been sitting in my cupboard for a while and both my boys love meatballs, so even though rice and sauce isn't huge on my list of faves or my WW plan I figured it was time to use it up. To help offset the rice, I decided to make a huge side salad to help fill me up.

Moms are sneaky, right? So my son does not love salads, but will eat them if they are on his plate. He is 19 now, so it isn't like I am making his plate anymore, BUT.... I decided for this salad to make individual ones that were plated. I even made a tiny effort to make them somewhat fancy.

I have never been to Morocco and only know one person who is from there, so without some research I was guessing as to what they might have in a salad, and of course was working with what I had at home. I started with a regular base of lettuce and then sliced celery on an angle and layered them on top, as well as some pre-cut matchstick carrots. I added cilantro lime dressing to this layer, as that is really where you need the sauce right - the lettuce? I added large slices of mango and avocado. You can see in the pics my avocado was about 30 seconds away from hitting the compost bin. I pulled out a tool I had not used since the kids were small and even crinkly cut the cucumbers (I don't think this matched the salad, but it needed to be used up) and then I added dried apricots, dates and figs to give it what I thought would be Moroccan flare.

I thought the salad was quite yummy, I would skip the cucumber next time and my figs were very hard, I guess I need to eat them more often. I asked ChatGPT what the Pros and Cons of these dried fruits were, so if you are interested, here you go...

🌴 DATES

Pros:

• ✅ Natural sweetener: Very sweet and satisfying; great for energy balls or blended into desserts.

• ✅ High in fiber: Helps with digestion and may help with blood sugar regulation.

• ✅ Rich in minerals: Especially potassium, magnesium, and iron—helpful during perimenopause for energy and mood.

• ✅ Low glycemic index (for some): Despite being sweet, they don't spike blood sugar as dramatically in moderate amounts.

• ✅ Shelf stable: Easy to store and great for camping or quick snacks.

Cons:

• ❌ High in natural sugar: Even small amounts are calorie-dense; easy to overeat.

• ❌ Sticky: Can cling to teeth and contribute to dental issues.

• ❌ Points: On WeightWatchers, dates can be 3–4 points for just 2–3 dates.

🌰 DRIED FIGS

Pros:

• ✅ Fiber powerhouse: Excellent for gut health and preventing constipation

• ✅ Antioxidants: Contain polyphenols that may support heart and brain health.

• ✅ Calcium & potassium: Good for bone health and blood pressure.

• ✅ Unique taste/texture: Adds variety and richness to snacks, salads, or baking.

Cons:

• ❌ Moderate sugar: Not as sweet as dates, but still concentrated.

• ❌ Seeds: Some people find the tiny seeds irritating to teeth or digestion.

🍑 DRIED APRICOTS

Pros:

• ✅ Lower in sugar: Among the lowest sugar dried fruits.

• ✅ High in vitamin A & iron: Especially beneficial if you're dealing with fatigue, hair loss, or hormonal skin changes.

• ✅ Tangy and bright flavor: Great for balancing richer snacks.

• ✅ Portion-friendly: You can eat more apricot halves for fewer points compared to dates.

Cons:

• ❌ Sulphite content: Many commercial apricots are treated with sulphites for color preservation—can cause headaches or reactions in sensitive people.