We are having friends over tomorrow evening for a small barbecue and I will be serving this easy, delicious, tangy salad dressing over fresh greens from our garden.
We started our garden very early and have planted literally dozens of green veggies in it. The boys are enjoying the many different types of kale that are now growing like weeds. I am particularly fond of the bitter greens –mustard and arugula. My husband loves them all and asks for a bigger pile of greens every night at dinner. I think I’m finally harvesting enough for him.
We actually have a bit more space in our front yard than the back, so we packed veggies in all over, with total disregard for convention. We are going to be tilling up a patch of lawn in the very front of our yard to plant hard squash, which my little boy (not so little, he’s now 9!) loves.
We have so much bounty already, that I sometimes joke I may need to start my own CSA this summer. Let’s just say I haven’t bought greens from the store in a couple of weeks and we’ve been eating tons of the good stuff every night for dinner.
- 2 tablespoons umeboshi plum paste
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1 small clove garlic, pressed
- Place all ingredients in a vitamix and puree until smooth
- Serve over your favorite fresh or steamed greens
The dish pictured above is steamed kale with slices of apple and of course, this Umeboshi Cucumber Dressing.
Well, summer seems to finally be here. The boys are out of school, we’re harvesting vegetables and we’ve had a nice spell of hot weather!
We’re heading off to my parents house for a visit next week where the boys will be spoiled with non-stop fun. With all of that and our lush garden, the spell of summertime is beginning to sink in quite pleasantly. I hope you all are beginning to surrender to the “spoils” of summer as well.
Michelle says
I justvstumbled across your site today and I dont know how or why, but I did and I am sooo glad that I did. One of my favorite veggies is cucumber and I had a big jar of umeboshi plums in my fridge that I normally use when I make sushi or just to munch on when I need a quick pick me up. I had never thought to make a sauce with them. This was heavenly. I was all out of olive oil so I used MCT oil and just a sprig or two of fresh cilantro and served this over cucumbet noodles. It was indeed heavenly, light and Fresh with the perfect amount of slight sweet and salty. I will always be keeping this on hand. And it is my new favorite dressing! AHHHH-MAZE-ING!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
CoconutGal says
Fantastic!!!
I stopped at a small health food store on my way home this morning and to my delight they had this plum paste! (I hadn’t been able to find it anywhere else). I rushed home and whipped up this dressing, served it on top fresh local greens, raspberries, and grilled chicken. Perfection! I don’t normally photograph my food but it was so pretty I took a picture of it! Perhaps you can give me the link to your Flickr group and I will add it?
I just had to pop online for a sec to say thanks :-)
Although I love your desserts, I think your veggie recipes are my favorite. Thanks Elana, hope you are well today xoxo
elana says
Hi There CoconutGal,
Hope you are well, dear!
Here is the link to my flickr group. Look forward to seeing your rendition xoxo
elana says
Thanks for your comments everyone! So sweet and thoughtful.
Yes, Rachel, please be part of my CSA ;-) and Luci, as for your comment, I had not ever seen/heard the word “potager” until you mentioned it. I looked it up; thanks for teaching me something new!
Good luck to all of you on your gardens this summer!
xo Elana
Luci says
The day I have dirt again….have you considered doing a potager? Since it’s going in the front yard, you might like that method.
Please take pictures! I miss dirt. ….sniff
John says
Looks so good!.
Thank you for sharing
http://www.ahacook.com
Jennifer says
That looks so yummy!
gfe-gluten free easily says
I keep reading about umeboshi, but haven’t tried it yet in any form. I want to though. Great job on all the greens. Have fun with your family, and I love your new header!! Well, I really don’t know how new it is, but I just noticed it LOL … the almond heart is so appropriate for you!
Shirley
Natalie says
This sounds delicious. I just found grape seed oil Vegenaise at our local natural foods market. So I’m going to try making your other dressings.
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
CoconutGal says
Your yard full of greens sounds wonderful. Such a cool thing to be able to eat them so fresh (and much cheaper I assume), I cannot wait until we have a yard one day!!
This dressing sounds GREAT, such an interesting combo–I first read about Umeboshi vinegar on your blog long ago and fell in love with it. It has such a unique flavor.
I would say it doesn’t feel like summer (to me) until I have my first pint of local organic strawberries. They will hopefully be here soon and then I really know it is summer :-) Yumlicious.
Have a great time at your parents this week.
jyoti says
The line “I haven’t bought greens from the store in a couple of weeks” is just so heart warming and satisfying. I’m going to have to work on that myself.
Rachel says
I’m so jealous of this one thing, that living in a motor home means no garden for us. I would be happy to purchase from your CSA while we’re in Golden!!
Thanks for the recipe with Umeboshi. I always have it on hand.
Meagan says
I am so encouraged when I read that your boys and hubby love vegetables. My brother and Dad are so anti-green and my mom and I are working so hard to change this! There is hope, but they are convinced that vegetables are “girly” and not manly. It’s frustrating! As for the Umeboshi, I’ve heard of it and seen it in stores, but never have really understood it’s purpose until now. And I love Vitacost too!