With the warm weather, I think crisp, cool, raw salads may just be the most refreshing way to enjoy lunch or dinner
When considering the ingredients, why not tomatoes? I never liked them as a kid, but they grew on me when I switched to a vegan, plant-based diet. Did you know they come in hundreds of varieties?
Cherry, beefsteak, heirloom, Jersey...those are just the beginning.
Regardless of what you call them, or what color you choose, they are certainly a healthy addition to any meal, raw, stewed, roasted, or in a sauce.
you to try.
For the first, a more traditional version, combine romaine lettuce, a diced juicy yellow tomato, chopped carrots, celery, and cucumber and a tablespoon of fresh dill.
Dress with fresh lime juice and avocado oil, and top it off with some hemp seeds. Just add your favorite protein and you have a complete meal!
For the second, take a Middle Eastern spin.
Dice up any tomato of your choosing and add it to finely chopped kale.
Then add chopped flat leaf parsley, diced celery, some zhatar seasoning (imagine Israel's version of herbes de'Provence,) and some tahini.
The tahini, a sesame paste, is thick and has a strong flavor, so you be the judge of how much to use. Add some fresh lemon juice to loosen the tahini, and mix well with tongs before serving. You can also add some pomegranate seeds, crushed almonds or some protein to this as well.
Enjoy!
