This Veggie Ribbon Saladis bursting with sesame goodness! This refreshing and crunchy salad is also festive with its rainbow of veggies! The black sesame seeds ad a nice texture and contrast to the colors. This super tasty dish is naturally vegan and gluten free.
There are so many great salad fixings at the farmers market right now, it’s out of control. All I want to eat lately is one salad after another. I love a salad with a good sesame dressing and this one hits the spot! As I am an avid cheese lover, it can be hard for me to find dishes that I don’t miss cheese on, but this salad is perfect. The dressing can also be tossed into any salad, with steamed veggies, on some soba noodles or even on some rice. The possibilities are endless.
I enjoyed this Veggie Ribbon Salad with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc but itis also great with a crisp cold sake or even a Riesling. And if you’re into reds, try a nice Beaujolais. For a beer, I like an Asahi Super Dry.
Veggie Ribbon Salad with Sesame Tangerine Vinaigrette Recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 Recipe Sesame Tangerine Vinaigrette - recipe below
- 2 Cucumbers - peel into ribbons with peeler - or thinly sliced
- 2 Carrots - peel into ribbons with peeler - or thinly sliced
- 1 Bunch Radishes - peel into ribbons with peeler - or thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Purple Cabbage thinly sliced - or minced
- 1/2 Cup Cilantro Leaves
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Basil - minced
- 1 Avocado - sliced or diced
- Black Sesame Seeds to taste
- Toasted Almonds - optional - instructions below
Sesame Tangerine Vinaigrette Recipe: Approx. 3/4 Cup
- 1/4 Cup Tangerine Juice - fresh squeezed
- 1/4 Cup Toasted Sesame Oil
- 3 Tablespoons Brown Rice Wine Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice - fresh squeezed
- 1 Tablespoon Tamari
- 1 Clove Garlic - finely minced
- 1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Ginger Root - grated or microplaned
- 1 Serrano Pepper optional - finely minced
Instructions
Vinaigrette
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Cut the tangerines and limes in half and squeeze the juice with a lemon squeezer, measure and pour into a bowl or jar.
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Measure the oil, vinegar, soy sauce and add to the citrus.
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Add the grated ginger, minced garlic and serrano then add and whisk or shake well.
Salad
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Cut off the ends of the cucumbers and then with a peeler or a mandoline slice the cucumbers lengthwise into thin strips. (You can cut them however you want.)
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Put the cucumber slices on a piece of paper towel and to remove excess water.
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Slice the carrots like the cucumber and add to a large bowl.
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Wash the radishes then slice them as thin or with a peeler and add to the carrots.
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Mince the cabbage, cilantro and basil then measure and add to bowl.
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Add the cucumbers and mix everything together with the desired amount of dressing. or serve the dressing on the side.
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Slice the avocado into slices or bite-size piece and add to individual salads.
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Sprinkle each plate with the sesame seeds.
Almonds
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*A great addition is toasted almonds - Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes on the middle rack.
Health Benefits:
Cucumber is a good source of A and B vitamins that give you energy and the skin benefits from the really high content of vitamin C which ironically is primarily in the skin of the cucumber. They help eliminate toxins and keep you hydrated with the water content, which is 95% and the dietary fiber aids the digestion and helps with heartburn. They are known to dissolve kidney stones by lowering uric acid levels. There is research in connection with reducing the risk of several cancers due to 3 lignin’s it contains. The juice is beneficial to diabetics due to a hormone it contains that help the cells of the pancreas produce insulin. Cucumbers help reduce cholesterol levels and regulating blood pressure so it’s great for both low blood pressure and high blood pressure. It is an excellent source of silica, magnesium, and potassium that help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues and is great for your skin, hair and nails.
Carrots contain beta-carotene that is then converted into vitamin A in your liver and helps restore vision. They lower the risk of coronary heart disease and are high in antioxidants that help in cancer prevention. They may also help with blood sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging, and improve the immune system.
Tangerines are a type of mandarin orange. They are a valuable source of flavonoid antioxidants that are several times higher than oranges but have even more vitamin A and iron. The vitamin A in them helps with immune function, vision and reproductive health. As with all citrus, they are still very rich in vitamin C that stimulates the production of collagen and helps keeps your skin supple as well as stimulating cell generation in the body. Antioxidants are found in high concentrations in the rind of tangerines, which fight off free radicals keeping the body’s cells healthy while purifying the blood and remove toxins. They contain natural soluble and insoluble fiber that improves digestion and restrict the absorption of cholesterol in the gut, which helps cut the risk of obesity and reduce inflammation. The tangerine fruit has been used effectively against skin diseases and arthritis. They also help to absorb iron from food into the body and contain a good amount of Folate and Potassium.
