Happy Summer Solstice everyone! The longest day is here and I definitely do not want to spend it in the kitchen. It's weekend, it's hot. We had 103°F yesterday. Today it will be 101°F. A quick and simple cooling meal is exactly what I have in mind.
Cucumbers are perfect for a hot summer day. They contain about 95% water and very few calories; vitamins C, K, A, B1, B5, biotin, and beta carotene; magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, iron, and silica; cancer fighting lignans and cucurbitacins; antioxidant flavonoids and tripertenes; anti-inflammatory flavonol fisetin; protein and fiber. Cucumbers are good for the skin and blood pressure. They promote regularity and help to calm inflammation in the body.
For my salad I foraged wild growing Rosa rugosa flowers. Mint came from my garden.
~ Cucumber Carpaccio With Mint And Wild Rose Petals ~
Ingredients:
- 1 large organic English cucumber
- handful rose petals (rosa rugosa or centifolia)
- handful fresh mint or lemon balm leaves
- 1 Tbsp cold pressed amaranth seed oil
- 1 tsp raw honey (I used very light rooftop honey from Berlin, Germany)
- 1 tsp lemon or lime juice
- pinch Celtic sea salt
Method:
- Wash and pat dry the cucumber. If your cucumber is covered with wax, you may want to peel it.
- Slice cucumber using a very sharp knife. Place the slices in a bowl, set aside.
- Whisk a dressing using oil, honey, lemon juice, and salt. Pour dressing over the cucumber slices and mix gently.
- Arrange the cucumber slices on individual plates. Garnish with chopped rose petals and mint leaves. Serve right away and enjoy in good company!
Tip: If the cucumber salad is not your thing, you can use the same ingredients (minus the salad dressing) to make deliciously refreshing spa water.
I do not add any sweeteners into my spa water. For a sweeter taste you may want add sliced strawberries, raspberries, or water melon.
In radiant health - passionately raw - Dominique
Dominique Allmon©2019