a salad that your gut & hormones will luv!
Mango! Edamame! Miso! Oh myyyyy đ
Helllllllllo! Youâve got me in a very joyful mood as I write this post-saturday meta, laying out in the sun, my cells absorbing all those good antioxidants from the ground and sunbeams from the sky, my cup full to the brim. Today I am sharing a great summer meal idea that requires no cooking (we love), boasts a ton of diverse fibre (as we know, the number one way to support our gut microbes), and a ton of protein c/o of one of my favourite plant based sourcesâŠseitan! Now, if you are celiac or gluten intolerant, seitan will not be an option for you as it is made of vital wheat gluten flour. If thatâs you, no sweat, you could top this salad with tofu, roast chicken, beans, tempeh, fried egg, lentils, or quinoa!
A bit about seitan
Seitan has been called âSatanâ from the communities who believe that gluten is the devil, which Iâve always found quite comical. If youâre allergic to gluten, then yeah, eating seitan might feel satanic! However, if you feel good eating foods with gluten, I canât recommend this underrated protein source enough. It takes less than 10 minutes to make, is very cost effective, and a super-source of protein. My fave way to enjoy it is to add some flavour to the dough (recipe below) and to pan fry as a big patty that you can then slice up into lil cubes or strips. Itâs a hard one to describeâŠalmost a hybrid of a soft crouton or dense bite of bread??? I am definitely not doing it justice. Youâd think it would be really high in carbohydrates based on the mouth feel, but itâs protein that makes up the majority of this bbâs nutrient profile.
Okay, letâs get into this easy to make and very satisfying salad! I love summer meals that require minimal prep or oven werk because letâs be honest, we want to maximize our time outside!!!
Why this salad is great for your gut & hormones
It boasts 10+ sources of diverse fibre (17 to be exact!) the food for our gut microbes
It contains a cruciferous vegetable (cabbage!) which is excellent for helping clear excess hormones from our system to help ease the transitions that happen through the menstrual cycle
Itâs got lots of omega 3 healthy fats, which is great for our skin and mood (both affected by our cycle)
The salad base is all raw, which means the antioxidants are super intact and very helpful for bolstering against inflammation (that said, you can totally sauté up the cabbage if that supports your digestion better)
Miso and sauerkraut are excellent probiotics!