Don't you love traditional foods? I do. But my foodie versions are always UN-traditional. Three bean salad is a top South African favourite salad to have with a braai (our popular version of a barbeque). It is generally made with tinned beans and a sugary dressing. I, of course, do not like tins and also avoid sugar. Traditional three bean salad is served as a side dish while in my house it is the main dish. And today it was devoured with the hopes of moist chocolate cake as dessert.
My health ideas still focus largely on raw. The purpose of eating more uncooked food is that your body loves - and needs - enzymes. Many foods lose minerals and vitamins when cooked at high temperatures. Naturally there are foods that have to be cooked - like dried beans - but there are so many legumes that are a powerhouse of vitality when sprouted.
You can sprout any variety of legumes for a bean salad. Lentils are easy but I prefer chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and mung beans. Soak overnight. Rinse in the morning and give them at least another day to sprout - rinsing well. I love butter beans. They are so creamy and packed with protein. I soak and cook my butter beans well in advance.
Our neighbours blessed us with a couple kg of wonderful green beans. Our own garden provided the onions, garlic and peppers. I would've preferred red onions but we don't have any at the moment.
BUCKAROO BEAN SALAD:
2 Cups Cooked and rinsed Butter beans
1 Cup Sprouted Chickpeas
1 Cup Sprouted Mung beans
1 Cup chopped Green beans
2 small onions finely chopped
1 garlic clove
1 large Red Pepper chopped
BEAN SALAD DRESSING:
1/2 Cup Tahini
1/2 Cup Oxymel (or ACV and 6 pre-soaked dates)
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Dash of salt and cayenne pepper
Chop all the ingredients together for the salad. Using a stick blender mix your Tahini dressing. Pour it liberally over your bean salad. Refrigerate. It is best to allow the Bean salad time to absorb all the wonderful flavours. So prepare a day before you intend to eat it.
In my case I prepared the yummy chocolate cake in advance too.... The bowls of chilled bean salad was such a treat with icy fruit kefir. We are still in the clutches of a terrible heat wave. Cold food and cold fermented drinks are very welcome. Especially when it is followed up by cold chocolate cake. The BuckarooBabies came for seconds of Beans before asking for that moist dessert!