{Virtual Vegan Potluck} Rainbow Salad with Chilli-Mint-Lime Dressing
November 16, 2013 48 Comments
Welcome to the Virtual Vegan Potluck and a beautiful, warm spring day at my place.
The tiny vegans have set the table on the verandah, and 7-year-old Tiny Vegan is waiting to pour you a refreshing drink. Just be careful where you rest your glass – Little Baker (21 months) may snatch your ice or straw!
Sit down, relax, and enjoy the view of distant mountains while you indulge in a bowl of my potluck offering: Rainbow Salad with Chilli, Mint and Lime Dressing.
This colourful salad is a scrumptious medley of vegetables, herbs and dry-roasted cashews. A flavoursome, mildly spicy dressing of red chilli, coconut sugar, lime, garlic, tamari, and mint leaves completes the recipe. 
Ingredients
serves: 4-6 as a side salad
2 x medium zucchini, chopped into matchsticks (I use a julienne peeler)
2 x medium carrot, chopped into matchsticks (again, I use a julienne peeler)
1 medium red capsicum (bell pepper), thinly sliced
1 shallot (green or spring onion), finely chopped
1/2 cup beetroot (beet) leaves, destalked, and finely chopped
2/3 cup finely chopped coriander, stem and leaves
6 large, fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
1/2 of a medium raw beetroot (beet), peeled and grated
1 cup raw cashews
for the dressing:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red chilli (birds eye), seeds removed, and finely chopped
6 large, fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
juice and pulp of 1 freshly-squeezed lime
1 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
1 tsp coconut sugar or brown sugar
1/4 tsp vegan fish sauce (optional)
Method
1. On a low-medium heat, dry roast the cashews in a fry pan or skillet until they begin to turn golden brown. Set aside.
2. Prepare the dressing: Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl or glass jug, and mix well with a fork. Set aside.
3. Add the vegetables and herbs to a large mixing bowl in the order that they are listed. Mix well, but gently. Then add the dry-roasted cashews (set a few aside for garnishing). Toss the salad gently until the cashews are incorporated.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss to distribute the dressing.
5. Garnish with mint or basil leaves, and cashews.
6. Serve immediately.
The Tiny Vegans’ Verdicts
Regular readers know that I usually mention the opinions of the tiny vegans (my children).
In this case, only 9-year-old Tiny Vegan and Little Baker were offered the Rainbow Salad. They both enjoyed their portions.
The addition of a tiny amount of chilli in the dressing makes this salad a ‘tiny vegan’- friendly recipe. If you prefer a spicier dressing, add the chilli seeds as well.
I hope you have enjoyed your time with us. Your food journey continues! To visit The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado, and indulge in Megan’s delectable recipe, click here.
If you missed the delicious offering from Janae at Bring Joy, click here.
If you want to go to the beginning of the Virtual Vegan Potluck, click here.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you again soon.
I apologise for the beetroot stain on your shirt – Little Baker doesn’t usually throw food. :)
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Ally :)
…to The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado
***
…to Bring Joy
Thanks to Annie and Keely for their support and assistance.
About Ally
I just love how colourful your salad is Ally! I bet it’s full of zingy flavours too! Happy VVP! :D
P.s, your go back link doesn’t work, it should be http://bring-joy.com/2013/11/15/virtual-vegan-potluck-roasted-beet-quinoa-salad-cranberry-sweet-potato-chutney/
Hi Poppy, my neighbour from the last potluck! Oops, thanks for organising me. :)
I’m looking forward to seeing your recipe. I hope you are well. :)
I know, I missed you this time round Ally! :( Maybe we’ll be neighbours again in the future! Thank you, yes and I hope all is well in your part of the world too :D
Gorgeous salad and that dressing sounds so refreshing! xx
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for your kind comment. I am looking forward to checking out your recipe. :)
So pretty and colourful! The flavours sound amazing as well…so fresh and tangy. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! Thanks. It’s good to see you at the VVP. :) I hope you are well.
