The earliest variation of this salad was a clean-out-the-fridge recipe, something I pulled together the day before grocery shopping.

The original also had shredded brussel sprouts instead of cabbage, but Trader Joe’s was cleared out when I went to recreate it. Not a single brussel anywhere. I can only conclude there is a cult of women in size 00 Lululemon leggings on a brussel sprout cleanse. If you see them huddled together, with their balayaged heads bent together, they are whispering, “Juiced brussel sprouts changed my life!”

May it be a short lived eating disorder so I can start buying brussel sprouts again.

This is exactly the type of entrée salad that I love because there are so many ingredients that you get different flavors in each bite. Also, there are so many colors in this salad that you can skip your multi-vitamins that day. (Please don’t take medical or nutritional advice from me. I know nothing.) But mostly, it’s a good way to make the most of winter produce like cabbage and grapefruit, which typically doesn’t get the same love as summer produce. The addition of pantry ingredients and freezer ingredients make it easy to pull together.

Winter Abundance Salad with Shrimp and Grapefruit
Servings: 4 to 5 as an entree
Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients
4 cups shredded cabbage (or brussel sprouts, if the Lululemon army leaves some for you)
2 cups shredded carrots
1 red bell pepper, sliced
6 scallions, chopped
1 grapefruit, peeled, segmented, and chopped
12 oz shrimp, cooked, peeled, and deveined with tails removed
1 large avocado, chopped
1 cup edamame, cooked and cooled
1/2 cup raw almond slivers
Optional toppings: sesame seeds, cilantro

Dressing:
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
Directions
Preheat oven to 300.
Roast almond slivers for 5 minutes and let cool.
Stir together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
Mix together all salad ingredients in a large bowl, except almond slivers. 
Stir in dressing and mix.
Top with almond slivers. Add sesame seeds and cilantro, if using.

Meal prep tips:

If you are making this for a week’s worth of lunches: 

• Prepare almond slivers as described in step 2. Store in a small container at room temperature.
• Prep cabbage, scallions, and red bell pepper. Store in a large container in the fridge. 
• Prepare salad dressing and store in a small container, also in the fridge. 
• Each day, prep shrimp, edamame, avocado, and grapefruit. Assemble your salad.

Variations:

In my opinions, salads are always suggestions, so you should always feel free to replace grapefruit with clementines; or replace almonds with sunflower seeds; or increase/decrease acidity in the salad dressing. For dietary specific variations:

• For vegetarian, either replace shrimp with either tofu or extra edamame.
• For soy allergies and sensitivities, omit edamame and use coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce.