It kind of amazes me that I haven’t ever shared this recipe before. It’s for a spirulina zucchini noodle salad that I make several times a year. It came about when I first got into the raw food lifestyle back in 2009. So much about that lifestyle has changed my life and understanding of produce for the better.
Spirulina was one of those healthy tidbits I picked up on. If you’re not familiar it is a green algae powder with substantial health benefits including minerals, b vitamins, protein, and more. It’s on the milder side imo, so if you like nori there’s a good chance you will also like spirulina.
This green bombshell of a salad contains fresh vibrant cilantro, zucchini, celery, green onion, rainbow carrots, grape tomatoes, spirulina, and a few seasonings.
Spirulina will add a subtle sea vegetable taste, if you’re not sure you’ll like it — start with a 1/4 teaspoon and work up to 1 teaspoon. Using fresh herbs and lemon juice means you won’t need a dressing. That’s a good tip for any salad really.
It’s pure green all the way through and every bite feels like summer. I honestly feel the cells in my body glow while eating it. Sorry I’m just sharing it now.
Please forgive me. 😏
I used a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, but a 1/4 of an avocado would be good too. I’m a minimal oil user, but love touches of walnut, olive, and avocado oils from time to time depending on the dish. Whole food fats like avocado are my favorite though.
Did you know there are trace amounts of fat in many vegetables? A little fat—just like fiber—helps us absorb many nutrients better, like lycopene and beta-carotene.
Spirulina Zucchini Noodle Salad
- Calories per serving: 179
- Fat per serving: 6 grams
Additional Nutrition Information || fiber: 8 g • protein: 11 g • vitamin a: 464% • vitamin c: 106% • calcium: 10% • iron: 49% • vitamin b1: 332% • vitamin b12: 216% • vitamin b2: 300% • vitamin b3: 151% • vitamin b6: 267% • vitamin e: 10% • magnesium: 22% • manganese: 54% • potassium: 39% • selenium: 17% • zinc: 18%
Ingredients
- 1 small-medium zucchini
- 2 celery sticks, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 6 grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon spirulina
- juice from 1/2 a lemon
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or 1/4 of an avocado
- garlic powder and/or Mrs. Dash to taste
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Spiralize or peel zucchini into ribbons. Toss with seasonings, spirulina, nutritional yeast, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
- Top with remaining veggies.
The easiest way to make zucchini noodles is to use a potato peeler and peel down the length of the vegetable. Today I tested out a new product from OXO (handheld spiralizer), but there are SEVERAL ways to make zucchini noodles. In fact I have 2 posts about it.
I then squeezed a little lemon juice on top.
Added my seasonings (nutritional yeast, Mrs. Dash, and garlic powder) and chopped up the veggies.
Green onions should go on almost everything.
Now for the spirulina. I’ve had this one for over a year and I’m pretty sure I bought it on Amazon. I keep it in the fridge and add it to smoothies, salads, and nori rolls—when I remember. Opt for organic if you can find it.
🌱Spirulina factoids
- Spirulina is a bacteria that grows in fresh and salt water
- Contains B vitamins: 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9
- As well as vitamins A, C, D, and E
- Brimming with minerals potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, and iron
- Is about 60% protein—1 tablespoon has 4 grams of protein, containing all the essential amino acids we need
- Has been shown to help allergies, blood pressure, and anemia [source]
- Aztecs and Mesoamericans consumed this green algae
- Great for hair, nails, and skin
I used between 1/2-1 teaspoon of spirulina.
Toss the noodles and seasonings and add the remaining veggies.
Have you ever tried spirulina before? What is your favorite way to eat it?
We would love to see your food pics! If you give this recipe a whirl, let us know. 💚 Leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag a picture with #feedyourskull on Instagram so I can say hi and repost! xx