More substantial than a salad, this can be eaten warm or cold, full of protein, wholegrain carbs and colourful veg to help balance and support hormones, energy, immunity, digestion, nervous systems and so much more. This might look like loads of ingredients but more than half simply involve opening a jar/packet and adding it to your bowl.
What you need:
- Seasonal greens – any sort – they all contain a variety of vitamins, micronutrients and fibre – essential for feeling full and supporting bowels. Cut into mouth sized pieces and prep them according to what you have – so for green cabbage, I would saute this with rapeseed oil. For kale, I’d use this raw, rub with olive oil and a little salt to soften it up
- Sundried tomatoes
- Packet of tomatoey lentils, precooked
- A jar each of cooked beans and chickpeas – I LOVE Bold Beans from most supermarkets
- Jar of pickled red cabbage
- Jar of pickled beetroot
- Jar of pickled sliced red onions
- Jar of gherkins
- 2-3 garlic cloves sliced and sauted
- Carrots (half per person): chopped into small pieces/grated whatever you prefer
- Peas, green beans, broccoli (florets or chopped stem): boil/steam
- Butternut squash/small pumpkin (one serves four)/sweet potatoes (one per person)
- Small cauliflower (2-3 florets per person)
- Packet of quinoa cooked in broth/stock according to instructions
Combine all the above. Eat. Enjoy. A healthy, winter salad, full of protein, energy-boosting, nutrient dense carbs, fibre and tastes delicious. Add in whatever else you have in the fridge that needs eating, half a red onion, avocado, bit of feta etc. Take out whatever you don’t like/don’t have – just ensure you’re keeping in some protein (peas, beans, lentils, quinoa) and some carbs (butternut squash, pumpkin, cauli, quinoa) to ensure you’re getting the full range of nutrients you need.
Amounts will depend on how many you’re cooking for, but I tend to make a giant one and it sorts me for lunch all week. I might then add a smoked mackerel fillet or wholemeal pitta bread with hummus, depending on what’s in the fridge and how energy dense my day looks. This is also something I might serve along with a more traditional roast, and definitely the kind of thing I put on the table on Christmas day, balancing my hormones, energy and maybe even my patience?!
