TRY THIS SUPER SUNNY SALAD WITH SUNFLOWER SHOOTS
As an organic vegetable producer, I feel blessed that I am able to grow food from the ground up. Putting time, effort and care into nourishing those plants really does boost the flavour when I find them on my plate. This being particularly true for today’s topic “Sunflower Shoots”.
What are Sunflower Shoots?
Honestly, sunflower shoots are probably one of the best kept secrets in your healthy cooking arsenal. They are the delicious and nutritious micro-greens of the sunflower plant. Sunflower shoots are bursting with vitamins A, D, E, chlorophyll, magnesium, iron, calcium and more!. If it’s protein you’re looking for, they are made out of 20% of it. Oh and for an added bonus, should you let them grow to flower, you will find yourself with thousands of edible crunchy seeds.
With a nutty flavour and a refreshing pop and crunch texture sunflower shoots are perfect for use in salads. Pairing them with nutritious foods such as avocado, bean sprouts and lemon juice, sunflower shoots will leave you feeling fresh and full of energy. Here is one of my favourite sunny salad recipes that you can be creative with and tweak to your own taste.
Super Ingredients:
- 50g sunflower shoots
- 1 ripe hass avocado
- 2 scallions (often known as spring onions)
- 4 radishes
- 50g mixed salad leaves (eg.rocket, cress, lettuce)
- 25g bean sprouts
- 1 cucumber
- 2 carrots
- 8 green olives
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp paprika
- Pinch of salt
Unprocessed Process:
- Squeeze the lemon juice, pour the olive oil and toss the paprika plus salt into a bowl. Give them a quick whisk.
- It’s off to the chopping block for the avocado, scallions and olives. Cut them into small pieces.
- Thinly slice the radish, cucumber and carrots using a sharp knife or mandolin (I’m more of a guitar man myself).
- Mix all the cut up veg together with your sunflower shoots, mixed leaves and bean sprouts.
- Drizzle on a few spoonfuls of dressing and enjoy.
This will serve 2 hungry people.
Where can I find Sunflower Shoots?
As the popularity of sunflower shoots increases we seem to be finding them sprouting up at more and more farmers markets. I bought mine from Christys Organic Wheatgrass inside The Green Door Market located at 18 Newmarket Square, Dublin 8 just off Cork Street.
Open Tuesday – Friday 12:00pm – 19:00pm
Saturday 9:30am – 16:00pm
Sunday 11:00am – 17:00pm
#TastyTuesday