Food as medicine
As the weather warms up and we head into spring and summer, hearty salads as main meals are a great way to nourish your microbiome. A happy diverse gut microbiome means a calmer, more balanced mind. This salad packs loads of gut healing foods into one delicious substantial meal.
Ingredients
Salad
1 bag mixed salad leaves
Edible flowers ie: borage, calendula, heartsease
A handful of dandelion leaves- finely chopped
1/4 red cabbage – finely sliced (a mandolin works well) and marinated in lemon juice and salt
A couple of radishes – sliced finely
A small head of broccoli or bunch of broccolini – cut into florets and steamed lightly
A bunch of asparagus – cut into thirds and fried with tamari and lemon
1 apple – grated or finely sliced
1 handful of pepita seeds – toasted with tamari
A palmful of arame seaweed – soaked in tamari and warm water
1/2 block tempeh
A splash of sesame oil
3 tblsp mirin
1 tsp tumeric
1 tblsp freshly ground flax seed
1 tblsp dulse flakes
Dressing
3 tblsp hemp or flaxseed oil
1 clove garlic – flattened with a knife and cut in half
1 tsp mustard
4 tblsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 – 1 tsp raw honey
salt
pepper
Method
Slice tempeh thinly and marinate for 5-10 minutes in tamari and mirin. Heat sesame oil in pan and fry tempeh sprinkling with turmeric as it cooks. Remove from pan when golden and crispy. Set aside.
Place all dressing ingredients in a jar with a screw top lid and shake to combine.
Place all salad ingredients into a bowl and dress with salad dressing. Toss to combine and sprinkle edible flowers on top.