As an ex-pat living in Haiti, there is a struggle to eat and stay healthy. Between food options and stress levels, we can really struggle! I see lots of other ex-pats curious about how to eat healthier meals, especially when there isn’t a grocery store nearby. So, I thought maybe I could share some recipes I love to use for our family to keep things low-carb and high on the health-factor.
One of my favorite go-to meals is this super-easy oriental inspired salad that you can use with pretty much any vegetable you can find at the local market. The only things that would need to be purchased at a grocery store would be soy sauce/tamari/coconut aminos (whatever is your preference) and maybe honey, if you couldn’t get it at your local market. The good news is that both of these items can be kept on a shelf for quite some time!
INGREDIENTS:
- head of cabbage
- carrots
- onion
- cucumber
- bell pepper
- any greens you can find (tops of beets, local spinach, etc) *optional
- peanut butter (try to buy the kind without sugar)
- citwon (lime)
- ginger
- honey *optional
- soy sauce (tamari or coconut aminos are great options too)
DIRECTIONS:
Remove the outer leaves and shred the head of cabbage. Wash & chop up all other veggies to your size preference. Set aside.
For the sauce: whisk together about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of peanut butter (this recipe is great with the spicy peanut butter we get here in Haiti), the juice from 2 citwon (about the equivalent of 1 regular lime), about two tablespoons of soy sauce, and honey* (if using) to taste. I love to add in fresh grated ginger if I can find it, too!
* I usually avoid adding honey, because it is difficult to get it in its purest form, so I buy whatever is in the store and use sparingly (or when I know the kids are more likely to eat what I’m serving if there’s a little honey added). For this sauce, I usually make it without the honey and then drizzle a little on top if the kids don’t love it.
Add a little drinking water at a time to thin the sauce into more of a dressing. Give it a little taste and then add peanut butter or other items to taste.
TIP: Add a fried egg and some avocado for some good fats and extra protein!
