Raw Bowl #1: Cauliflower, Celery, Parsley, Carrot Salad with Lemon and Sunflower Seeds

Eating raw doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. This salad is a perfect example – just take whatever vegetables and green herbs you have and stick them in the food processor. Then toss with lemon and salt (optional oil since the flavour doesn’t really come through, it’ll be plenty liquidy from all the veggies, and you’ll be eating it right away anyway). I used the slicing attachment but you can just put them in the body of the processor and grate them. Don’t have a food processor? Use a kitchen mandoline (or a knife. But if you want to eat a lot of raw, it’s a good idea to invest in a food processor unless you want a good arm workout before lunch and dinner…every day). And if you think it’s bland, well you should have bought better quality vegetables and herbs because bitter parsley, salty celery and sweet carrot are supposed to knock your socks off. Or serve with a dipping sauce on the side of raw tahini and miso. This salad will take you a long time to eat, but remember to chew!

Raw Cauliflower, Carrot, Celery and Parsley Salad with Lemon and Sunflower Seeds

(Serves 2 very hungry people, or 4 smaller appetites)

1 head cauliflower, chopped roughly (VERY roughly. It’s just going in the food processor)

2 stalks celery

2 carrots, peeled

1 handful fresh parsley with stems, plus a few springs to garnish if you want

Juice of 1 lemon

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp olive oil, optional (for people who think everything needs oil)

3 tbsp sunflower seeds, optional

Put all the vegetables and herbs through the food processor (slicing attachment or in the main part of the processor. If you use the slicing attachment you’ll have to jam the parsley between larger vegetable chunks to get it to go through). Dump into a very large bowl (or two). Add the lemon juice, salt, and optional oil and sunflower seeds. Mix with your hands (for both the love, and for the ability to spread the salt more evenly and coat the vegetables thoroughly with oil. Vegetables like massages too.  Ooh…I could go for one of those. I could also go for this salad…If someone could give me both I would probably marry them, or return the favour massage-wise, at least. I digress.).