Creamy Banana-Pecan Salad

This nutrient-dense salad delivers great taste that is sure to please banana lovers’ palates. Although it may seem unconventional to feature bananas in a savoury salad, the interplay of sweet and tangy will make your taste buds sing. Pecans add a crunchy texture and heart-helping fats to the mix.

4 small bananas, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 small red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped pecans
1 Tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice
1/4 cup (60 mL) mayonnaise
1 Tbsp (15 mL) honey

Add bananas, celery, red pepper, onion, and pecans to salad bowl. Stir gently to mix, being careful not to break banana slices.

In separate bowl, mix lemon juice, mayonnaise, and honey. When well mixed, incorporate dressing into salad mixture and again be gentle so as not to break banana slices.

Divide mixture and place on 4 individual serving plates or in 4 small salad bowls. Place on top of red lettuce leaves and garnish with parsley for an attractive presentation.

Makes 4 servings.

Each serving contains: 269 calories; 2 g protein; 17 g total fat (2 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 31 g total carbohydrates (19 g sugars, 4 g fibre); 91 mg sodium

source: "Go Bananas", alive #376, February 2014