Cabbage Cashew Detox Salad
This is one of my favorite things to make when I’ve been indulging a little toooo much and need to give myself a nutritional jumpstart. It’s chock full of cruciferous vegetables (namely broccoli and cabbage), which are great because not only do they contain tons of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but they’re also said to lower your risk of cancer and regulate inflammation. Basically you can eat a ton of this salad and feel awesome about yourself, especially if you’ve been slacking in the nutrition department!
You’re not depriving yourself, though; the added avocado and cashews, both rich with flavor and texture, make every bite an indulgent yet 100% good-for-you treat. That’s the beauty of heart-healthy fats, people!
Another fantastic thing about this recipe is how easy it is. You can seriously throw it together in about ten minutes, tops. If you’re especially pressed for time and don’t feel like chopping up a big pile of cabbage and broccoli, you can even take a shortcut by using a bagged broccoli slaw, which should be easy to find in the produce area of your average grocery store.
When I’m in a hurry and “cheating” with bagged veggies, I personally like using Mann’s Rainbow Salad, because not only is it a delightful blend of shredded broccoli, red cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots, but it also reminds me of the hilarious/amazing song “Text” by Mann feat. Jason Derulo. I am a ridiculous person.
Cabbage Cashew Detox Salad
1 head of green or red cabbage, finely chopped into cole slaw like strips
1 head of broccoli, finely chopped (you can also use part broc, part cauliflower)
1 red pepper, chopped into thin strips
1/2 red onion, chopped into thin strips
Handful of cashews, roughly chopped
1/2 avocado, sliced
1/2 fresh lime
2 tablespoons tamari
1/8 cup sunflower seeds to top (optional)
Once you’ve got the first four ingredients all chopped up, toss them together in a big bowl. Juice the lime over the vegetables and sprinkle the tamari over them as well. Toss it all together and top with cashews, avocado slices, and sunflower seeds.
If you’re not super into this plain detox salad stuff and want some more flavor, feel free to toss in a tablespoon or two of olive oil and/or a few squirts of Sriracha, no problem there!
This should make a ton of salad, about four servings (depending on how hungry you are, of course). Since cruciferous veggies are sturdier than plain ol’ lettuce, your leftovers shouldn’t get soggy if you save a few servings to eat as leftovers!
For more healthy recipes (not to mention cocktails, food travel, and restaurant reviews), check out ES Emily’s individual blog, A Time to Kale, or tweet her @emilyteachout.