Oh the dressing! I will be trying that soon.
Hi Trish! I adore the dressing. I hope you like it too. :) Thanks for visiting!
Packed with veggies and wonderful flavors! And I don’t mind at all the beet juice stain ;-). Goes with the territory.
Thanks for joining the Potluck!
Oh, I’m relieved that you are not affronted by a beet stain!
Thanks for your hard work, Annie. It is very appreciated. :)
This looks really scrumptious Ally. Excellent salad material for our coming summer and might even make it to my Christmas table it looks that promising :).
Hi narf7!
Is it warm enough in Tassie for salad yet?! It’s definitely salad weather here.
Lots of green and red in this salad, so I suppose it looks christmas-y too.
Are you in VVP this time?
No, too busy trying to knock out our studies and get into the garden. We just finished making our HUGE tennis court sized fully enclosed veggie garden and I am madly digging and planting in between banging my head on the desk (it helps ;) ) trying to navigate OH&S for web design. Your recipe looks gorgeous and will definitely be getting front and centre place on our Christmas table :). Just starting to warm up here but it has gone from freezing cold to pretty warm and the poor greenery doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going ;).
What a lovely and colorful salad! The chili-lime dressing sounds amazing, too! :)
Hi Allison!
Thanks! I am looking forward to seeing your VVP offering. I’ll get there…eventually! :)
I think this is one of the prettiest salads I’ve ever seen. Just lovely Ally!
Hi Somer!
Thank you! I appreciate your generous comment. :)
Looks lovely, I love a rainbow salad!
Also, thanks a bunch for the shoutout – I hope I was able to assist in any way you needed :)
You’re welcome :) Thank YOU.
Thanks Keely :)
Looks so beautiful, so colorful and SO delicious Ally!!! I love it!
Thanks Brandi! I’m looking forward to seeing your recipe. :)
WOW! This salad looks like it would PUNCH you in the face with flavor!! AMAZING. I love the sound of that dressing, can I have a GIANT bowl of this please!?
That chili mint lime dressing looks incredible!
Sounds wonderful (especially that dressing)!
what a terrific hued salad for tiny vegans and bigger vegans alike.
Gorgeous! I love slivered beets in salads. The flavors of your dressing sound divine! Nicely done :)
Oh my goodness – this looks amazing! Will definitely be adding this to my recipe book!
Gorgeous salad! I love the addition of cashews to just about anything. They really spice up a salad :)
All the colours are so gorgeous! I would happily gobble this up at a potluck. I like that you added cashews for some extra crunch.
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I love how colorful this dish is! Perfection.
That dressing sounds AMAZING. Gorgeous salad!
That dressing looks delectable. I could pour it over so many things. Nice meeting you at the potluck! :)
A beautiful salad and mouth-watering dressing! I love your intro, Ally! It sounds like you have some helpers. Lately, I’m just getting “mom, is it done yet?” :)
That dressing sounds delicious!!! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing this with us.
You’re welcome:) Thanks Nikki.
Beautiful!
Hi Natalie! Thanks. :)
Hey Ally, just wanted to let you know that I included your awesome salad in the list of my favorites from this VVP! The post is here, if you want to see it: http://wp.me/p3LYmB-b5
Thank you for your recipe!
-Alina from Vegan Runner Eats
Hi Alina! That’s great. Thank you. :) I still haven’t made my way through the entire VVP.
Hey Ally! I’m still working my way through the potluck and I’m only at salads. Anyway, your salad is lovely chica – so colorful! Great potluck dish! Celeste :)
Lovely salad, so many beautiful colors! Like Celeste, I am still working my way through the potluck, ha ha. Loving your dressing, great flavor combinations.
Thuis evening, I made this divine salad with that smashing dressing!!!! It was divine!!!!! Xx
That’s great Sophie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. :) And, thanks for telling me.
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