Tired of eating the same things all the time, Beauty? Are you stuck in the old, “What should I make for dinner tonight?” rut? I’ve found a way to take vegetables that you might find ordinary (cucumber and carrot), and bring them to the next level! My Cucumber Carrot Bowls are playful, tangy and SO much fun to eat!
Not to mention this dish is loaded with vitamins, nutrients and hydrating properties. Here’s the deal…
Cucumbers: Hydration Hero
Cucumbers are a wonderfully water-packed vegetable, filled with beauty minerals.
The phytochemicals in cucumber cause the collagen in the skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer, and reducing the visibility of cellulite.
Fun fact: You can actually rub a few cucumber slices on pesky cellulite right before going to the pool or beach. Or rub it on wrinkles before a photo op or evening out for younger, fresher looking skin!
Nutrient Shoutout
Cucumbers are high in B vitamins (except for B12), Vitamin C, zinc, iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium and potassium. They will give you energy while helping to repair and smooth the collagen in your skin.
On top of all that, cucumbers are a valuable source of antioxidant nutrients, which include vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. Specifically, they contain flavonoid antioxidants, such as quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol. All of these contribute to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Let’s not forget to mention how these hydrating cukes support the digestive tract, by removing accumulated toxins and waste materials from the blood and gut. How’s that for a beauty food??
Rooting for Carrots
Another star of my Cucumber Carrot Bowls is the humble carrot. This brightly-colored orange root contains super charged amounts of beta-carotene, the precursor for vitamin A. Beta-carotene is necessary for a well-moisturized, shiny hair and for promoting a healthy scalp. And who doesn’t want healthy shiny hair?!
Carrots actually possess strong cleansing properties that are extremely effective in cleansing our livers and removing toxins from the blood. It’s critical for our overall wellbeing to get these nasty toxins out of our bodies so we avoid looking dull and feeling lifeless.
Nutrient Shoutout
Carrots contain calcium, potassium, iron, fiber, vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, K, and biotin (an amazing skin refresher and beautifying properties). They boost your immune system, improve digestion, detox the body and boost oral health.
Carrots and their juices, aid the immune system by helping to defend the body from free radicals, harmful bacteria, and inflammation. In addition, these amazing root vegetables benefit brain health by improving memory and lowering oxidative stress that can weaken nerve signaling capacity.
Adding this fibrous veggie to your beauty routines is just another great way to take the edge off of hunger, while still providing tons of nutrients.
Beauty Herb
The flavor superstar of the Cucumber Carrot Bowls is a bright and zesty herb, cilantro. This herb is definitely one of my faves, not only for it’s flavor, but its cleansing and detoxifying properties!
Cilantro has cleansing and detoxifying properties, and can help chelate (bind and escort out) heavy metals, which are aging and can diminish your beauty. Heavy metals can get into your body from the environment, or even factory farmed meats (you eat what the animals consume!), the water supply, etc.
Since heavy metals can enter the body in a number of ways, let’s be sure to utilize cilantro’s cleansing properties, and reap the benefits for our entire wellbeing.
Throw It All Together
One-bowl meals are my absolute favorite way to throw together a quick dinner. The spiralized veggies mimic noodles in a playful way, while offering way more nutrients… plus kids LOVE to eat them 😉 Get your protein in by adding a piece of tofu or tempeh on top, and you’ve got yourself a completely satisfying and nourishing meal!
So, are you ready to whip up some Cucumber Carrot Bowls for yourself, Beauty? Let me know how it goes!
Cucumber Carrot Bowls Recipe
Cucumber Carrot Bowls
Cucumber Carrot Bowls Author: Kimberly Snyder Serves: 4
Ingredients
- Dressing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 3 Tbs. lime juice
- 2 Tbs. liquid aminos
- 1 ⅓ Tbs. coconut sugar
- ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbs. freshly grated lemongrass
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- Tofu Ingredients:
- 14 oz organic firm tofu, sliced into 2 inch cubes (sub tempeh)
- 1 Tbs. coconut oil
- 1 Tbs. liquid aminos
- 1/2 Tbs. sesame oil
- Salad Ingredients:
- 1 large English cucumber spiralized and patted dry
- 2 small carrots spiralized
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- ¼ cup basil leaves chopped
- 1 cup chopped almonds
- 1 lime quartered
Instructions
- Begin by preparing your salad dressing ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, lime juice, liquid aminos, coconut sugar, red pepper flakes, lemongrass and scallions until sugar is dissolved.
- In a large skillet, heat coconut oil on medium for a minute. Place in tofu squares and saute until golden on both sides. While the tofu is cooking, pour in the liquid aminos and sesame oil. Once tofu is golden on both sides (about 5-7 minutes) set it aside.
- Add your cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, cilantro, and basil into a large salad bowl. Toss in your salad dressing.
- Sprinkle in your almonds and place your tofu on top of your salad. Squeeze ¼ fresh lime per salad and enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was on Instagram!
Lots of love,
This bowl was amazing! So rich and filling! My husband loved it! Will make again.
Sounds super good and I can’t wait to make it! I’m confused though: how does tofu combine if it’s made form soybeans? Does it combine with almonds??
Hi Ariel! Great question. Tofu is considered a protein, and while nuts like almonds are primarily fat in terms of their macronutrient composition, they still have enough protein to be considered a protein when considering food combining! Happy cooking, Beauty! xx
Thank you so much for this recipe! It was the perfect meal for today and absolutely yummy!
Hi,
I don’t know why, but this recipe, along with a few others on your site, are not showing up?? (I see the recipe info. and background, but not the recipe itself). The last thing I see is the “throw it all together” section, but no recipe.
Thanks
Hi Beauty! We made some updates to the website, but you should be able to see the recipe at the bottom of the page now. Let me know if not! xx