This special smoked salmon crunchy chickpea pomegranate salad has it all, crunch from baked nuts and chickpeas, smoky flavour from the smoked salmon, vibrant colour from blue-green kale and ruby from the pomegranate seeds. It makes you feel good just looking at it! Perfect for lunch or dinner and it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and low GI.

This salad is a nutrition overload for your body.

 Ashleigh Feltham (MNutrDiet)

Starting with the Safcol Premium Smoked Salmon as a great source of protein. Also, iodine and selenium for healthy thyroid function and omega 3 fat for a healthy heart and brain. Salmon contains the antioxidant astaxanthin, which gives salmon it’s red or pink colour and helps lower your ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and raise your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels.

The protein content of this meal is further increased with chickpeas which are a great source of protein as 1 cup gives 11.8g of protein. Chickpeas also help keep you feeling fuller for longer due to the fibre content. A type of fibre called soluble fibre is included and helps your body to excrete rather than absorb back the cholesterol into your blood. Your cholesterol is being looked after by another ingredient in the extra virgin olive oil. This oil helps to increase your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels. The antioxidants in this oil make it a star oil for keeping your cells protected from free radical damage.

Pomegranate is a great source of vitamin C, needed for optimal immune function and for collagen synthesis. This is essential for healthy skin, tendons and ligaments. Adding to the vitamin C content is the kale, which also gives your body a good dose of fibre, potassium for healthy blood pressure and non-haem iron to allow oxygen to move through your body properly. Also, vitamin A for a strong immune system and additionally helps keep your eyes functioning optimally as well as vitamin K to allow your blood to clot normally.

Tahini and sesame seeds are a good source of calcium as well as manganese which plays a role in blood clotting. Also, magnesium which helps normal nerve and muscle cell function, phosphorus needed for strong bones and teeth and copper which plays a role in keeping your immune function optimal. Adding to the immune-boosting effect is the allicin in the garlic. If you want to eat a salad that all your friends will be envious over this is a must-try.

These calculations were done using the online tool at foodstandards.gov.au. We’ve tried to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only.