Keeping your belly happy is an essential part of keeping your body healthy.

Tags: gourmet vegan recipes, healthy vegan dishes, vegan diet plan, vegan recipes

Asian Glass Noodle Salad

Spring is on it’s way, and along with it comes inspiration for intriguing new vegan recipes!

If you’re ready to set aside the casseroles and stews, and dig into a hearty salad, this recipe from Callicoon Kitchen provides the perfect bridge from winter to summer with hearty cold-weather flavors in a light, slightly spicy dressing. More proof that salads don’t have to be boring and predictable!

Chilled Asian Glass Noodle Salad

Ingredients

6 ounces cooked Asian Glass Noodles, chilled
5-6 Turkish figs – chopped
1 small handful organic microgreens
1/2 peeled and diced raw golden beet
1/2 roasted sweet potato cooled and diced
2 Tbs Austrian pumpkin seeds
3 Tbs toasted sesame oil
3 Tbs rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions
In a large mixing bowl add the chilled noodles, figs, beets and sweet potato one at a time, mixing well after each. Add pumpkin seeds and micro greens, then finish with sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and pepper flakes. Check for seasoning and serve immediately.

07 Feb 2018

Gourmet Vegan Red Quinoa and Black Bean Chili

Callicoon Kitchen achieves vegan chili perfection with its Red Quinoa & Black Bean Chili.

Black lager plus roasted tomatoes and garlic give this awesome chili added body, texture and intense flavor taking this fall classic to new heights! (Check out the demo video below.)

Ingredients

3½ cups plum tomato
10 garlic cloves
2 c sweet Vidalia onion
2 jalepeno peppers
2 c red quinoa, cooked
2½ tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp high quality cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp paprika
½ tsp granulated sugar
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 fifteen-oz can tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 bottle of high quality dark beer
1 can dark red kidney bean, rinsed and drained
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1½ c fresh corn
½ c cilantro, chopped
Extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cook quinoa per package instructions and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350. Cut plum tomatoes into 1-inch cubes and place in mixing bowl. Add 10 peeled garlic cloves then coat with 2 tbsp olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well then spread evenly on lined baking pan. Cook for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Separate out garlic and give a rough chop. Set aside. Note: If desired you can slice any larger tomato pieces but they will break down in the chili.

Dice onion then seed and mince jalapeño peppers and set aside. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute until tender, about 4 minutes Then add tomato and garlic mixture, cooked quinoa, water, tomato sauce, jalapeño, chili powder, cumin, cocoa, paprika, sugar, cayenne and beer. Season with salt and pepper.

Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.

Add in kidney beans, black beans, corn, chopped cilantro, lime juice and zest and cook about 5-10 mins until heated through. Serve warm topped with avocado chunks and vegan cornbread. Enjoy!

Tips

If mixture gets too thick just thin with water until desired consistency

Be sure to roast tomatoes, so much better than canned! Always use fresh corn.

21 Dec 2017

Tags: dumplings, gourmet vegan recipes, vegan diet plan, vegan recipes

Animal Rights, Guest Blog Posts, Traveling Vegan, Vegan-Related Current Events

Spinach Dumplings with a Tangy Twist

These delectable spinach dumplings are filled with orange cauliflower, black lentils, and quinoa, and are finished with shaved toasted garlic and a spicy mango dipping sauce… Now that’s a mouth full!

“Everybody Wang Chung Tonight”🍴 If you love whipping up special, unique creations in the kitchen, you’re going to adore this dish. We’re talking about home-made, from scratch, healthy, nutrient and protein-rich dumplings here!

⭐️⭐️“SPINACH DUMPLINGS FILLED WITH ORANGE CAULIFLOWER, BLACK LENTILS AND QUINOA FINISHED WITH SHAVED TOASTED GARLIC AND A SPICY MANGO DIPPING SAUCE⭐️⭐️

Ingredients for Dumpling Wrappers

1 cup chopped baby spinach
1 1/2 cup water
2 cups A/P flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup very hot water (not boiling)
1/4 cup plus about 3 tbsp spinach purée

Directions: In a large bowl combine chopped spinach and water and purée with an emulsion blender until completely dissolved. In a separate bowl combine flour and salt and mix well. Slowly add hot water and spinach purée and mix well until a shaggy dough forms. See our other Dumpling recipes on how to roll out dough and fill them.

