Raw Taco Salad:

This is what I had for lunch today - the picture makes it look like not very much food, but let me assure you it was very filling and satisfying - and tasted wonderful (trying to find words to use besides awesome and amazing - any suggestions)? Anyway - it was GOOD! It's not 100% by-the-book raw since I used canned salsa, but it was fresh, required NO elecricity, and took just a few minutes to fix. Seriously, I've not been eating very healthfully a lot of the days because I just didn't think I had time to stop and fix a meal - well, this one is another example of how quickly and easily you can make a very healthy and satisfying meal - and did I mention with lots of vitamins and phytonutrients. The idea for the "meat" base, which is ground up walnuts came from a new friend who is 100% raw - thanks Kimberly! She is also going to show me some really good cracker recipes next week - yep, we'll share them.

Raw Taco Salad:

"Meat" base (meaning not really meat):

1-1/2 cups raw walnuts ground in a food processor (we would substitute pecans for our daughter-in-law who is very allergic to walnuts)
1-1/2 tsp ground cumin (organic if possible)
3/4 tsp ground coriander seed (I used my mortar and pestle and it took literally less than a minute but has much more flavor than store bought ground
2 Tbsp Nama Shoyu
Combine the walnuts, soy sauce, cumin and coriander and mix well.

This "meat base" recipe makes more than I need for one meal. I store it in the refrigerator and use it in different "meatless" dishes or just to top off a salad.

To assemble the salad:

1 cup of raw butternut squash noodles (spiralized - check out our picture of our spiralizer in an earlier blog).
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup Warren's freshly canned salsa (of course you'll have to find some as good as his - which will be difficult)
1 Tbsp chopped fresh Cilantro
1 Tbsp crumbled raw feta cheese (okay - I know it's not vegan - but I'm not 100% there and not sure I want to be.

Of course you could add additional dark leafy greens or romaine to make an even bigger and better salad. This was great for today.