Antioxidant Bursting Salad

by Noor H. Salem

With a lack of food and drink during the long hours of fasting, you may find yourself feeling more tired than usual. Your lethargy may be due to more than just fasting, but perhaps a lack of certain nutrients and vitamins.

For that, it’s crucial that you consume nutrient-packed foods, such as avocados, salmon, nuts, healthy fats, and fruits such as pomegranate. This salad is the perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and savory, with an overload of crucial minerals and vitamins.

Pomegranate is a remarkably beneficial fruit, and it’s highly encouraged that you consume it as often as possible. Pomegranate is high in Vitamin C and flavonols that block the development of systemic inflammation. I’ve seen clients that deal with joint pain, such as arthritis, find relief after increasing their intake of anti-inflammatory foods like extra virgin olive oil or pomegranate. Besides that, pomegranate is anti-bacterial, prevent cancer cell growth, lower blood pressure, relief osteoarthritis, and contain unique antioxidant properties. Cooking with pomegranate could get messy, but definitely worthy of it. To minimize your juicy mess, cut the pomegranate into quarters. Using your thumbs against the peel, push the seeds outwards, into a bowl. You can keep them stored in an air-tight container, and toss onto your salad, or eat them as is with a spoon.

This superfood salad is the perfect combination of avocadoes, juicy pomegranate, and the pungent touch of cilantro. It’s full of antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, healthy fats, anti-inflammatory health benefits, cardiovascular health benefits, and more. Avocadoes, a delicious fruit, are mostly made of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. They have many heart health benefits, cognitive health benefits, fiber, and best of all, are great in taste. Be sure to enjoy your avocadoes ripe, for optimum taste and nutrients alike. Consuming healthy fats like avocadoes, extra virgin olive oil, and nuts in your meals, both in and out of Ramadan, will grant you satiety, and balance your blood sugar levels post your meals. For that, you’ll find yourself less likely to reach for sugary treats or junk food thereafter. Besides curbing your cravings, healthy fats keep you full longer, have cardiovascular benefits, have vital antioxidants and nutrients, allow you to better absorb nutrients, are great for your memory, and have anti-inflammatory benefits. For that, when you go for too much guacamole, recognize it’s the avocadoes granting you that feeling of satiety. Pair them with organic eggs for a great snack after a workout to revive your energy. Toss a few slices of avocadoes in your smoothie not only for a nice creamy texture, but for a boost of healthy fats which would curb your blood sugar spike.

This exotic salad is one of my all-time favorite salads, and I’ve shared the recipe in my book, Sunnah Superfoods. It makes a delicious addition to your Ramadan iftar, and will give you more energy than consuming deep-fried foods, such as sambosa, qatayif, or fatoush salad. Pomegranate is a food mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet (saaw), as well as numerous verses in the Qur’an. Try this recipe, and feel free to swap the spices with your favorites. The salad tastes best chilled, and will make a great addition to your next dinner party!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 cups organic power greens or spring mix (spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, herbs)
• 1 bunch fresh organic parsley
• 1 bunch fresh organic cilantro
• 3 medium ripe avocadoes
• 2 pomegranates, fresh
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon organic raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, ground
• ½ teaspoon rosemary, ground
• 1 teaspoon mustard seed, ground
• ½ cup roasted pine nuts or cashews

Directions:

1. Chop the spring greens, parsley, and cilantro, and transfer to a presentable serving platter.
2. Cut the avocadoes into cubes. Place on top of the greens.
3. Peel the pomegranate and remove the seeds; place atop the greens as well.
4. Place the remaining ingredients (except nuts) in a mason jar and shake until well mixed. Drizzle onto the salad.
5. Toss; top with pine nuts or cashews. Best if serve chilled. 

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.