End of Summer Salad
I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but it is definitely Fall outside here.
It is raining.
This morning, I turned the air conditioning off and will not turn it on again until July.
I spent ten minutes looking for a matching pair of socks in Lulu’s drawer so that her piggies would stay warm at our friend’s house. It was quite the feat. We haven’t needed socks since June, so I haven’t been meticulous in my matching.
I spent twenty minutes convincing Lulu she didn’t need me to get out of the car, stand in the rain, open the trunk, stand in the rain, get out the kid-sized umbrella, stand in the rain, hand her the umbrella, stand in the rain, watch her struggle to open the umbrella, stand in the rain, open the umbrella for her, stand in the rain, hand her the umbrella, stand in the rain, and then walk the eight feet from our car to our friend’s front door.
In the rain.
It’s definitely Fall outside here.
But it’s still summer in my fridge.
End of Summer Salad
Makes 2 entrée sized salads or 4 side salads
- 6-8 c. leafy greens (spinach, romaine or other lettuce blend)
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 jicama, julienned
- 1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 c. chopped cilantro
- 1 ear of corn on the cob
- 1 batch homemade guacamole
Simple Lime Cumin Dressing:
- 2 T. reduced-sodium soy sauce, tamari or Bragg’s liquid aminos
- 1 T. water
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 t. cumin
- agave or stevia to taste (optional)
For the salad, chop lettuce and place in a large serving bowl. Chop carrots, jicama, tomato and cilantro and arrange on lettuce.
I like to place my corn cob right on top of the salad and slice it off the cob straight into the bowl. Less corn ends up under my fridge that way.
Prepare guacamole and set aside. (Or eat half the batch with a bag of tortilla chips that just happens to be lying around).
To make dressing, combine soy sauce or tamari, water, lime juice and sweetener, if using and whisk together.
Pour dressing over the salad and top with any of the guacamole you haven’t eaten already.
And serve.
This afternoon, I fought the urge to turn the heat on and put on a sweatshirt.
I lost the great umbrella war.
And Lulu lost her socks somewhere in our friend’s house and went home with cold piggies.
But for a brief moment, it still felt like summer in my house, and I relished it.
And then I went hunting for rogue socks.
My first thought when I opened this page – Is that jicama?!?!? I love it, but cannot cut it to save my life. I want some!
I love it too! Just use a peeler on the outside and get a big knife and go to town!
I cannot believe I didn’t think of a peeler?! You should have seen me hacking away at it the one time I tried to cut it myself! I threw half of it away.
Oh no, get yo’self a good peeler and treat it like a butternut squash!
That salad looks amazing!
And YOU are amazing for handling yourself in the interview the way you did! I saw it on Facebook and was shocked by that woman! You handled yourself with poise and grace and those are traits that obviously not everyone possesses.
Beautiful salad. And, anything with guacamole on top has to be dee-licious! It’s definitely fall weather in Chicago. Today I wore a sweatshirt all day, and needed both a fleece and a rain jacket when I went outside. And, we pulled the air conditioner out of the window this afternoon. Fall is here, and I love it! But, I’m weird like that.
Mmm, cumin+lime are the best! Especially with guacamole and corn. And kids! They require so much patience! But it’s always worth it to see how happy they are with their accomplishments!
I had a similar experience with my 3 year old about him blowing his nose. If you don’t throw it away, the germs just end up everywhere, kid. I promise. The tissues don’t MAGICALLY make them disappear into the ether. I know you think the germs go away like Lindsey Lohan’s career, but they just don’t.
We have the tissue issue too! Gigi doesn’t blow, just kind of smears, and then leaves the tissue EVERYWHERE. It kills me.
Bizarro, I had a salad exactly like that for dinner. Minus the cilantro of course (aka Dial soap), and jicama, just because I didn’t have it, I totally would have put it on there if I did just to give it props for having a name that is fun to say. Heart you as always.
Lulu kept chanting “jicama, jicama, jicama!” all evening and I think it was my favorite part of the day.
Mismatched socks are all the rage right now. You’re cooler than you realize! I already could tell that though.
You don’t know how much time that could have saved me. Thank you.
yummm! Mama Pea, I don’t know how you do it! I am amazed. Any suggestions for a broke a$$ college student with a $50 per week food budget? I just can’t seem to be able to buy enough food for the week without resorting to ramen and mac n’ cheese. gross, right?
