Summer is in full swing, and that means the produce at farmers’ markets only gets better but that also means the weather gets hotter. Luckily there are plenty of ways to keep cool by utilizing the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Here are a few refreshing ways to use fresh produce:
Salads
A salad is easy to prepare, just grab your favorite greens, throw in some fresh fruit like apples or strawberries, and drizzle a nice vinaigrette over it for a refreshing meal or snack. You can even skip the vinaigrette and use some lemon or lime juice for an alternative. For a kick try adding jalapeno peppers.
Infused Water
Adding fruits or vegetables to your water can turn boring water into a delicious and refreshing treat. There are plenty of water bottles that have infusers now that make it easy to take with you.
The most popular choice is to infuse water with cucumbers and mint. Peel and slice a cucumber, grab a few mint leaves and add it to a large mason jar or pitcher. Pour water over the cucumbers and mint leaves, stir, and refrigerate for at least four hours to get the best flavor.
Cold Soups
If you are looking for a savory and heartier meal that is refreshing and not heavy then a cold soup should be your go-to. With summer in full force, the best ingredient to utilize for cold soups is tomatoes. To keep it light, avoid recipes that include heavy creams or other dairy products. Ceviche is great, too!
Smoothies
Smoothies can be refreshing, super filling, and a great way to get some greens without the strong taste. They are also easy to put together and only require a few ingredients. A strawberry watermelon smoothie is a refreshing choice for the summer. Add one cup of watermelon, half a cup of frozen strawberries, half of a banana, a handful of frozen or fresh greens like kale, and a fourth of a cup of almond milk to a blender and mix.
Juice
Juice is a great way to get a large boost of vitamins and helps you to cool off in the summer. To get the best benefits and to avoid too much sugar go for juice that incorporates both fruits and vegetables. Cucumber, apple, and kale is a good choice.
As you can see, there are plenty of options available to use your fresh produce that is light and refreshing. Salads, infused water, cold soups, smoothies, and juices all offer variety and are relatively easy to put together.
RECIPE
CUCUMBER TOMATO SALAD
Tomato salad with cucumber, onion and parsley
This is a refreshing, nutritious complement to any meal. Just toss it all together and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 Teaspoons coriander seeds
- 2 Teaspoons mustard seeds
- 1 Teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 Small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 Cup cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sugar (or stevia to taste)
- Salt
- 3 Large tomatoes, sliced
- 1 Cucumber, sliced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup cilantro
Directions:
- Cook coriander, mustard and cumin seeds in a large saucepan until they begin to pop and become fragrant.
- Then add vinegar, sugar, salt, and one cup of water and simmer for two minutes.
- In a small bowl add onions and seed mixture. Refrigerate for one hour.
- When ready to serve, remove onions from the mixture and place into a large salad bowl with the tomatoes, cucumber, and cilantro.
***Note: if you’re short on time, just use a healthy vinaigrette for the dressing and you’re good to go!
To Your Health,
Patti
