Summertime is the time for salad—the possibilities are endless. 🌺🌱🍅 In the Virginia summers, greens grow in abundance, fruit starts popping off and there are edible flowers galore! It’s one of my favorite times of the year.
Of course Ayurveda suggests not over consuming raw food, but there are plenty of ways around this. Salads are appropriate in the hot summer months and if your digestive system is a little sluggish, you can always pair your greens with a cooked element or additional spices to support your specific needs.
I love going to the farmer’s market in the summer and seeing what creations I can make with the various colors and shapes of the vegetables. Making food should feel like an art (of course it’s not always going to feel easy), but it is an act of creativity that can really serve you well.
When it comes to making salads you can get really creative. Just simply think of what flavors and textures you love most and create a salad from that. For me, I love crunch, I love FAT and I love citrus. I usually end up making a big bowl of greens, some sort of seed sautéed in ghee, avocado, radishes and all of it topped with a lemon vinaigrette. I often will always add some sort of protein source. Grilled chicken, fried tempeh and hard boiled (farm fresh eggs) are all my favorite go-to forms of protein.
Here's How to Make my Perfect Summer Salad:
Salad Ingredients:
- ½ cup cooked quinoa
- 1 ½ cups summer greens (mix of your choice-diced)
- 1 tbsp lightly toasted pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup summer cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 handful of summer sprouts
- Optional protein add ons: ¼ cup cooked chickpeas or grilled chicken
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp vegan mayo
- ¼ cup fresh mint & parsley mix (diced)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Directions:
Assemble all of your salad ingredients into a bowl (except the sprouts) organizing however you would like. Whisk dressing ingredients in a bowl using a fork (adding more or less apple cider vinegar depending on preference). Generously pour dressing over the salad. Garnish with fresh edible flowers and sprouts!
Enjoy! 🥬🌱🍅🌼