Salad of Cauliflower, Radish, Dates and Brazil Nuts

This nourishing, yet swiftly assembled salad has become one of my lunchtime favourites. I think that dried fruit, such as dates, add another dimension to savoury dishes and makes you feel as though you’re getting a little bit of treat when eating what some could interpret as being a boring salad.

Dates are high in iron, which is a very important component of the diet to keep in mind when following a raw food diet, as it is easy to become deficient when eliminating meat.

Brazil nuts are high in protein and fibre. They are also one of the richest sources of selenium, a trace mineral known to protect the body from oxidative stress and cancerous cells. It also helps the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, which is important for controlling metabolism.

Cauliflower, like all veggies in the brassica family, are abundant in cancer fighting sulphurous compounds, which support liver function and detoxification. They are also a good source of B vitamins.

To make the salad, combine cauliflower florets, radish, celery, chopped dates, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, mint and mixed leaves. Dress with a mixture of tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.