Easy Black Bean and Mango Salsa

This easy, healthy and delicious Black Bean and Mango Salsa is the perfect salad topper, dip, or eat-with-a-spoon dish! It going to be your summer time go-to, I just know it!

Asian Carrot Slaw

     With the weather warming up, I have been craving lots of fresh fruit and vegetables! In the winter months, we tend to fall into a habit of eating a lot of cooked meals, which is fine because the fresh produce you can find usually isn't so great! But, when the warmer months finally get here, its important and nice to start eating more fresh foods!

     I love carrots, raw or cooked, and they are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium! So, eating lots of carrots should be a no-brainer right? But eating just plain carrots all the time can get boring! Why not eat this delicious Asian Carrot Slaw to get in your carrots for the day? Its simple, flavorful, refreshing and super healthy! What more could you want?

    This recipe is Vegan, Low Fat, Oil Free, Refined Sugar Free, and Gluten Free! All the more reason to love this recipe! I know, once you try it, you'll be making it over and over again! Its perfect as a side dish, in tacos or burritos, on top of salads, in sandwiches, or in asian noodle salads! I can see it on the table at a picnic or outdoor party!

Ingredients:

3-4 Carrots, grated ( about 2 1/2 cups)
3-4 TBS Soy Sauce ( for Gluten Free, use a Gluten Free Soy Sauce)
2 TBS Seasame Seeds
1 tsp Salt
Pinch of Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

Wash and peel your carrots. I used organic carrots, so I didn't feel the need to peel them! I grated my carrots by hand with a grater, but a food processor would make the process a bit faster!

Add them to a bowl along with the soy sauce, salt and pepper, ground ginger and seasame seeds. Mix well until everything is combined. Make sure the seasame seeds get mixed in well, they have a habit of clumping up on me!

And thats it! Can you believe how simple and easy that was? The hardest part was the carrots, but you do get in an arm workout! I suggest tasting the slaw to check the salt and pepper levels. Some might want it a bit spicier and some not so much!

 

You can eat it right away or store it in the fridge for a few days. The soy sauce might darken the carrots a bit, but don't let that worry you! Also, the salt might make the carrots juice a bit, so you might want to pour that off( if it happens) before serving!

The saltiness of the soy, the spice of the ginger and the nutiness of the seasame seeds all go so well together! Its like eating a flavor explosion! Its so refreshing and delicious, I know you will enjoy it! I really hope you try this recipe and experience it for yourself!

If you enjoyed this recipe, please share it with your friends and family! Also, you can share it on social media to reach even more people!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. I look forward to conntecting with you!

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana

Zesty Greek Salad Dressing

     I love salad dressings! But unfortunately most salad dressings are very high in fat and calories! You can make a very low calorie salad into a high calorie meal with a single pour of salad dressing! Yes, they are delicious and, for those who don't like vegetables, it can help them get their greens in, but they aren't a healthy choice. Thankfully, there are many healthier choices that can keep your salad healthy!

One healthier option is this Zesty Greek Dressing! I made this to dress a quinoa salad a few days ago, but let me tell you! I could have drank this dressing from the jar( no kidding!). It was delicious on the quinoa salad, but it would also be great on a lettuce salad, as a veggie dip, heated and used as a pasta sauce, or over rice or other grains! So its versatile, vegan, oil and fat free, low calorie, and packed full of zesty and amazing flavor!

Ingredients:
1 can Diced Tomatoes( try for a low sodium brand)

2 TBS Greek Seasoning ( go for one that doesn't contain salt)

4 TBS Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup Water ( more or less depending on what consistency you want. Thicker for dips and sauces and thinner for dressings)

Salt and Pepper to taste

The reason I suggest using no or low salt ingredients is because it allows you to control the amount of salt in the dressing better. You would be surprised how much salt goes into store bought dressings! Making your own is a sure way to make sure what you are eating is truly good for you!

Simple ingredients right? The method is just as simple, so lets get started!

Add everything into a blender or food processor.

Blend well until everything is puréed and combined well. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preferred flavor. I made my dressing fairly thin for my quinoa salad, but I would love to make some thicker and use as pasta sauce!

Store any leftover dressing in the fridge in an high-tight container.

 

I used this dressing on a quinoa salad, so here is an overview of how I made it!

 

2 cups dry Quinoa cooked( I used 3 cups water and 1 cup lemon juice to cook my quinoa)

1 large Cucumber- peeled and diced

1-2 cups Cherry Tomatoes- cut in half

1 can Navy Beans- rinsed

 

I added everything to a large bowl( make sure the quinoa is cold!), and poured about a half a cup of the dressing on it. It was super delicious and fresh! A perfect recipe to start the New Year on the right(healthy) foot!

 

 

This recipe was really simple and yummy! I love how fresh  it taste, and with no added oil, its a great low calorie meal for any day! Another great thing is that this recipe makes a lot! Its great to store in the fridge for quick meals during the week!

 

 

I really hope you try this dressing recipe and see how you like to use it! It really is so simple that you can make it in no time and have it in your fridge for you to use on everything! Much better than those store bought dressings, though delicious, full of fat, oils, additives, chemicals and added sugars! Also, probably much cheaper! What more is there to love?

Both of these recipes are great low-fat vegan recipes, but that doesn't mean everyone can't make and enjoy them! They are perfect recipes to jump start your healthy resolutions for 2016!



I hope you enjoy this recipe post! Please share it with your friends and family to give them a great recipe to start their new year off right! Sharing is caring, so please share my blog as well! :)

You can follow the blog to stay up-to-date on the post! Follow via email, Google, Twitter @SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. If you come and follow me on social media, please say high! :)

I post every Friday, so check back then for another post!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana