A UK survey in 2018 revealed that veganism had increased by 700% in just two years. There are two main reasons why more and more people are switching to this lifestyle: animal cruelty and environmental damage.
The meat industry is intrinsically and extraordinarily cruel to animals. Organisations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have released graphic videos from inside abattoirs and battery farms, shocking viewers with the source of their meat. Similarly, documentary makers have had a huge role in breaking the Cowspiracy, revealing that the meat industry is a bigger contributor to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought. The meat industry is now set to overtake fossil fuels in this regard.
Meat-eaters often joke that vegans just eat ‘rabbit food’ and ‘leaves’. But if you’re considering a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle then you will probably become fairly acquainted with the salad bowl. So, with this in mind, here’s three quirky, tasty – slightly outrageous – rabbit foods (or salads).
The Candle Salad
Interestingly, this recipe has been around since the 1920’s at a time when pineapples were becoming more popular. Half a banana is stood vertically in a stack of pineapples on a bed of salad leaves, acting as the candle. Add either mayonnaise, whipped cream or cottage cheese to create the appearance of dripping wax. Finally, place a cherry on top of the banana for the flame. The finished article will look quirky, cute and would be great for small parties. They often get giggles from guests as the finished product has a questionable resemblance, which is maybe why you’re unlikely to come across them in a shop. Then again, the candle salad is far too healthy to be a supermarket salad.
The Untitled Salad
One recipe has stuck out as bizarre but strangely appealing. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to pull off this oddity: strawberries, cucumbers, avocado, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, red grapes, non-dairy feta cheese and walnuts (and breathe…). There are some unusual combinations in here but it’s reportedly amazing. The mixture of textures and tastes complement each other in an unexpected way. Once you’ve diced your desired portions, you can either mix or arrange the ingredients into sections in a bowl. The latter would be more suited for guests as sections of purple, green, yellow and red ingredients will make for an aesthetically pleasing dish.
The Rainbow Kale Salad
If you’re not too experienced with kale, this salad is a great way to introduce it to your diet. Kale is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and with additional healthy ingredients makes for a detoxing, tasty salad. You will need a few things, including: kale, carrots, bell peppers, onions, almonds, avocado and lemon dressing. Toss the first four ingredients before adding and mixing dressing. Leave it in the fridge for an hour so that the flavours soak in. Toss it again before topping the salad with almonds and avocados.