The unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day weekend is a time for getting together with friends and family to enjoy the sunshine and good food. If you're planning to host or attend a barbecue for the day of celebration, you may want to start thinking about the plant-based dishes you can bring. As always, we recommend using organic produce when available.
Nectarine and Avocado Salad
As the staple of any gathering, a salad should be hearty and exciting. For a bright and refreshing salad that still packs a crunch, give this recipe from Raw Food Recipes a try: Ingredients:
- 1 nectarine
- 1 avocado
- 1/3 medium zucchini
- 1/3 medium cucumber, peeled
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 10 mint leaves, torn into little pieces
- Juice from half a lime
- Dash of unrefined salt
Beet Hummus
A good dip for all of your raw veggies is essential. For a vibrant and flavorful hummus, consider this recipe from One Green Planet:
- 1/2 teaspoon unrefined salt
- 2 beets
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions Wash and cut beets into smaller chunks. Coat with coconut oil and roast beets until soft and tender. Let beets cool. Use a food processor to combine all ingredients except olive oil. Puree until smooth. Stir in olive oil to serve.
Raw Strawberry Pie
No Memorial Day weekend celebration is complete without a pie. This fresh and tantalizing raw strawberry pie from our own Fall in Love With Food Again recipe archives is bursting with flavor and sure to impress all of the party attendees. Ingredients:
Pie Shell:
- 1 3/4 cups raw almonds, soaked overnight then drained
- 1 cup soft pitted dates
- 7 or 8 large ripe organic strawberries
- 5 soft pitted dates
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon agar flakes
- 2 pints of fresh organic strawberries cut into quarters