Have you checked out our “Vegan Values” series? (type it into the search bar) This salad is pretty cheap too! I’d buy whatever produce is on sale, get grains in bulk, get canned beans, get nut butter out of the grinders at Kroger or other health food stores, buy nuts and dried fruit in bulk. Where there’s a will there’s a way! But do check out our Vegan Values series!
The *standing in the rain* is what motherhood is all about – it’s not easy is it?!?
I wish that salad had wings – it looks delicous.
Rain??? What’s that? I’d love to see some RAIN in AZ ! I’d actually like the see the temp below 100 too! I should not mock our weather, I lived in Chicago and remember rain and more rain and more rain, and cold and snow and brrr, ok, I love Arizona!
Seriously, Salad looks awesome, maybe it could be my new salad addiction. I addicted to the strawberry chickpea salad!!MmmmmMmmmm
I’m pretty excited to be going to California next week…for my last real dose of summer. Save some sunshine for me!
Do you cook the corn on the cob, or are you eating the corn raw? I’ve never done raw…
It’s raw! It is so sweet, delicious and crunchy raw. You MUST try it!
Gah! I’ve been wasting so much time with the whole pre-cooking thing! Thanks for the tip!
Hope you love it!
This salad looks totally wonderful and something my carnivore boyfriend would love! I’m wanting to go vegan, but have a hard time doing so since my BF eats meat and we’re together a lot. I’m sure he’d love this dish. Is this what you made for dinner for the family, or just lunch for yourself? What are you’re typical lunches and breakfasts (not for the family). I’d love to know! Thanks.
This was lunch for me today, and is pretty typical for me most days. I always do the Hugh Jass salad! Breakfast varies. I’m on a juice kick now, so I’ll either do a green juice or a green smoothie and then some fruit later in the morning if I get hungry. But I also like to throw in some oat bran or oatmeal from time to time too!
“…eat half the batch with a bag of tortilla chips that just happens to be lying around…” Bwahahahahahaaaaaa!
Now we’re talking!! THIS IS WHAT MY KITCHEN (constantly filled with starving teenagers!!!) is like!
Raw carrots + guac is almost as enjoyable, fyi.
That salad is gorgeous! I’ve never had jicama but I think I’d like it from what I have heard.
I thought it felt like Fall here in upstate NY, but then it’s been warm this whole week and 80 degrees F today. I was happily reunited with Jack Frost and now he’s out flirting in other locations.
I’m sure he’ll overstay his welcome soon enough, but I really missed him. I’m not a warm-weather person, as you might have suspected, lol. 
Oh, you’d love jicama, it’s fantastic!
It’s finally, finally getting warm here! YAY! After watching you folk swam around in the sun whilst I shivered in my huge jacket, I have no regrets about proclaiming my joy at summer here
Guac on salad = ace in the hole. I know. It is raining here too, and I was sooooo cold all day. Winter coat time!
and i was wondering why i was compelled to buy a jicama at the grocery store this afternoon!!!
i was going to eat it alone, this way is much better!!!!!
Oooh, good decision!
Ugh, I hear ya. I actually put my boots/skinny jeans/light sweater on today. Good thing I did, when we left our friend’s house in SW Portland tonight it was semi-pouring. That salad sounds so good! Me, I’ve got three different kinds of soup on my menu plan this week!
Oh, you want soups? I got soups
I miss summer already!
Come to Houston! Yesterday was 98 degrees! We get fall around Christmas. Your salad looks so yummy. I think I need to get in the kitchen and make it.
It’s been raining here for days too!
Not my favorite way to see summer go but at least it’s not snow yet!
I love jicama! And I love your corn slicing methodology: less ends up underneath the fridge that way…ha!
And great action shot with the corn/knife. You must have a third hand somewhere to balance the cob, hold the knife, and hold and FOCUS the camera. That makes 3 hands by my math. I could use an extra most days
Yeah, that was tricky.
It’s such a bittersweet time of year, isn’t it? Summer just flew by this year…I’m not ready for the cooler weather yet!
I love summer salads, it is Fall here too now and I know I will definitely miss all the summer produce. I was getting spoiled on all the cheap organic fruits and veggies. Now the more “normal” (ie outrageous) prices are making my wallet cry!
I’ve never tried jicama before but it looks interesting. Maybe I should give it a try sometime.
You should…it’s great! It’s kind of like a cross between a water chestnut and an apple that isn’t sweet…if that makes sense.
OMG, I want that salad. Now.
