This is my favourite raw vegan salad. It is fresh, it is sweet, savoury and an explosion of flavours! I am sure you will love it as much as I do!

Its main ingredients are apples and celery which have so many benefits for the body that they have been referred to as “nutritional powerhouses”. Apples and celery are fantastic sources of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They contain magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, sodium, phosphorus, phytonutrients, flavonoids, phthalides, fibre and folate, to name a few.

Magnesium aids in soothing and calming the nervous system which helps one sleep better and feel less stressed.

Potassium and phthalides aid in the relief from stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, et cetera. In addition to this, potassium has been found to speed up the metabolism and enhance muscle strength.

Vitamin A protects the eyes and aids in the maintenance of a good level of vision. It has been found that one large stalk of celery and one large apple contain 5% and 2%, respectively, of the daily recommended amount of vitamin A for a person on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Vitamin C and phytonutrients such as polyphenolic compounds, which are found in apples are powerful antioxidants which boost the body’s immunity and provide protection from damaging effects of free radicals.

B-complex vitamins aid in the maintenance of the nervous system and red blood cells.

The water content and fibre found in apples and celery aid in the easy passage of stool. As stated by the NHS, the fibre alongside butylphthalide found in celery aid in the reduction of bad cholesterol in the blood. According to a study carried out by Chicago University (which was profiled by the New York Times), the amount of butylphthalide found in four stalks of celery can reduce the bad cholesterol found in the blood by up to 7%.

Flavonoids such as luteolin and triterpenoids found in celery and apples, respectively, have remarkable anti-cancer properties especially when it comes to the prevention and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas, liver, breasts and colon.

I guess just these two ingredients make this a superfood bowl!

Without further ado, here’s the recipe for my favourite salad:

Ingredients (serves 1)

2 celery sticks
1 medium-large apple
Raisins
3 medium strawberries
Lime juice (optional)

Method

• Slice and chop (or mince) two celery sticks into really small pieces and pour into a bowl
• Chop the apple into roughly the same size as the celery, pour it into the same bowl and mix everything up well.
• Add in your preferred quantity of raisins. I tend to add about a handful. Mix again.
• Slice some strawberries vertically into a few strips then horizontally cut some of the strips.
• Gently mix in the strawberries to ensure that they are not just at the top of the salad. If the strawberry process does not happen last, trust me, you will end up with a red salad and mushy strawberries instead of a perfectly colourful salad.
• Pour some freshly squeezed lime juice over the salad, if you wish. I do not always add the lime juice when making this salad. However, if you like the idea of a salad dressing (which I’m not a fan of), you can include the lime juice.
• Cover with cling film/saran wrap/plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for a few minutes or until your main meal is ready if, like me, you tend to have two parts to your dinner.