Hello, and happy summer! It’s my favorite time of year, and I love helping my clients eat nourishing, fresh, and whole foods to keep them feeling amazing and light. Cue this simple, refreshing, and juicy salad with watermelon, thinly sliced radishes and my FAVORITE – pistachios.
The slightly sweet, salty, and crunchy combination this salad provides is great for any main dish (I made this for a nice addition to dinner with some avocado and hard boiled eggs), side dish or BBQ/outdoor gathering. It takes only 10 minutes to make!
I love a slice of juicy, ripe watermelon in the summer – it’s bursting with Vitamin C, antioxidants and provides amazing hydration for the body on hot summer days. It’s also a good source of Vitamin A, not just great for eyesight but for immune health as well. It’s also a major source of lycopene, a cancer fighting antioxidant that I’m sure you’ve heard about from tomatoes. Lycopene is the most concentrated in the ripest watermelons!
Watermelon mixes deliciously with the slight saltiness of roasted pistachio nuts. Pistachios have an impressive nutritional profile of their own, boasting high Vitamin B6 content, along with thiamin and copper. They’re a great source of plant based protein and are a good source of fiber. The fat content is high, but made up of good-for-you monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Portioning is key to prevent overdoing it on calories. Vitamin B6 plays a role in increasing serotonin levels – hello happy mood and good sleep!
SO RAD
I love the touch of radishes in a cool, refreshing salad. The crunch pairs perfectly with all of the flavors! Radishes are also bursting with plant based nutrition – fiber, water, antioxidants and phytochemicals. It’s a good source of Vitamin C, aiding in collagen formation in the body to produce a strong gut lining and healthy nails and skin.
- 1 cup of watermelon, de-seeded and cubed
- 4-5 radishes, sliced thin
- 1 yellow squash, sliced into half moons
- 1 tbsp. hemp seeds
- 2-3 handfuls of greens (I used baby spinach and kale)
- 1/3 cup pistachios nuts
- 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp. olive oil or avocado oil
- sea salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
- Wash all produce and pat dry.
- Cube watermelon, slice squash, and slice radishes, discarding the leaves (or add to the salad!)
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl, tossing to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
- Don't forget to de-seed the watermelon.
- If you're making ahead of time to serve later, reserve the lemon juice and olive oil and add right before serving.
I hope you enjoy this summery, fresh salad as much as I do! If you re-create a recipe, be sure to tag #FRESHPLATES so I can see all of the fun!
+ The Fresh Reset 5 Day Meal Plan is available now in the online shop! If you’re not sure where to start with healthy, plant based eating, this guide is right for you. I also provide nutritional counseling services – packages available now!