I hear ya on the rain thing. Yesterday I walked my 5 year old 3 blocks to school. My 3 year old and infant came with, we took the stroller. The 3 year old insisted on walking, carrying an umbrella. It took us 32 days to get there and back. Apparently it is difficult to carry an umbr4lla and walk at the same time. (sigh)
It is SO difficult to walk and carry an umbrella at the same time. Usually I end up carrying my umbrella and then guiding Lulu with the little pointy bobber on the top of her umbrella.
It’s totally Fall here too – meaning LOTS of rain. It puts me in a rather sad mood, but knowing that I can eat copious amounts of pumpkin, squash, and carrots makes me feel better!
Like you though, my fridge is still full of summer – berries, honeydew melon, peppers.. I just can’t let them go! The sweet corn in this recipe sounds awesome. Jenna from ELR got me hooked on slicing the corn straight off the cob into salads earlier this summer, and I like it SO much more than chomping it off the cob (and getting a ton stuck in my teeth in the process!)
Definitely try the corn raw…it’s fantastic!
i have been craving a massive salad like this for the longest time! definitely summer in my tummy too
It is still 85 degrees out here in Atlanta. I’ve been pretending that fall is here by wearing sweaters and boots (honestly, I’m wearing a sweater right now…and sweating), maybe I should just make your salad instead.
I think you should. And then go out without socks.
Fall was not here last night when the humidity actually caused me to turn on fans. I was lying about “misting” and watching “I shouldn’t be alive” on Animal Planet. Funny how even though all their stories are different they are exactly the same in that everyone commits to not dying. I wasn’t that impressed with the hikers on last night, they were only out 4 days. Also, they lit a forest fire to escape.
At any rate, jicama is awesome! I didn’t see it on the ingredients list at first so I was scrolling up and down trying to figure out what that white jicama looking stuff was. I got some at Trader joe’s when they were pushing that new green flavor of hummus and fell in love. Yum!
I can’t wait for the boot weather here. I just want to get through all the ice and snow. I only survive it with my Hunter boots. They are awesome. Fleece boot socks not so much. I will be searching for non $65 non fleece boot socks soon.
I have never seen that show! I agree jicama is amazing.
That salad looks delicious! It’s fall now, but I’m glad it still feels like summer where I live-for now, at least.
For a second I thought the sentence read “I lost the underwear war” and I had to pause.
It’s all kinds of summer here in San Antonio, but I have high hopes for fall. I refuse to bake any pumpkin goods until it gets below 90.
Oh, I lose the underwear war daily. We won’t go into that, though.
That looks yummy. I’ve never used jicama at home, but I bet it’s good in a salad. I don’t know why kids think that we don’t mind getting wet in the rain. I sometimes think my son purposely takes longer to get in and out of the car while I stand in the rain waiting for him.
I rue the day I ever bought that mini-umbrella.
It’s the last gasp of summer here in New England, and that’s the most delicious-sounding (and looking!) salad I’ve seen in a while. Must get the ingredients today!!
This is perfect for the last few warm days (I hope) we’ll be getting. Then I’ll break out the soup.
The latest trend in our school is to wear unmatched socks. This should be welcome for obvious reasons and yet it annoys my left-brained accountant’s mind tremendously!
Really? We did that when I was in 5th grade. I think there’s a story about it in the book (mac n’ cheese recipe).
You should come to Texas. It is still summer here. 102 yesterday around 5:30pm as I drove home from dance and gymnastics. I can’t wait for fall!
LOVE Bragg’s Liquid Aminos…do you ever drink their vinegar?? Best stuff for helping me with acid reflux!
I haven’t tried it, but I keep hearing good things!
My MIL adds jicama to salads, and I always mean to try it on my own. It kind of intimidates me when I see it in the grocery store, though.
Don’t let it scare you! It’s really easy to work with once you peel it and it adds something so special to a salad.
Jicama is one thing that I’ve never used and really want to. I just never even know where to start with it. I’m on board with this salad though. This looks awesome.
This would be a great way to ease your way into jicama.
Nothing beats jicama! I love the crunch. Why does it have to rain today?
I think I need a summer salad!
I’m definitely repeating this for lunch today!
It was fall here last week and I went pumpkin crazy. Now it’s 85 degrees again. I’m confused and so is my fridge.
It’s the shoe situation that is killing me. Ballet flats transcend all seasons luckily.
I love the dressing – my mouth is watering just th inking of it! Soy sauce is one of my favorite salad dressings. Fact. It’s so salty-umami-yummy!
Fact: I could drink soy sauce.
Ahh! Me too!!
I’m ready for the weather to be Fall-like, but I hate saying goodbye to all of those fresh berries that come along with summer…love your guacamole recipe, but I’ve never tried it on a salad…
It’s awesome on a salad!
