This Greek-inspired salad uses a healthy portion of one of the most nutritious herbs that you’ve probably never heard of (though you might have seen growing in your sidewalk) – purslane!

Serve this salad as part of a nice home Meze platter, along with dolmas, hummus, pita, baba ganoush, and some olives for a refreshing Mediterranean meal.

Ingredients

• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled (optionally) and diced
• 1 cup purslane leaves
• 2 cups arugula
• 4 ounces feta, chunked or broken into small pieces
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (~2 lemons)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, purslane leaves, arugula, and feta.
2. Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil, then pour over the vegetables.  Toss to coat.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I don’t know a lot about the foreign relations between Peru and Russia, but after seeing this salad on almost every menu in Peru I am not sure if it has something to do with the country of “Rusa” or if beets are synonymous with that nation everywhere in the world. Either way, all of these fresh veggies and a light mustard dressing make this salad is a winner.

Ensalada Rusa

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound of asparagus, chopped and steamed
• 3 beets, roasted, peeled, and cubed
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 cup of English peas

Dressing

• 1/2 teaspoon mustard, ground
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• pinch of salt
• ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Combine prepared vegetables and set aside.
2. Thoroughly mix the dressing ingredients until the oil and lime juice are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Dress the salad and serve.

Our version of tabouli replaces the traditional bulgur wheat with quinoa.  This salad makes a refreshing summertime lunch, and its nutrient-dense quinoa will keep you going through the heat of the rest of the day!

Ingredients

• 3 cups prepared quinoa (from 1 cup uncooked quinoa)
• 1 large bunch parsley, stemmed and chopped
• 3 medium tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 small white onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 3 scallions or spring onions, diced
• 1 clove garlic, finely diced
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Serve immediately or slightly chilled.