Ingredients for filling

1/2 cup cooked Quinoa
1/2 cup cooked baby Black Lentils
1/2 cup cooked, fine chopped orange cauliflower
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp minced ginger
3 tbsp toasted sesame oil
4 tbsp low sodium Soy sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

Directions: In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well after each and set aside.

Ingredients for mango dipping sauce

1 mango diced
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
2 tbsp chopped shallot
1 tbsp Soy sauce
1 tsp sriacha
1/2 tsp chili sauce
3 tbsp coconut milk..start with 2 until desired consistency is reached

Directions: In a food processor combine all ingredients and refrigerate. Garnish with black sesame seeds. Enjoy🍴

Tips: Do not over stuff dumplings..⭐️

21 Dec 2017

Denitsa Zhivkova

Tags: animal rights, Bulgaria, ritual slaughter, save animals, save the planet

Guest Blog Posts, Holistic Health, Vegan Nutrition

Unlikely Vegan Duo Saving Millions of Lives in Bulgaria

An Unlikely Vegan Duo Has Teamed Up To Make History By Saving Millions Of Animals (and kids!)

Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things. -Denis Diderot

And it is exactly that – a great passion for compassion that has brought Ashton and Denitsa together in the Vegan Beyond project to accomplish a great thing for animals while literally changing the course of history.

Having pursued a successful career in the US fast food industry,

Ashton has always felt that his achievements at work could never be fully celebrated by his heart,

as the industry to which growth he was contributing was not aligned with his core values and beliefs. Nor were they in alignment with the moral standards he had set for himself in his personal life. Despite the fact that upper management quickly noticed his talents and skills, Ashton was finding the monetary rewards that were coming from his rising career position less and less satisfying.

This is how about six years ago he teamed up with Denitsa, an internet marketing entrepreneur and consultant, asking for her services to help him gain his freedom by developing his own business and life coaching practice. After a few years of efforts, they not only succeeded to the point where Ashton was a sought after independent Business and Life coach, but the duo had developed a soul connection that would drive them to keep joining forces for the greater good!

Denitsa’s background is curious and versatile,

as she grew up in a picturesque region of Bulgaria, spending the summers in a wildly beautiful village, where her grandparents were growing chickens and rabbits for slaughter. At the age of 16 she moved to Switzerland for high school, and then the UK, where she completed her higher education, only to get a taste of the corporate environment in a large international organization, and then go back to the country that was calling her so strongly in her heart.

Already a passionate animal advocate, she knew she had to come back to Bulgaria, which was calling her with all its desperation

for young people, who are ready to stand up and be the difference everyone wants to see!

Some of her most vivid childhood memories involve 5 baby rabbits, who she rescued by bottle feeding and taking care of after they lost their mother.

At this very fragile age of four or five she felt a pain she could hardly explain.

Deep down she knew that she was rescuing these rabbits only to have them killed later on, but she was numbing the thought, as it was too much for her child’s heart. The reality she grew up with was telling her that it is ‘normal’ to slaughter animals not only for food, but for various rituals throughout the year that would bring ‘health’ and ‘good luck’.

One of the reasons that today, as an adult, she shivers at the thought of going to the countryside is because the tradition of ritual slaughter is still alive – even more than ever!

One of the WORST periods for animals is Pre-Christmas time when villages are filled with the screams of millions of pigs, fighting for their last breath

Denitsa will never forget sitting inside the house, hearing the desperate screams, while her father and grandfathers would catch the pig they have been breeding for a year, pull him out of his ‘house’ and forcefully tie him only to have him killed! She would then feel the smell of the burned skin, and a bit later her granny would bring her the cooked meat with a big smile. Even a meat-eater would find the whole thing extremely ‘inhumane’ and unbearable.

This is a scene most Bulgarian children experience many times in their lifetime, and a tradition passed from generation to generation. Not all are lucky enough to only hear the screams! The boys usually sit there watching it all, ‘learning’ how it’s done!

While in Western Europe there is a ‘trend’ toward sustainability, in Bulgaria there is a trend towards ‘going back to the roots’ which means more ritual animal slaughters than ever!

These count up to millions, in addition to a reported yearly rise in meat consumption.

