If you are new to cabbage or beets and wondered what to cook with them, then this is a great salad to start with. It is low in calories and has the right amount of crunch and texture with a dressing to spice things up. Plus, cabbage and beets have many health benefits that make them an excellent choice to include in our everyday diet. For more benefits, keep reading below.
Benefits of Cabbage:
- Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage contain many different antioxidants that have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation
- Cabbage is a great source of Vitamin K and Vitamin C. It has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which may protect against heart diseases & cancer.
- The high amounts of Vitamin C in cabbage is known to protect the body and help it to absorb Iron.
- Vitamin C is also essential for maintaining healthy looking skin & hair as its helps the body to produce Collagen that makes up our skin structure and the flexibility. Think of it as Anti-aging.
- Lastly, Cabbage is high in gut friendly insoluble fiber, which is important for the digestive system to keep things moving. Not just that, but they also contain soluble fiber which helps to increase the gut friendly bacteria in the stomach.
Benefits of Beets:
- This tasty root vegetable can’t be taken for granted, they are a powerhouse high in Vitamin B9 also known as folate which is essential for the body to produce red blood cells. That means, If you ever have low blood cell count Beetroot should be a regular in your diet.
- Beets are also high in nitrates, that are known to reduce high blood pressure and also increase athletic performance.
- Not only that but they are also responsible for improving mental & cognitive functions of the brain. And especially beneficial as we grow older, since cognitive abilities are known to decline with age which is the leading cause dementia.
- Apart from Vitamins and Nitrates, Beets have anti inflammatory properties & anti-cancer properties along with being an excellent source of fiber that is known to improve the digestive health.
- Hence, these small root vegetables are a nutrition powerhouse with lot of health benefits that cannot be overlooked.
Bottom Line:
Cabbage & Beets are very similar type of vegetables that are known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer vegetable. Additionally, they are high in Vitamin C, folate & fiber that are known to improve the gut health, brain function and red blood cells count along with helping us keep our digestive system in check with regular bowl movements.
Cabbage & Beet Salad with Cilantro Pepper Vinaigrette
An easy salad that's low in calories & high in anti-oxidants
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 4 Cups Cabbage Thinly sliced
- 3/4 Cup Quinoa Cooked per directions
- 2 Medium Beets
- 2 Medium Carrots Shaved
- 1 Bell Pepper Thinly sliced
Salad Dressing
- 1 Cup Finely Chopped Cilantro
- 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp. EVOO
- 1 Tbsp. Lime Juice
- 2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Maple Syrup or Honey (use maple syrup to make it vegan)
- 1 tsp. Dijon Mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 400 deg.
- Meanwhile, mix all the dressing ingredients and keep aside. And cook the quinoa (take about 10 mins to cook)
- Place the beets in 2 separate aluminum foil, drizzle with 1 T of olive oil and salt. Wrap them up and place in the oven for 30 mins. If you like them soft keep them in for 40.
- Remove from oven, let them cooldown, peel the skin and chop them up into cubes.
- Take a bowl add the Cabbage, beets, peppers, beets and quinoa. Drizzle the dressing and give them a good toss.
- That's it a super crunchy, healthy quinoa salad is ready.
