4 Easy Whole Foods Detox Salads That You Can Try At Home

When we talk about a detox, we usually refer to cleansing the digestive system. Interestingly, cleansing involves other systems, for instance, the blood, kidneys, and the lymphatic system. The importance of whole foods in detox cannot be underestimated. When combined with water, rest, and exercise, whole foods are very effective in a full body detox. You do not have to wait until your body begins to send distress signals like discomfort in digestion, fatigue, headaches, and low energy. You can incorporate whole foods to help you in detox in your diet. Below we look at 4 whole foods detox salads that you can incorporate into your diet:

1. The Whole Foods Detox Salad

 

This is an ideal salad for lunch. It is easy to prepare, tastes great and is awash with health. The sunflower seeds make this recipe crunchy. The currents and raisins add some real natural sweetness. The lemon and parsley make the salad taste even fresher.

Makes 8-10 cups

 Ingredients 

• 2 1/2 cups cauliflower florets – roughly cut
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 3/4 cup parsley (chopped)
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/8 to ¼ teaspoonful of salt
• 2 heads broccoli – remove stalks and cut into florets
• 3 carrots (large) – roughly chopped
• 1 cup currants (dried)
• ¼ cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• kelp granules
• pepper
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (raw)

 Method 

• Place the broccoli florets into a food processor
• Pulse until they are finely chopped
• Empty into a large bowl
• Place the cauliflower florets into a food processor
• Pulse until they are finely chopped
• Empty into a large bowl
• You may need to work in batches if you have a small processor
• Add the carrots and pulse until they are finely chopped
• Add them to the bowl
• Add the broccoli and cauliflower
• Mix everything
• Stir in the parsley and sunflower seeds, currants, and raisins
• Add the salt, pepper and lemon juice

Storage tip:

Keep refrigerated in a sealed glass container.

2. A Variation of the Whole Foods Detox Salad

 

This recipe is a variation of the detox salad.

 Ingredients 

• 1 head of cauliflower (organic)
• 1 head of broccoli (organic)
• 5 large carrots (organic)
• 1/2 cup currants (organic) – you can also use raisins or unsulfured apricots
• 1 cup soaked sunflower seeds (organic) – soak for 7 hours and then drain. The water should have 1 teaspoon of salt. Alternatively, buy pre-sprouted sunflower seeds
• 4 teaspoons of kelp granules
• 1 cup of parsley (organic)
• 1 tablespoon of sea salt (Himalayan)
• 3 to 4 whole lemons (organic)

 Method 

• Soak the sunflower seeds
• Chop broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces
• Pulse everything in your food processor (except lemons)
• Slice the lemons into two
• Squeeze over the salad
• It should be ready to serve

3. Cauliflower and Broccoli Detox Salad

This recipe is made up of refreshing, delicious and crunchy ingredients. You will barely remember that you are eating a whole foods detox salad.

Total time: 15 minutes

Yields 5 cups (serves 3)

 Ingredients 

• 3-4 thinly chopped kale leaves
• 2 to 3 shredded carrots
• 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds
• 1 shredded head of broccoli
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano (you could also use a tablespoon of fresh leaves)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 shredded cauliflower
• 1/2 cup of fresh parsley (small chopped)
• ¼ cup of raw peeled and blanched almonds
• 3 to 4 tablespoons of unsweetened, naturally dried cranberries (fresh pomegranate seeds will also do)
• 1 inch of grated ginger
• 1 to 2 lemons
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of natural raw honey

 Method 

• Whisk and emulsify the lemon juice, honey, ginger, olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of salt, oregano, and black pepper in a bowl. (These make up the detox salad dressing).
• Taste and adjust salt.
• Blanch almonds by bringing 2 cups of water to a rolling boil, adding the almonds and boiling for a minute.
• Remove the boiled almonds from water
• Add the almonds to ice cold water (this will stop the cooking)
• Peel the skin
• Chop all veggies
• Add them to a big bowl
• Top with the blanched almonds, the dressing, and poppy seeds.
• Toss, ensuring that everything is coated in dressing
• Serve and enjoy

Tips:

– If you want the salad to be 100% vegan, replace the honey with maple syrup

– Refrigerating for 1 to 2 hours will allow the dressing to blend in, giving the salad a better taste.

4. Kale and Carrots Salad (with Chili Lime Peanut Dressing)

Fresh lime has a very flavorful taste and aroma that blends in perfectly with the peanut taste.

 Ingredients 

• 1 to 2 lime zest
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ¼ teaspoons of salt, adjust according to taste
• 6 carrots
• ¼ cup of smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes, you can add more or less
• 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
• 2 bunch of kale (1 purple, 1 green)
• 1/3 cup of toasted and slightly crushed peanuts

 Method 

• Wash the kale and remove the ribs
• Slice them thin
• Place them in a bowl
• Peel the carrots, shred them and add to the bowl
• Add peanut butter, chili flakes, sesame oil, lime, and olive oil into a food processor jar
• Pulse until the ingredients are pureed and smooth. You can add lime juice if it looks thick
• Taste and adjust the salt
• Mix the peanut dressing into the kale and carrots.
• Toss well
• Top with toasted peanuts
• Serve. You can keep refrigerated until it is ready to serve.

Tips:

– Even an hour of refrigeration will greatly boost the taste of this salad. To make it even more flavorful, refrigerate overnight.

– You can serve this alongside grilled dinner, and of course, have enough left over for lunch.

– If serving kids, you may need to skip the chili

– You can prepare peanut dressing 2 days in advance (even if though it takes just 5 minutes to blend in a food processor)

Conclusion

The above whole foods detox salads are very effective for a body cleanse. They contain super detox foods like broccoli and cauliflower that not only improve liver function, support the immune system and clean the gut, but also provide nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and calcium. They work in a very balanced way, getting rid of toxins in the body, while providing nutrients. Better still, they yield enough veggies for a few days’ supply, yet are simple to prepare. Some creativity is undoubtedly welcome. Play around with the ingredients and see what you can come up with. Why wait until the toxins in your body begin to result in symptoms? Prepare a whole foods detox salad today.