If we take Mahatma Gandhi’s quote:

‘The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated’ –

as true, then, despite an impressive historical record (involving the salvation of thousands of Jewish citizens during WW2), Bulgaria is very much behind!

When it comes to the treatment of animals, the situation in the country is close to a horror story!

Not only that, but 99% of the population is in complete informational block, regarding widespread health and environmental information, involving plant-based eating and the environmental impact a meat-heavy diet has on our planet.

The Solution

Ashton and Denitsa have come up with a long-term strategy plan to eradicate this cruel tradition and literally change history by changing how future generations are being raised! Joining their skills, talents, and experience, they have launched a Crowdfunding Campaign for the establishment a One-Of-A-Kind Cruelty-Free Center that will target the problem at its very root! Various recent examples with Denitsa’s local network have given proof that very little is needed for people to re-consider their behaviors! Her dad gave up the killing of two lambs for the opening of his car repairing service; another friend gave up meat just after a few interactions with her, and many others are willing to re-consider after receiving a tiny bit of education!

The issue is that NONE of this education is currently existent!

The powerful Vegan Hub they are aiming to build in the place where a large leather shop used to operate will provide a multi-fold approach for a consistent, permanent change that will result in millions saved from barbaric, painful death!

It is a brave, but achievable goal, and they are urging all animal lovers, despite their eating style to join and contribute to the cause!

The New Life Cruelty-Free Food And Educational center will pro-actively instill change into the population through the provision of free lectures, seminars, workshops, printed materials, as well as an affordable vegan café and plant-based meal delivery service. This civil, peaceful, education-driven approach will be directed towards young families and mothers, who are the main decision-makers regarding meat consumption and ritual slaughters.

Ashton and Denitsa believe that anyone with even a drop of compassion in their heart would want to contribute to a project such as that.

Their slogan is…

Now who wouldn’t want to? I sure do! To support the cause, click here.

11 Oct 2017

Mike Jones

Tags: holistic health, hormone balance, hormones, vegan diet, vegan health

Going Vegan Tips, Guest Blog Posts

Top 5 Plants for Hormone Balance

Many plants have hormone-balancing properties, and consuming them can be helpful if you’re experiencing symptoms related to imbalances.

Hormones are our bodies’ chemical agents for regulating the various biological functions. However, sometimes the endocrine glands that produce these hormones don’t perform at optimum levels, causing hormonal imbalance. This can happen due to disease, environmental factors, diet and lifestyle factors. Hormonal imbalances often go undetected, but over time, they produce undesirable symptoms.

There are various medical treatments to correct hormonal imbalance, but a natural approach is usually safer, less costly and more sustainable. Certain plants and herbs are renowned for their positive influence on the endocrine system by providing vital nutrients for the optimal function of endocrine glands. In this article, we share five plants that are good for hormonal balance.

Avocados

Healthy fats are essential for hormone function. While most people get enough Omega-6 fatty acids from cooking oils and animal proteins, they are often deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids. These fats are the building blocks of hormones, and a healthy ratio of the two types is required.

Avocados provide an inexpensive and versatile source of Omega-3 fatty acids and celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow swear by their benefits. They also contain potassium, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin E and some B-vitamins. These micro-nutrients all aid in hormone regulation.

In particular, avocados promote the production of progesterone, which regulates the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. They also inhibit estrogen absorption which can increase the risk of certain cancers and osteoporosis when produced in excess.

Maca Root

Maca or Lepidium meyenii is a turnip-like plant that grows in high altitude areas such as the Andes Mountains in Peru. The root of this plant is consumed as a vegetable and is said to have many health benefits that even celebrities such as Miranda Kerr can’t resist. Besides its energy boosting ability that is said to have made it a diet staple for Incan warriors, maca root is famous for its hormone balancing qualities.

Maca contains several nutrients including vitamins A. B2. B6, and C plus minerals including zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, iodine and calcium. It also contains plant sterols that stabilize estrogen, progesterone and testosterone production.

Maca is categorized as an adaptogen which means it regulates the action of different hormone glands including adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus. Maca root is a celebrity favorite is available in powder form, which may be raw or gelatinized. Adding maca powder to your diet can help relieve PMS and menopause symptoms, stabilize blood glucose levels, regulate thyroid function, increase sperm production, among other benefits.

