If late summer had a signature salad – this would be it!
This peach summer salad with avocado lime crema is absolutely bursting with seasonal produce like juicy peaches, fresh herbs, crunchy carrots, and a whole lot of flavour!
This recipe is extra special as the avocado lime crema makes it taste so creamy, tangy, and satiating.
I love prepping a batch of this and having on hand for lunches all week long! You can serve aside your favourite protein (salmon or chicken go really nice with it!) or enjoy as is because it’s already loaded with protein, fibre, and healthy fats, making it a lovely balanced meal.
If prepping ahead of time, be sure to keep the avocado lime crema seperate, as it tastes much better added fresh (it can get a bit soggy if you let it sit in the fridge on the quinoa).
Although I think the flavour, texture, and colour combination of veggies in this recipe is absolutely perfect – don’t be afraid to mix it up with what you have on hand. Cherry tomatoes could also be so nice in this! As would any type of herb, lettuce, or other seasonal produce you have on hand 🙂
For me the point of salads like these are to celebrate the abundance of the season – so don’t be afraid to get creative and load it up! Bonus points if you throw on some edible flowers 🙂 I have Calendula and some Bachelor’s Buttons on this one and they make it next level pretty.
This really is the ultimate late summer salad – and oh so good for both your gut and brain health.
Brain Boosting, Gut Loving Salad Components:
- Quinoa: loaded with prebiotics, trace minerals like magnesium, zinc, and b vitamins, and is a complete protein
- Crispy chickpeas: loaded with gut loving fibre
- Peaches: contain tons of antioxidants and fibre
- Fresh herbs: loaded with liver loving antioxidants to support healthy detoxification
- Walnuts: one of the best foods for brain health as it’s loaded in omega 3 fatty acids
- Romaine lettuce: adds brain loving folate and gut loving fibre
- Purple cabbage: loaded with antioxidants to support the brain
- Avocado: healthy fats for brain health – and oh so delicious when turned into the avocado crema sauce!
THE RECIPE:
For the Salad:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 large carrots, grated
- 1 cup purple cabbage, finely chopped
- 1-2 juicy ripe peaches
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- A few handfuls of chopped romaine (or any other green you have on hand)
- 1/4 cup mint and/ or cilantro (either are great – both are even better!)
For the Chickpeas:
- 1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
- Generous glug of olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. paprkia
- 1 tsp. sea salt
For the Avocado Crema:
- 1 large ripe avocado
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1 Tbsp. full fat greek yogurt (unsweetened)
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1/4 cup water (plus more to thin if needed)
Instructions:
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cook your quinoa: add 2 cups water (or broth for more flavour) and 1 cup quinoa to a pot, bring to a boil, then place lid on and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, keep lid on, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Then fluff with fork, and allow to cool before using in the salad
- For the chickpeas: rinse and drain chickpeas, place on a baking sheet, toss in olive oil and spices. Place in oven and roast for 10 minutes, toss and roast for another 10 minutes (until you reach desired level of crispiness)
- In the meantime, prep all your other ingredients: grate your carrots, fine chop your cabbage, slice your peaches, chop/ tear your herbs, chop/ rip your lettuce, and chop your walnuts
- Next, make your avocado sauce by place everything in a vessel and mixing with an immersion blender (you can also do by hand – it just takes some more work!). Continue to mix until you reach a smooth and creamy texture. Add additional water to thin if needed. Taste test and finesse with flavours to your liking (you can add more honey for sweetness, more lemon for tang, more salt to balance the flavours, and more yogurt for creaminess)
- Assemble salad by adding quinoa as the base, then add in all veggies, herbs, crispy chickpeas, and sliced peaches
- Dollop with avocado sauce and enjoy!
- Serve aside your favourite protein or enjoy as is!
- NOTE: if saving for leftovers it’s better to keep the avocado sauce on the side and add to the dish right before serving as this prevents it from going soggy
- ENJOY!
