Practically Raw Woman

This whole thing started with a little bag of sumac that I came across in my spice cabinet. Where did this come from and what're you supposed to do with it? 🤔

I suspect it belonged to my friend Melissa when she lived over here, but unfortunately she left no direction as to its useage. So I spent the morning reading all about it and then, awash with information, I started the afternoon experimenting.

If today is anything to go by, sumac is coming out of the cabinet for good.🤩

If you're a raw vegan, then you know that the right spice changes everything! Sure, salt and pepper are great, but they can only take your meals so far. Sumac is a small red berry, rich in antioxidants, that is most typically dried and ground. It's used a lot in Middle Eastern cuisine so that's what I ended up concentrating on ... till I came up with this simple, yet exotic fatoush that actually made me drool- even without the pita bread that's traditionally in there! Sumac and a little cinammon may seem strange in a salad but wow! did it ever work. I liked the cinammon so much I added more!!! And, even though it's off season now, in the summer I can add purslane to make it even more traditional. That stuff grows like a w**d here! But you could always throw some romaine lettuce in there too... not that it needs it! 💚

Fatoush Recipe
2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
3 mini cucumbers, quartered lengthwise, sliced in 1/4 inch pieces
1/2 bunch parsley, chopped
1 leek, white part only, chopped
1 shallot, chopped fine
1 cup purslane (if available) OR romaine lettuce
Dressing
juice of 2 Meyer lemons
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon sumac
1/2 teaspoon cinammon
salt and pepper

Feeling a little purple today…

A favorite once upon a time... and even though my salads have become more elaborate these days, I've found myself literally pining for the simple pleasure that only Thousand Island dressing could have the power to resurrect. Practically raw. Like me.

Thousand Island Crunchy Romaine Salad - Practically Raw Woman Raw Thousand Island Dressing is just tops when it comes to creating the ultimate raw vegan 'comfort salad'... with just a few extras!