With summer being in full swing, there is an exceptional variety of fresh local produce that tastes amazing. This is also the time of the year, that I love to grab things from the garden and make some great snacks for the day. One of my favorite simple salads to make is a variation on Shirazi Salad. For my vegan friends out there, there are many ways to alter this salad to have a little more protein. A few options that I love to do is add edamame, mini cubes of firm tofu, or chickpeas. Let’s get started.
Ingredients:
- 3 bunches of Parsley
- 5 plum tomatoes
- 6 small Persian cucumbers
- 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Ingredients:
- 1 can of chickpeas
- 1 thawed pack of edamame
The most important part of this salad is thoroughly washing the parsley. Start by pinching off the leaves and placing them in a large bowl or pot. Once complete, soak the leaves in cold water. Try to mix the leaves in water to remove any dirt or sand that remains. After straining twice, the next steps are easy. Using a vegetable chopper, chop the tomatoes and cucumbers into cubes.
Depending on how balanced you would like the mix, I try to cut enough to have an even amount of tomatoes and cucumbers. Sometimes, I like to have a little more tomatoes but will balance the salad with chickpeas or tofu.
Place the veggies and/or any of the optional ingredients in a bowl. Sprinkle some salt and grind some black pepper on top of the mix then add the olive oil and lemon juice. I prefer to freshly squeeze lemons as opposed to using lemon juice. It tastes a bit better and now onto the fun part. Mix your salad until everything is nice and balanced.
Becoming more of a fan of meal prepping, I place the salad into small containers and they make the perfect snack between meals. It is a great option to keep you going throughout the day while ensuring that lunch and dinner can be smaller meals. One of the big advantages to doing this is that I find that I no longer have the need for a post-lunch siesta. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