Beans

Beans are another common and affordable plant food that can help balance your hormones. They are a natural solution for low testosterone because they contain vitamin D and zinc. They also contain folate, proteins, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Studies have shown that adequate consumption of Vitamin D increases testosterone levels. Zinc is also known to boost the testosterone levels. Beans also hormone production in the body. Beans also help female hormone imbalance by regulating estrogen production and reducing symptoms of the polycystic ovarian disorder (PCOS). There are many different types of beans including black, garbanzo, mung, black, kidney, pinto, red, Roman and navy beans.

Chasteberry

The fruit of this herb is also known as vitex or agnus castus. This dried herb is useful in the treatment of various female hormone imbalance related diseases. These include amenorrhea, PMS, dysmenorrhea, fibrocystic disease, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and infertility.

Vitex works on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to regulate the production of Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, prolactin, and progesterone. For men, vitex can help treat enlarged prostates and inhibit prostate cancer cells proliferation.

Flaxseed

These small, black seeds contain an omega-3 fatty known as ALA, fiber, protein and important phytoestrogens called lignans. Lignans act on hormone receptor cells to either increase or reduce production of the hormone. A study showed that lignans also reduce androgens in men with prostate cancer.

Flax seeds also balance hormones by stimulating the production of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), a protein found in the blood. SHBG binds to excess estrogen and testosterone molecules to render them inactive. This reduces the hormonal imbalances that cause PCOS and PMS. The fiber in flax seeds also helps in bowel regulation which helps in excreting excess hormones.

Final words

From the above, it is clear that adding more plants and herbs to your diet can help provide the nutrients required for a healthy endocrine system. However, care must be taken when consuming herbs as there are recommended dosages for different people. Herbs can also interact with medication you are taking, so it is a good idea to inform your physician of any herbal supplements you intend to use.

Image source: Pixabay

16 Aug 2017

Katie Uniacke

Tags: go-to vegan foods, healthy kitchen staples, plant based diet, vegan diet, vegan diet plan, vegan kitchen staples, vegan meal plan

Guest Blog Posts, Holistic Health, Vegan Nutrition

7 Essential Kitchen Staples for the Plant-Based Diet Newbie

One of the most challenging aspects of transitioning to a plant-based diet can be re-setting your default kitchen staples, and creating a new set of “go-to” meals.

As an ex-cheese addict myself, I struggled when I first started transitioning to a vegan plant-based diet, staring at my bare cupboards and fridge and wondering what on earth I could possibly cook.

A big part of making the transition easy and maintaining a plant-based diet is changing the main foods that you automatically keep your kitchen cupboards stocked with. Many people are under the impression that eating vegan is basically code for eating expensive, but if you’re clever about it, and stock up on the right essentials, you can in fact save money! Buying in bulk and keep certain “go-to” foods stocked in your kitchen at all times is key.

Make sure you never run out of these babies (your new best friends):

Chia Seeds

I can’t sing the praises of these tiny little seeds enough (apart from when they get stuck in my teeth). Chia seeds are perfect to be mixed into your cereal, sprinkled on your salads or thrown into your cakes or pancakes as an extra nutritional hit.

Chia seeds are also a wonderful egg-replacement, binding things together just like an egg does, perfect in, say, homemade vegan burgers. For a delicious dessert or even breakfast, chia seeds can be used to make guilt-free chia pudding that tastes better than it looks!

Milled Linseed

Linseeds are just as wonderful as chia seeds, packed full of many of the same nutrients. Buy them milled rather than whole, and they’ll be easier for your system to digest. Use them as a different egg-replacer, add them to your smoothies, and sprinkle them on salads to add variety to your plant-based diet.

Nuts

Nuts are a plant-based diet staple for most (with the exception of people with nut allergies), as nuts are an incredible source of nutrition. Just think… There are enough nutrients inside one little nut to produce a full-sized tree! One downside is that nuts can be expensive, especially if bought in small quantities. I suggest buying in bulk and taking advantage of any 2-for-1 offers to stock up and have your walnuts, almonds or cashews on hand for your cereals, smoothie bowls, cakes, stir fries, burgers, and nut milk… Be imaginative!

Tahini

I can no longer imagine a life without tahini. It seems that my old cheese addiction has been replaced by this magical paste made from protein-packed sesame seeds. Whether it’s for whipping up your own hummus or making delicious, creamy and easy salad dressings, tahini will quickly become a staple to add to your plant-based diet “go-to” list.

