Eating Sunshine – Raw Golden Beet Zoodles, Shaved Fennel, and Blueberries Salad with Hemp Seeds and Oranges Recipe

Golden Beets, oh how I love you. You might even replace red beets in my affection, at least for the summer.

I recently picked up some gorgeous, golden beets to renew my acquaintance. For some reason, it had been a long time since I had them, but you can bet that I won’t make that mistake again. Golden beets are like eating sunshine and, if we are talking about eating for the chakras, they are a Solar Plexus chakra food which is our energetic power center.

Golden beets are slightly sweeter and softer than red beets and perfect to make golden zoodles in the spiralizer! Red beets have an earthier flavor and are counted as a root chakra food. Bonus for the golden beets, they do not stain like the red. And the nutrients are slightly different due to the golden, sunny color.

Golden or yellow beets are heart healthy, excellent kidney and body cleansers, high in powerful antioxidants, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, treats anemia and fatigue, and more. They decrease the risk of heart disease and helps in the prevention of various cancers, and are also good for eyes and skin. One Green Planet

The recipe for the Raw Golden Beets, Fennel, and Blueberries Salad with Hemp Seeds and Oranges came about during a dig through the refrigerator as I was tossing veggies that needed using up on the counter. Shaved fennel is another spring and summer favorite for salads (nutritious too!) and beet and fennel pair scrumptiously. I used my mandoline to get a thin slice on the fennel and the spiralizer for golden zoodles!

Who needs a dressing when you have a sack of heirloom navel oranges? The sweet of the oranges brings the golden beets and fennel together and the blueberries add a nice tang. Plus we bring in more of the nutritional benefits of yellow/orange foods:

Orange and yellow color skin and meat are packed with nutrients containing such vitamins and minerals as vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin A, potassium, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, and lycopene. Antioxidants are in abundance in orange and yellow foods along with vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients that not only help to decrease your risk of cancer and heart disease, but are good for your eyes and skin as well. One Green Planet

Hemp seeds are a fun, healthy addition to any salad and bring omega fatty acids and more antioxidants to the party. Perk it all up with a few turns of sea salt and dig in. No waiting required.

This is a great recipe for picnics and the summer since it will hold up well in the heat and also make everyone love you for bringing something so good. Don’t forget to save the beet and fennel greens for a pesto or to add to another salad!

Ingredients (makes enough for 2-4):

• 2 raw golden beets, peeled and spiralized. If you don’t have a spiralizer, just slice them on a mandolin.
• 1 large fennel bulb, sliced thin
• 1 pint blueberries
• 2 – 3 navel oranges with skin and pith removed
• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup mint – chopped
• Sea salt

Directions:

Remove skin and pith of the oranges and set aside in a bowl. Peel and spiralize beets. Slice fennel on the mandoline. Wash blueberries. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands so the zoodles don’t break. Use additional mint to garnish. Enjoy!