Christa’s Favorite Summer Salad and Nutritious Herbal Vinaigrette
By Christa Sinadinos
Nutritious Herbal Vinaigrette
Combine the following ingredients in a jar and shake. Allow the ingredients to sit for one half hour before serving. Always shake before using.
1 cup herbal infused vinegar (Nettles vinegar or any vinegar infused with Mediterranean herbs, such as thyme, oregano, sage, savory, or tarragon)
1 cup olive oil (plain olive oil or an infused culinary herbal oil)
3 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
3 Tbs. agave nectar or honey
1 tsp. each of onion powder and garlic powder
1 tsp. each of ground basil, thyme, oregano
½ tsp. of salt
Fresh ground pepper
Christa’s Favorite Summer Salad
This vibrant salad is packed with vitamins and minerals. Clean the following vegetables first, then prepare and combine them in a large bowl.
Lettuce greens (Two medium heads or one large head)
1 cucumber, medium to large size (peeled and chopped)
2 celery stalks, slice thinly
1-2 grated carrots (one large carrot or two medium carrots)
1 peeled and grated yellow beet (small to medium size)
½ of a red pepper (chopped into bite size pieces)
¼ cup (or a sprinkling) of dried currents
¼ cup of pumpkin seeds
Blue cheese crumbles
Toss the ingredients together with the Nutritious Herbal Vinaigrette. Place the salad into bowls. Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles or goat chevre and then add freshly ground pepper. Optional: for extra minerals add freshly chopped parsley, dulse flakes, or a seaweed sprinkle (see the nutritious herbal recipes page).