Beet and Carrot Salad ala Ripe

I have been on a lecture tour of New Zealand teaching in both Auckland and Christchurch and waiting to teach this weekend in Napier. But I have a few days to relax here in wonderful Havelock North and I've been wanting to make a salad that I had a lovely little cafe in Grey Lynne called Ripe. The salad was called Raw Energy - made of beets and carrots in a wonderful sweet/sour dressing.  I got the recipe from my friend, who owns the cookbook, but I adapted it slightly and converted into US measures.  

This is a very satisfying salad - you just know it is healthy, but it is so tasty too.  The beets and carrots are both very grounding and good for building the blood and supporting the function of the spleen and pancreas. I added some red onion as I like that extra zing that it gives the salad and I think it balances the flavors just a bit better. And, I didn't have any Pomegranate Molasses so I increased the Balsamic Vinegar and also used a bit of lemon juice as well to achieve the right tartness. The only hard thing about this salad is all the grating you have to do as beets are really very messy. But this salad is worth it!  It would be a good one to bring to a potluck.

Beet and Carrot Salad ala Ripe

1 pound of Beets, peeled and grated

1 1/2 pounds of carrots, peeled and grated

1 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds and 1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds, toasted lightly in a frying pan

Dressing:

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons Orange Juice

1/4 cup Olive Oil

1 - 2 Tablespoons Honey

Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust sweetness accordingly.  Put the beets, carrots, red onion pieces, mint leaves and raisins in a large bowl.  Pour over dressing and toss to coat.  If serving immediately, add in the seeds. If holding for later, put seeds aside and toss in when ready to serve.

Five Element Analysis

Carrots both belong to the Earth Element and Beets are both Fire because they are red and Earth because they are so sweet, so those elements are covered. The raisins as dried fruit are also Earthy and Fiery both and add even more of each element. The seeds bring in the Water Element, the Balsamic Vinegar, Citrus Juices and Olive Oil contribute the Wood Element and the Red Onion and Mint adds in the Metal Element.  This then, becomes a balanced dish!