Cucumbers, peppers, salads...?

[TurbulentFluid]

I love to include veggies as salads in my meals, specially breakfast and dinner. They're bulky + low cal, and my idea of a salad sometimes - just sometimes- beside the vegetable contains some vinegar or lemon acid.
I usually eat tomatoes, but they're out of season now, so I'm hunting for different/better food choices... I love pickled stuffs, so how about pickles, pickled peppers, cabbage...? I love raw cabbage and lettuce too, but those take time (grate/cut up/wash...). Pickled stuff is so practical, is there any real objection to it? (If I buy organic with no unnecessary extra E's)? I heard pickles cause bloating due to soda (and I'm very prone to bloating due to food alergies), is that true?

Thanx a bunch!

[Mindi912]

this gonna sound a little strange but it really good.

I put either grapes or mango into my salad, it kinda gives that edge and you don't end up feeling like you need a salad dressing...

I also pop in some radishes they are good, no need for anything pickled with these in your salad (not a pickle fan)

[bbbom]

Most pickled food I've eaten has been pretty high sodium but it tastes good!

I make my own salad dressing for regular salad mix 1 tablespoon of flax oil with 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.

1 Tablespoon of Flax Oil with a Tablespoon of lime juice is pretty good too.

I put it into a washed & dried 35 mm film canister then put that into a ziplock baggie because it tends to get messy in my lunchbox otherwise.

As far as a substitute for tomatoes, that's a tough one, I love fresh grown tomatoes. Maybe a low sodium salsa could help?

[jadore]

I'm not really a pickle fan myself either. Maybe you could try raw red onion? Has sort of a bite to it. I dice these and put in salads.
This is a good link that explains bloating/pickles:
http://energizedeating.com/blog/?p=54

[TurbulentFluid]

Thanx everyone... Um no I have no problems SEASONING my salads and there's NO WAY I'm about to eat any onions (I stink all day!), I come from a culture where salad seasoning is and remains on vinegar and maybe some olive oil... I kinda eat this stuff (tomatoes, pickles...) as THE salad. Anyway, thanx a lot, I have something to work on now! :)

[pacificgrl]

how about sundried tomatoes? they're a little pricey but if you buy them dried (vs soaked in oil in a jar) and soak them in warm water they get pump and they're incredible in salads. there are recipes for sundried walnut pate which are killllller! you could put that on top of a salad or just do lettuce wraps with the pate.

since pickled things are high in sodium could the cravings for pickled stuff be due to dehydration? you might like canned artichokes or hearts of palm too.

also try raw red cabbage w/granny smith apples, goat cheese, and cabbage. very yum.

[Mindi912]

how about sundried tomatoes? they're a little pricey but if you buy them dried (vs soaked in oil in a jar) and soak them in warm water they get pump and they're incredible in salads. there are recipes for sundried walnut pate which are killllller! you could put that on top of a salad or just do lettuce wraps with the pate.

since pickled things are high in sodium could the cravings for pickled stuff be due to dehydration? you might like canned artichokes or hearts of palm too.

also try raw red cabbage w/granny smith apples, goat cheese, and cabbage. very yum.

receipe for pate please :D

[TurbulentFluid]

since pickled things are high in sodium could the cravings for pickled stuff be due to dehydration?

What cravings? I don't have any cravings. Specially not for pickled things. I'm just looking for practical salads. Pickled stuff is practical: get out of jar -> put into mouth, ideal for someone who has 15 minutes to prepare and eat breakfast. That's why I'm interested... Any better suggestions for salads?

[buff*n*stuff]

I've been using these in my salad lately. Sweet but hot if that makes sense. Sodium for a serving is about 280mg's. Not too bad...I don't think. The serving is about 3 peppers cut up. Really adds some great flavor to a salad. Let me know if you try them.

[JoyP]

Jalapeno peppers or beetroot :)

[kaspar_19]

I know it's an acquired taste, but I like adding dulse to my salads (seaweed). You can by a seasoning at our natural market here, and many people use it as a salt substitute because it brings out the flavour. Adding a bit of hemp oil to a turkey, pepper, and onion salad makes it taste great!! Sometimes I add things like strawberries, blueberries, saskatoon berries, pineapple, or apple. Adding apple to a cabbage salad with dill dressing is amazing! As for pickles, I love them too< I eat them out of the jar with a fork, and I don't feel guilty at all. Just as long as you don't go overboard on your sodium for the day, I think pickles are perfectly fine.

[kaspar_19]

oh, and I forgot to add...>!! things like hummous, tzatziki, or even PASTA sauce are great for dressing up a salad! My latest favourite is putting a pasta sauce on top of avocado, bell pepper, and steamed mushroom salad, then dressing it with a bit of parmesan cheese (you only need a bit for a lot of flavour! lol

I could go on an on about salads...

[Callie]

I like to add a bit of dijon mustard to oil and vinegar! Makes it a bit zippy!