Summer pesto pasta salad
By Sari Huhtala
This pasta salad is super simple. The mild peppery flavour of radish leaves combined with garlic and cheesy nutritional yeast meld together to create a delightful cold salad for a hot summer day. Plus, the radish leaves give you a huge antioxidant health boost.
The radish leaf has double the number of polyphenols, antioxidants, compared to radish root, according to a 2019 study in the journal Nutrients – Deciphering the Nutraceutical Potential of Raphanus sativus—A Comprehensive Overview. Epicatechin and coumaric acid are the most active antioxidants in radish leaves, researchers found. You can buy them in supplement form, or get your fill through foods like radish leaves. Polyphenol heart-healthy epicatechin helps with nitric oxide production, fat burning and blood sugar regulating, among other benefits, while coumaric acid is a powerhouse anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant.
While radishes are anti-cancer powerhouses, radish leaves have even more proteins, calcium and vitamin C than the radish itself, researchers discovered.
Easy radish leaf pesto
- 1 cup of radish leaves, stems removed and chopped
- ¼ plus 1/8 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp ground almonds
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toss all ingredients into a blender and blend to desired consistency. Store extra sauce in fridge for up to five days.
To make the pasta salad
Toss approximately 3 cups of cooked and cooled brown rice pasta (spiral pasta makes a great option for salad) into a large bowl. Add desired amount of pesto sauce and stir well. Add chopped green onions, chopped cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Add chopped fresh basil leaves and chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Serve immediately, or chill in fridge till ready to serve.
Sari Huhtala is the creator, publisher and editor of Alive and Fit Magazine, which was created in 2007. She has over 25 years of experience in journalism and over 15 years of experience as a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, and is a holistic chef, offering holistic cooking and edible wilds workshop, and My Farmacy workshops. She is an organic farmer, duck mama and shepherdess, wild-crafter and grandmother, who has spent over 20 years navigating a holistic, healthy path for her family. Reach her at friends@thelaughingforest.ca
