This recipe was made from four local ingredients: green beans, green cabbage, red onions and yellow zucchini – all purchased during my weekly visit to the Brickwork’s Farmers’ Market in Toronto. My love of farmers’ markets stems from a combination of reasons: eating local is the best way to get nutrient-dense food; buying from local farmers supports the local economy; and food that’s fresh (in some cases, picked the morning I buy it) tastes better!
Many people don’t realize that green beans can be eaten raw. In fact, the crunch of raw green beans adds a delightful freshness to this salad. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese making them great for the bones. Just one cup of green beans provides approximately 25 percent of your daily recommended dose of vitamin K. This bone-loving vitamin helps prevent excessive activation of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down bone.
Green cabbage is a nutritional powerhouse. The phytonutrients in cabbage actually signal our genes to increase the production of enzymes involved in detoxification. This makes cabbage a cancer-fighting food because when you enhance detoxification, you enable the body to eliminate harmful compounds that may cause cancer.
Ingredients
Half head green cabbage chopped
1 cup green beans chopped into bite-size pieces
1 whole red onion finely chopped
1/2 of a yellow zucchini chopped
1/2 cup of walnut oil
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Optional: If you have a fresh herb garden, toss in some tarragon for a distinct taste.
Method
Chop all the vegetables and toss into a bowl. Pour the walnut oil and vinegar over top and combine fully. Add sea salt and vinegar to taste. I find this recipe tastes best if it sits in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight, covered. It gives the flavours some time to mingle.
EnJOY as a side dish to accompany these veggie burgers – it’s a match made in heaven with the crunch of this salad and the texture and taste of the lentil cakes.
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well, live well and be happy.
Joy has clients from all over the world and consults via phone and Skype. Contact Joy today and take the first step to achieving joyous health. REASONS TO HIRE A HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST.
