Summer Raw Food Recipes Made with Fresh Vegetables

One of my favorite aspects of summer is the delight of picking fresh vegetables from the garden and using them to make my favorite raw food summer recipes. Using raw food at its freshest means the flavor is amazing and health benefits plentiful.

The summer recipes identified below are some of the favorites made by my family for generations. I've modified each to reflect my tastes and you can do the same with these delicious raw food ideas.

Summer Health Food - Vegetable Salad Recipe

This scrumptious salad made with fresh raw foods is easy to make and stays fresh for days. The raw food salad is a favorite at family gatherings and picnics or even nice to make and have in your own refrigerator to enjoy.

Ingredients:

2 cups of broccoli florets, raw and uncooked

1 medium green pepper, diced

1 cup of grape tomatoes, quartered

1 medium red pepper, diced

¼ cup of fresh green onion diced

1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced

1 small jar of green olives

1 cup of Italian dressing - I prefer using fat free.

Cut all the fresh raw vegetables up into small, bite sized pieces. Combine all of the vegetables in a large bowl that has a lid. Pour dressing and olives over the ingredients and mix well. Place lid on bowl and place in refrigerator. The salad should sit for 6-8 hours for the best flavor. This recipe yields about 4-6 servings.

Other variations to this raw food recipe include adding cauliflower, mushrooms or carrots. Be creative and you may discover a new favorite healthy, raw food summer salad of your own.

Delicious Summer Raw Food Recipe - Fresh Tomato, Basil and Balsamic Vinegar Salad

Another wonderfully easy raw food salad to make is this amazing fresh tomato salad. I prefer using either grape or Roma tomatoes, but any variety will work well.

Ingredients:

1 pint of grape tomatoes or 5 Roma tomatoes diced

1 cup of balsamic vinegar salad dressing

4 leaves of fresh basil chopped

Dash of salt and pepper

Cut the grape tomatoes in half or quarters depending on their size and place in a large bowl with lid. Chop the fresh leaves of fresh basil and place over tomatoes. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar dressing over the tomatoes and chill. Depending on the size of the tomatoes add more or less dressing to allow the tomatoes to be fully covered. Let chill 4 to 6 hours and then enjoy the amazing flavor of this simple but flavorful salad.

Raw Food Recipes - Cucumber and Onion Salad

Another favorite summer raw food recipe of mine is fresh cucumber and onion salad. Very simple with just a few ingredients, yet the flavor is wonderful.

Ingredients:

2 small cucumbers or 1 large cucumber - skin removed and sliced

1 medium onion - sliced

1 small green pepper diced (optional)

½ cup of Italian dressing (fat-free) or make own using 1 tbsp. sugar and ½ cup of white vinegar

Slice cucumbers into thin slices and place in bowl. Slice onion in thin slices and combine with cucumbers. To add additional flavor, dice a small green pepper and place in bowl. Cover with Italian dressing or the vinegar dressing and chill for two hours. A simple, yet great-tasting summer health food option.

Enjoy the fresh flavor of summer with these delicious raw food recipes all made with vegetables fresh from the garden. Simple, yet delicious and full of vitamins and nutrients making them the ideal summer health foods.