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    Home » 30-Minute Meals

    Monkey Salad

    Published: Feb 24, 2013 · Modified: Mar 15, 2024 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    A simple fruit salad of cashews, bananas, and coconut chips packs a sweet, yet filling punch. This Monkey Salad is perfect for breakfast next to an egg or two.

    Monkey Salad | Good Cheap Eats this …

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    First up. No, this salad does not contain monkeys. That would be gross. It contains ingredients that I imagine a monkey would like to eat. If it makes you feel better, you may call it Salad for Monkeys. Either way, make it.

    Second, this is a simple, simple recipe. It’s basically a non-recipe. But, it’s super good and a daily part of my breakfast. Yes, really.

    As you know already, I’m eating a weird diet that has me abstaining from sugar, grain, dairy, soy, and alcohol. With all the hidden fillers and additives in foods, it’s actually harder than the simple obvious reasons. Did you know most canned tuna contained soy?

    I say weird with my tongue in cheek. I feel so good and not exhausted like I’ve been for the last three months. It’s not weird at all. It’s amazing.

    Anyway, once I find something I like that has foods I can eat, I’m going with it, people. Like skillet eggs? Yep, having them every day. (Except when we’ve run out of greens.)

    Monkey salad? Totally. Black coffee with coconut milk? Works for me.

    In my former life, I drank my coffee with TWO teaspoons of sugar and about TWO tablespoons of cream. You can imagine the change, can’t you? Since I like sweet with my coffee, I eat this salad alongside. The bananas and cashews both have a little sweet to them that offsets the bitterness of the coffee quite nicely.

    Monkey Salad | Good Cheap Eats

    Now, a word about bananas. I am very picky about bananas. I do not like banana-flavored anything. That’s as gross as a salad made of monkey meat.

    I like banana bread. I like fresh bananas. I like bananas in smoothies. I like fresh bananas whole, not sliced. I like things the way I like them.

    And I most definitely do not like sliced bananas in things, especially not fruit salad. It gets all slimy. Have you noticed that?

    But, when I started this diet I realized that I was going to need to get creative, bust out of the old, and find some new favorites. I decided that I could not add other fruit to this. That would increase the slime factor.

    I also committed to eating it rather quickly before it could brown, or you know, slimy.

    The end result? This fabulous and filling and altogether EASY salad to make. Prepare individual bowls to keep things nice and dry. Promise?

    PS I find the coconut chips, or unsweetened flaked coconut at my local Sprouts, a health-foodish kind of store. If you store doesn’t have them, you can order them from Amazon. I’ve done that also.

    A bowl of Money Salad with spoon

    Monkey Salad

    A simple fruit salad of cashews, bananas, and coconut chips packs a sweet, yet filling punch. Monkey Salad is perfect for breakfast alonside to an egg or two.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 369kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher

    Ingredients

    • 1 ripe bananas peeled and sliced
    • 1 handful roasted and unsalted cashews
    • 1 handful coconut chips

    Instructions

    • Layer ingredients in a bowl. Do not stir. Enjoy immediately.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 76IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

     

    How do YOU like bananas?

    Updated April 22, 2017.

    Monkey Salad | Good Cheap Eats

    « Meal Planning for a Special Diet
    Coconut Mango Banana Smoothie »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cheri A

      September 02, 2024 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      I’ve been enjoying monkey salad for breakfast over the years when I remember it ever since you posted this. I just got a big bag of cashews and remembered it again. Just need some coconut. Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Kathy

      February 22, 2020 at 11:39 am

      Sprinkle some cinnamon on. You’ll be glad you did!!

      Reply
    3. Kim

      April 13, 2019 at 4:26 am

      We have taken the whole 30 concept and paleo approach even though I know banana isn’t really compliant die to much fructose. Banana is so good for us just the same right.
      We eat this salad with added almond butter and chia seeds with almond milk to make like a bowl of cereal. Eat about 4 days a week.
      Curious as to why so many people don’t eat banana

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 13, 2019 at 9:20 am

        So glad you enjoy the salad!

        Reply
    4. Erin

      June 17, 2018 at 6:13 am

      I just ate this again – and I break the banana into large chunks bc slimy sliced bananas are very much not my thing as well. Thank you for posting this! It was so helpful during my elimination diet of 2015. I’ve been eating it on and off ever since while staying on a low- inflammation diet.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        June 26, 2018 at 2:31 pm

        So glad you’ve been enjoying it!

        Reply
    5. Wanda

      November 14, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      Your mo key salad is downright addictive! And so filling that I didn’t have room for the egg or two you suggested. Brilliant!!!

      Reply
    6. Cynthia Settino

      April 22, 2017 at 12:51 pm

      Can dried pineapple and other dried fruits be used in the Monkey salad? Also on the Whole30 diet can dark chocolate be used in the Monkey Salad

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 22, 2017 at 12:57 pm

        You can use whatever you like, however for Whole 30 you’ll want to enjoy this only every once in awhile, and without chocolate. Due to the high carbs in Monkey Salad, it isn’t recommended as a daily Whole 30 treat.

        Reply
    7. Rebecca

      August 09, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      I’m thinking of trying it with just the banana, cashews and a dollop of coconut cream…until I can get some chips/shredded. I’m starting another whole30 next week, and love the real coconut cream in my coffee (aroyo brand…nothing added).

      Reply
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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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