Day 5: Chickpea Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette + Flax Seed Oil

Lemon Vinaigrette Salad+Dressing

Day 5….anyone whose ever gone raw or vegan (or gluten free) can understand how amazing I feel right now. I’m sleeping better, this is the one new thing that I’ve noticed. I fall asleep right away and don’t wake up groggy. I’ve also been coupling this challenge with 1 hour of yoga everyday and an hour at the gym too. The gym hasn’t exactly been everyday though. In a week and a half I start an internship which will hold me hostage Monday to Friday from 8:00am – 5:30pm, plus my side projects. This will be the real test, see if I can keep this up whilst being extremely busy.

Now onto salad. Let this salad recipe be simply a starting point. Dice all your favorite veggies and toss them with this delicous and fresh lemon vinaigrette full of herbs. I used to make this salad with feta. I miss cheese.

Lemon Vinaigrette

  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp flax seed oil
  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp of water (this dressing is quite runny, but I add water so there is more of it)

1. Mix all ingredients in a blender (I use a magic bullet).

2. Drizzle over salads or veggies…..and when not raw, pasta or steamed veggies.

Chickpea & Kidney Bean Salad

  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 yellow pepper
  • 1 red onion
  • 2 small cucumbers (or 1 large)
  • 1 can of chickpeas, rinced
  • 1 can of kidney or black beans, rinced

1. Chop all ingredients into cubes and mix.

2. Dress with the lemon vinaigrette or any dressing of your choice.

3. Refrigerate, makes a great portable go to salad.

Note: Use as many veggies as you can, celery, carrots, tomatoes, etc.

Some words about Flax Seeds (Flax Seed Oil)

Flax seed oil (also known as Linseed oil) is a cold pressed oil that is nature’s richest source of omega-3 fatty acids which is essential to the function of your entire body. It also contains omega-6 and omega-9, B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, and zinc and provides almost double in omega oils that you’d get from from fish oil (minus the terrible taste).

Here is an excellent link that outlines many health benefits of consuming flax seed oil and look how long that list is: Flax Seed Oil Health Benefits

Flax seed oil (or ground flax seeds) should be snuck into your daily diet wherever possible. I put a heaping tablespoon of ground (must be ground, ingesting whole seeds doesn’t give you the same benefits) flax seeds into my smoothie every morning. If you eat granola, put some in there too.

My mom takes a tablespoon of flax seed oil every morning on an empty stomach with warm water and she says it kick starts her digestive system. Ew. I prefer to mix it in with my salad dressing, or anything cold. Sometimes I drizzle flax seed oil on top of my salads in addition to the dressing.

Store both flax seed oil and flax seeds in the fridge as it goes rancid quickly.

Flax seed oil is widely available in Taiwan. Most stores with a generous oil section carry it. I buy the German brand pictured on the above from City Super.

DID YOU KNOW

Besides Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Thom Yorke (Radiohead!), Andre 3000, Travis Barker, Avril Lavigne, , Erykah Badu, Moby, Jared Leto, N.O.R.E, Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Mike Tyson, Venus & Serena Williams are all vegans. And the list goes on. …

Category : Salad, Salad Dressing
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