As soon as the sun comes out I start dreaming of lazy afternoons on patios with friends and mojitos. It wasn’t that kind of day so I settled for a mojito inspired salad. Limes are very high in vitamin C, so much so that they were used to save British sailors, or “limeys” from scurvy. Like lemons they contain several other nutrients and are cleansing and detoxifying. Mint is high in antioxidants and is very soothing and anti-inflammatory inside and out, making it healing for skin infections or upset stomachs. Mint grows like a weed so it is a good starting point for anyone who wants to try growing their own herbs because it is pretty hard to kill.
The prawns are high in protein and low in fat, making them a great food for spring time when many are trying to drop any extra winter weight in time for beach season. They are also a great source of several important vitamins and minerals, including selenium. Selenium has antioxidant properties and is necessary for a healthy immune system. While it can be in many sources, the levels in soil in many places is progressively lowering, thus there is not as much in the plants that grow from that soil or in the animals who eat those plants. Luckily several fish and shellfish sources are still highly concentrated.
- 5 cups peas (fresh or frozen and thawed)
- 4 cups mesclun greens
- ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled up
- 2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced
- Prawns
- 12 oz raw prawns (around 20), peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon cold-pressed olive oil
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- Dressing
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 small lime)
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, shredded
- 1 tablespoon cold-pressed olive oil
- Combine the peas, greens, cheese and onion in a large bowl.
- Prawns
- Heat a medium sized skillet over medium heat on the stove with the olive oil. Once warmed add in the prawns and cook for 4-5 minutes until pink, flipping them half way through. Add in the honey and toss to combine so they are all lightly glazed.
- Dressing
- Mix all the ingredients together then toss with the salad ingredients and add in the prawns.