Rainbow Salad with Ranch

One of my favorite go-to’s in Spring and Summer! And for my DF, Vegan friends, I have options for the ranch too. Enjoy !

Ingredients

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (Red)

• 1 cup shredded carrots (Orange)

• 1 cup yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced (Yellow)

• 1 cup cucumber, diced or spirlized zucchini (Green)

• 1 cup purple cabbage, thinly sliced (Purple)

• 1 cup cooked beets, diced (Indigo)

• 1 cup corn kernels (Yellow)

• 1 cup mixed salad greens (such as spinach, arugula, or lettuce)

• 1 handful of micro-greens

• Sliceded onion, scallions, olives, nuts and seeds toppings (optional)

Ingredients for the dressing:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise ( or sub Veganaise )

• 1/4 cup organic milk or unsweetened plain almond milk (or any other unsweetened plant-based milk)

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Prepare all the vegetables as indicated in the ingredients list. You can either chop, dice, slice, or shred them according to your preference.

1. In a large salad bowl, combine all the vegetables along with the mixed salad greens. Toss gently to mix everything evenly.

2. In a medium bowl, ( I use my Vitamix blender) whisk together the mayonnaise and milk until smooth.

3. Add the lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dill, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl.

4. Stir well to combine all the ingredients thoroughly. Taste and add anything if needed. Pour the dressing into a glass jar and refrigerate to chill. Best is 30 minutes to blend flavors if you can wait that long.

5. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the vegetables with the dressing.

6. Add Micro greens on top

7. Once the salad is evenly dressed, serve immediately as a colorful and nutritious addition to any meal!

8. Add a protein if desired and make this a main meal!

   If you want to travel with this or meal prep, place dressing in a small container , or add it first to the bottom of the jar then layer.

Note: My Thai peanut Sauce is also a delicious dressing option.

Zucchini Noodles with Lemon-Tahini Sauce

Cooling, crunchy zucchini paired with a creamy lemon-tahini sauce makes for a light and delicious dish that is easy on your digestion and keeps you feeling light and balanced.

Ingredients:

2 medium zucchini, spiralized or peeled into ribbons
¼ cup tahini
1 tablespoon olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1 small garlic clove, grated (optional)
2 tablespoons water (to thin, as needed)
Pinch of sea salt
Hemp seeds, or chopped nuts for topping

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic (if using), and salt. Add water a little at a time until the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Toss the zucchini noodles with the sauce until well coated. Sprinkle with hemp seeds, chopped nuts, or a protein before serving.

Pro Tip: Serve this chilled or room temp—perfect for hot summer days when your body craves cool, calming foods. You also could add a protein of choice to make it a full meal ( grilled shrimp, tofu, chicken etc)

Summer Peach, Tomato, and Basil Drizzle Salad

Sweet, juicy peaches and sun-ripened tomatoes bring color, hydration, and antioxidants. This salad is pure summer on a plate.

Ingredients:

1 cup packed basil leaves
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
3 large peaches, pitted and cut into wedges
2 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
8 oz fresh Buffalo mozzarella, torn into chunks( Optional)
Flaky sea salt and torn basil to garnish

Instructions:

In a food processor or blender, combine the basil, honey, kosher salt, pepper, and rice vinegar. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil until the dressing is a very pourable consistency. You may need to add a touch of water.

Assemble the peaches, tomatoes, and mozzarella on a large plate or platter.

Drizzle the dressing generously over the salad and garnish with basil leaves and flaky sea salt.

Pro Tip: Let the peaches ripen until slightly soft—they’ll be easier to digest and naturally sweeter. You can also grill them prior to assembling the salad…. delish!