Canned Pulses

For most busy people, remembering to put your chickpeas, lentils or beans (collectively known as pulses) to soak the night before you want to use them is often impractical. Hell, I rarely plan ahead that much, and that’s often one of the advantages of veganism: no meat to defrost in advance! For those last-minute plant-based meals, having a few cans of beans and chickpeas in the cupboard can be a lifesaver.

A great bonus of these cans is that you can use the water your pulses come in as yet another amazing egg replacer! Aquafaba (which is what chickpea or bean water is known as) whips up into peaks just like egg whites. Try it, you’ll be amazed!

Dried Pulses

When you do have the time to plan ahead and meal prep for the week, dried pulses are more planet-friendly (think of all those cans you’ll save) and more pocket-friendly too. I like to boil up big batches of beans at the weekend and then freeze them in meal-sized portions. I can then use the pulses for last-minute, mid-week pasta salads or to whip up some refried beans if I fancy Mexican.

Nutritional Yeast

Do you miss that cheesy, creamy taste after switching to a plant-based diet? Luckily for you, you don’t have to resort to dairy products to get a bit of creaminess into your life. Nutritional yeast comes in little flakes or as a powder, and is a key ingredient in all vegan cheese recipes, and any recipe that tries to replicate a wonderfully creamy texture, with absolutely none of the cruelty.

Containing lots of B vitamins and often fortified with vitamin B12, keep nutritional yeast in your kitchen cupboard and experiment with the incredible recipes out there, like this Grilled Chickpea Salad Sandwich!

By keeping your kitchen stocked up with these plant-based diet bad boys, you’ve got yourself the basics for loads of delicious vegan recipes. Keep that fridge brimming with fresh vegetables and that fruit bowl spilling over and you’ve got everything you need to keep yourself nourished and thriving for a life time!

-Katie (SleepHealthEnergy.com)

12 Aug 2017

Kei Nishida

Tags: calcium, how to go vegan, osteoporosis, strong bones, vegan health, Vegan Nutrition, wellness

Top 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Bones on a Vegan Diet

For ages the dairy industry did a killer (pun intended) job preventing people from thinking you cannot strengthen your bones on a vegan diet.

We heard it all the time growing up, “Finish your milk! You need it to grow strong bones.” And if you’re like me, I had to come up with ways to choke it down. I found that if I followed these steps I managed to get the job done. First I held my nose tight. Then I chugged the entire glass without breathing. Next, before taking a breath, I chased it with another drink like orange juice. Only then could I release my nose without gagging.

Well, times have changed and the cat is out of the bag. Dairy actually has been shown to have the opposite effect on bones than the USDA has led us to believe is true. Those on a plant-based diet actually have less of a risk for developing osteoporosis than dairy-drinkers.

So to help jump start you into a bone-healthy vegan diet plan, Kei Nishida gives us 5 awesome ways to promote strong bones with plant-based eating… Here they are:

Tofu and Soy Products

Aside from calcium, protein is one of the most important ingredients in building strong bones and overall healthiness. Consider soy especially in forms like tofu which is high in protein and has so many other beneficial nutrients. With 10 grams of protein per serving as well as tons of calcium, tofu is a great way to fill your daily protein needs and keep your bones strong. This goes for other soy products like soy milk, too, with beans in general being a great way to eat your protein.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are packed with tons of great vitamins and minerals, many of which support bone health. While you can’t go wrong when choosing to add mushrooms to your food, whether they’re raw or cooked, one of the best varieties to use when looking to strengthen your bones is the shiitake mushroom.

Shiitake have the highest concentration of copper of any mushroom species, an essential element in creating the enzymes that help our bones, skin, joints, and blood vessels stay healthy and repair themselves. In fact, one serving of shiitake mushrooms provides about 65% of your daily recommended amount of copper while also being high in zinc, another key ingredient in building regulating your bones.

Broccoli

As one of the best dark leafy greens you can eat, it’s no surprise broccoli is loaded with vitamins and minerals that assist in bone growth. A major source of vitamin K, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, eating broccoli is one of the best things you can do if you want healthy bones, teeth, and nails.