You pictures are lovely!
Thank you!
Yum!
Had Roasted Chickpea Tacos last night (while hubby had his turkey tacos). Thank you! Where has that recipe been all my life? Definitely one of the best tacos I’ve ever had.
Sorry you had to put up with that awful radio interviewer yesterday. She was certainly a piece of work, but you were awesome! Nice job!
Thanks Lyn! I think we are having tacos for dinner. They are definitely in our weekly rotation.
Wait, there are socks that match??
Jicama! The last time I bought one it was awful. I used to eat it all the time as a kid, so I know I like it. But something was just off about it. But I agree with another commenter that it’s fun to say, so I must buy some again. Especially if I can be the one to chant “jicama!”
Don’t let one bad jicama ruin it for you! Get back on that jicama horse!
Love jicama! We Mexicans, like to snack on it with just lemon or lime juice, salt, and cayenne. This salad looks delicious! I don’t know if the guacamole would’ve lasted til serving time, though, had I made it. Love me some guac!
Mmmmm….simple, but delicious looking salad. Jicama is not a staple in our house, it’s a flavor I’m still not sure if I like or not, but still one I’ll eat. MIght give this a try – need to up my salad intake.
There is no real “flavor” to jicama…that’s the beauty. It’s just crisp and delicious!
for once i have ripe avocados! but i was tempted to add chocolate to them to make chocomole. mmm hard call.
you are making me miss the NW a little less with all this rain talk. and socks talk. i have no idea where any of my socks are and they may not come out until 2012.
Oh my gosh, I am so making chocomole. Good call.
Love the addition of crunchy jicama. Such an underutilized….vegetable? mmm guac
Seriously, why is jicama not the carrot of the veggie world? It’s awesome!
So nice that you made the dressing without oil. I’m trying to limit oil and am not the best at balancing the acid. I’m going to try this! Though adding guac to anything is fabulousness……. Thanks.
I hope you like it! I rarely use oil to dress my salads.
We already had to turn on our heat. Waaah! Also, I love jicama. I think it tastes like raw potatoes, but I still love it.
And now you’ve got me wondering if jicama French fries would work…
Mama Pea, come to Boston! It’s 80F and sunny.
I can’t complain too much…we’ll be in S. Cali next week.
Can I say I am jealous of this thing you call fall? I don’t think us Floridians ever shut off the ac
and I want to go swimming in a bowl of guac right now (damn hormones!). your salad looks tasty
“It was quite a feat.” Touche, good one. Yesterday I almost drowned walking to different hospital buildings. My pants went from tan to wet in 20 seconds…and then there were still the 10 minutes left of the walk. Summer salad, please!
You don’t know how happy it made me that you caught that pun.
Ahh….. the salad days are almost over. I need to try this one before my lunch tastes change.
I haven’t bought jicama in years!!!!! I am always so impressed with your action shots. How do you do that? My attempts are pretty comical. One of these days I might get it right. Can’t wait for you to come to CA!
That action shot I was balancing the handle of the knife against the side of the bowl. I thought about holding the knife with my teeth, but Lulu was watching.
I am fairly certain that I could eat guacamole on just about anything. I have a problem.
You and me both.
BEST Mom ever award for standing out in the rain
Thank you for following up with your publishing company!
& I love guacamole in a salad- it’s my favorite part….I always get extra guacamole when I get a salad from Chipotle.
Oh, just wanted to let you know that I got your signed book
Hooray! Sorry it took so long. I get extra guac too
Holy guacamole. That dressing looks so yummy. If u miss your air conditioning bill I will be happy to share. I will repay you in matching socks.
No way, sister. You’re on your own.
Ah, to live in a reasonable climate. Here in the South, I’m pretty sure I’ll have my AC on for another month, and I’ll probably have to turn it on again in April. Boo.
Love the salad! I am always looking for new ways to use jicama.
I’ve started just eating it straight.
Mama pea,
Can you come up with recipe for vegan croissants? You would be my hero. And p.s. Making recipes from your book has helped me convert my boyfriend (aka the chicken wing connesieur) into a vegetarian. High five.
Thank you
Jen
I would love if that were possible…I am not sure if it is, but I can certainly try!
Laughing out loud…in my bath tub mind you
. Hope you have dried off from “standing in the rain!!”.
Although I want to cry thinking about summer ending…this salad seems like a great way to say goodbye to it!
Can’t wait to make the dressing from this salad especially! It sounds delicious!