Vitamin K, especially, is important for bone health, as more and more research begins to suggest it may play a more crucial role in building strong bones than even calcium. Given that a single cup of broccoli supplies almost 300% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin K, it would be a good idea to eat plenty of it to ensure your bones stay in peak condition. It can also help prevent and treat bone diseases like osteoporosis, making it great for those looking to rebuild bone strength in addition to those preserving it.

Nettles

While it’s probably not your first choice when thinking of plants to increase the strength of your bones, the stinging nettle is a great source for tons of different nutrients related to bone health. Stinging nettles are natural sources of calcium and magnesium, key ingredients in healthy bone construction and bone metabolism regulation. Other key nutrients include boron and silica, as well as vitamins C, D, and K.

There are many ways to ingest it, too. Properly prepared stinging nettles can be a component in thick and hearty soups, fresh salads (after steaming), or potentially even used in teas. Just be careful when handling them raw, as their tiny needles can prick you and cause skin irritation.

Japanese Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most popular drinks and flavors in Japan, and for good reason. Among its many health benefits include bone strengthening. Japanese green tea, as opposed to other types of tea, is especially good for bone health due to not being fermented or oxidized, as well as its high levels of polyphenols that help to reduce inflammation and bone breakdown, as well as normalize bone mineral makeup and assist with calcium uptake. It can also help to activate enzymes responsible for bone growth, overall making Japanese green tea one of the best bone strengtheners available.

As recommended by Doctor David B. Samadi, drinking three cups of green tea a day can help significantly reduce the likelihood of bone breaks and other injuries, as well as treat the symptoms of and potentially prevent the onset of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. If you happen to be worried about the caffeine content of green tea (as high amounts of caffeine can lessen bone density), there are decaffeinated green teas available for purchase.

Final Thoughts

These are only a few of the many plant-based bone strengtheners available for vegan consumers. If you want to ensure your body is running at maximum efficiency while keeping your bones healthy and strong, try any or all of these recommended items and see the results for yourself.

12 Aug 2017

Tags: gourmet vegan recipes, healthy vegan dishes, kale, kale salad, salad, tropical salad, vegan diet plan, vegan recipes

Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Beauty

Tropical Kale Salad: A Tantalizing Summer Dish

This unique gourmet vegan recipe for Tropical Kale Salad is made with sweet kiwi, macadamia nuts, and mango, and is topped with a bright tangerine vinaigrette is super simple to make!

Full of brilliant colors and packed with a variety of nutrients, this tropical kale salad is a perfect vegan dish to serve in the sizzling months of summer.

Refreshing and satisfying, this salad is also gorgeous to look at. You’re sure to receive tons of compliments on the presentation alone. And then when you and your guests dive in, the flavors will tantalize taste buds!

In case you are wary of eating too much fruit, check out the post, Adopting a Healthy Vegan Diet Plan: The Fruit vs. Sugar Confusion. Ella gives you all the info you need to feel good about nourishing your body with fruit.

Tropical Lacinato Kale Salad with Sweet Kiwi, Macadamia Nuts, Mango, and a Bright Tangerine Vinaigrette

Ingredients for Salad
Serves 2

2 Large handfuls Lacinato kale chopped
1 small handful organic pea shoots chopped
1/4 red onion thin sliced
1/2 cup macadamia nuts
1 Kiwi sliced
1/2 mango thin sliced
8 heirloom baby tomato sliced
1/2 cup Rosemary croutons cubed
6 assorted olives
chia seeds for garnish

Ingredients for Tangerine Vinaigrette

1/4 cup juice of tangerines and zest of 1 Tangerine
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small clove minced garlic
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp chopped dill
1 tsp agave nectar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper

Directions for dressing

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl except olive oil. Whisk well. Slowly drizzle and whisk in extra virgin olive oil. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Directions for Salad

In a large mixing bowl combine kale, pea shoots and onion. Serve in a chilled plate. Evenly distribute macadamia nuts, kiwi, tomato, croutons and olives evenly between both plates. Top with sliced mango and garnish with his seeds. Drizzle on tangerine vinaigrette and serve immediately

Tips: Baby Spinach can be substituted for Kale. Pecans can also be substituted for macadamia nuts. Be sure to serve chilled.

Enjoy🍴

*Like this recipe? Check out more of my creative, gourmet vegan recipes!

11 Aug 2017

Nicole Noel

Tags: cosmetics, cruelty-free, ethical vegan, vegan cosmetics, vegan lifestyle, vegan make-up