Tonight’s dinner was inspired by Tuesday’s lunch. On Tuesday, in unseasonably sweltering heat, I met my lovely friend Alina—a fellow raw foods coach—at Caravan of Dreams, which is a vegan lunch spot tucked away on 6th street.
I like Caravan because it has equally extensive raw and cooked menus; it’s all tasty, and it’s easy for me to bring friends or family who are ready to try vegan foods, but not quite prepared to dive into raw dining.
Alina and I quenched our thirst on young coconuts:
… and agreed that we barely had appetites for anything else in the heat. But I know my workday appetite well enough to know that I needed food! I ordered the Thai avocado salad (“a mixture of avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, nori pieces, and carrots served over fresh onganic seasonal greens tossed in Thai spicy citrus dressing“). Of course, I forgot to take a photo (oops!). But fear not: I liked it so much that I decided to re-interpret it tonight.
The meal began with dressing. I played around and came up with the following, and it was absolutely delicious! Sweet, spicy, and infused with basil and cilantro, this dressing is thick enough to serve as a vegetable dip, and rich enough for a dinner salad. Best of all, it’s full of healthy fats and vitamin E.
Spicy Thai Dressing (yields almost two cups)
Ingredients:
1 Avocado
1 cup water
¼ cup cilantro
¼ cup basil
¼ tsp salt (or more)
2 dates, or 1 packet stevia
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper (I must have used 1/8 tsp) and 3/4 inch ginger for heat
Blend all ingredients on high and adjust seasoning to taste. Here’s what you get:
Then I assembled my salad. I started with a green base of spinach, cilantro, and basil. I piled it high with spirals of carrots, cucumber, red peppers, red cabbage, and pea shoots, and I garnished the whole thing with half of a sliced avocado. Here’s the final creation, pre-dressing:
And with the dressing:
It was absolutely delicious! Alongside some baked sweet potato (which I forgot to photograph), it made for a great meal. This one will definitely be a keeper for summer.
So are you wondering how I got the carrot and cucmber to look so lovely? The answer, my friends, is this:
A new spiralizer!!! The lovely people at Paderno World Cuisine were kind enough to send me two of their wonderful Spirooli spiralizers! I’m delighted. While my Joyce Chen spiralizer (a great value at less than $30) has served me very well, I must admit that it’s not quite as useful as this one will be: the Spirooli makes three different shapes (wide ribbons, thin spirals, and thick spirals) and it’s much easier to use, especially for hard veggies, like carrots and beets (which is great, since beet pasta with cashew alfredo is a personal favorite of mine).
So what do you think I’m doing with the other model? Giving it to one of you, of course!!! I’ve been overwhelmed by your collective enthusiasm for veggie pasta, and I’m thrilled to offer one of you a chance to start making it at home. So here we are: my very first giveaway!!
Here’s the deal. To enter, you have to:
1) Respond to this post with a comment naming the raw dish you’re most eager to try at home—with or without the Spirooli!
AND
2) Announce the giveaway on your blog, and send me an email at gena@choosingraw.com with a link to the post in which you do it.
If you don’t have a blog, simply send me an email saying so, and as a special bonus question, tell me what your favorite traditional pasta dish is, and you think you might be able to recreate it with the Spirooli.
I’ll announce the winner on May 11th. I hope many of you will participate, and I’m wishing you luck!
That’s it for now, all – have a great night 
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna." 
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Gena-
Oh, I have been wanting a spiralizer forever now since starting my raw challenge! This one looks awesome and I love that it makes 3 different shapes!!!
I can’t wait to try your “pizza cheese!” Maybe I could eat it with some spiralized veggies?
I love the red pepper soup from bonobos… but I also love spiral-y pasta, so maybe I could put some in the soup!
ooh I would love to win the spirilizer! i really want to try zuchini “pasta”
Gorgeous salad! I would love to be able to make raw pasta look so gourmet, I only made raw pasta, once, for our dinner!
BTW, caravan will always hold a special place in my heart!
i’d like to make a raw chocolate pie w/ coconut cream…i think it’s in ani phyo’s book! otherwise…i’d love to have a spiralizer! i made the zucchini ‘noodles’ with a peeler and it took forever.
loved the salad!
Seriously awesome salad to go with an equally like-minded giveaway!
I’m dying to use it to make Thai salad rolls, one of our favorite meals. Chopping the veg just doesn’t give it the same essence, KWIM?
I would love to make some pasta noodles out of zucchini! It looks sooo amazingly good!
I would love to make a raw sauce and some zucchini noodles!
OMG OMG … the fact that I’m currently trying to incorporate more raw goodness into my diet – means that this is the perfect time for me to get this spiralizer
There are sooo many raw dishes I wanna try
raw ‘nut’ cheese
raw pasta – re: spiralised veges!!!
raw macaroon
raw ‘donut’ holes
..SO many things
can I please ask you one question though, do you tend to eat more ‘warm’ food during winter?? I wonder if it is possible to create ‘warm’ raw food – thanks!!!
I need raw “pasta” in my life. The spiralizer would be a dream.
Gorgeous salad! I love that they serve the young Thai coconuts like that too. NYC really seems to have the coolest places to eat.
I would love to try raw pasta made with beets. I’ve heard it tastes amazing, and it just looks so pretty!
I want to make raw ice cream. I know that doesn’t require a spiralizer, but it sounds delicious.
I would like to make raw pasta as well, with sun dried tomato sauce and maybe some of that cashew sauce that I’ve been hearing good things about
.
Mmm…I would love to try the zucchini pasta! And learn to make pretty carrots like you
I’m going to be in NYC this summer–any tips for yummy, healthy restaurants? (I’m a first time reader…sorry if you have already addressed this!)
Ooh I want to try zucchini pasta too!
xx m
I have been drooling over your raw zucchini alfredo! I haven’t made it yet because I don’t have a food processor OR a spiralizer =(. Winning this spiralizer would bring me one step closer to raw goodness!
I really want to try chia pudding… but with the spiralizer – raw alfredo pasta!
I am most interested in trying borscht! That would be lovely!
That dressing sounds & looks fantastic! I made zucchini fettuccine the other day with a vegetable peeler, but I bet the spiralizer would produce a more uniform pasta shape. That would probably be the first raw dish I’d make if I win!!
I try to make zuchinni pasta all the time without a spiralizer. Not nearly as authentic!
I really want to make a raw zucchini pasta. Not sure what I would put on it. Maybe a raw tomato sauce and some raw walnut “parm”.
I cannot wait to try raw zucchini noodles with marinara and some raw romano…yummm
This sounds great, I would love to have pretty salads like yours…though everyone’s ideas sound yummy!
I really want to try making a raw “spaghetti” that my husband will love. I am trying to incorporate more raw foods into my life, but the hubs had a hard enough time when I went vegetarian. I just know that he will like it if he tries is (he always does.) Thanks!
I would love to make the zucchini noodles that you have in so many of your recipes and use them like pasta. I love this website. Your recipes look so tasty and healthy!
I am so glad that you are giving away a spiralizer!!! ever since I started reading your blog, I have actually been shopping around amazon for one! I would love to make zucchini noodles with the sweet pepper marinara that you featured a couple posts ago. Carrot noodles sound really good too though, so I might have to make it a combo!
oops…my post was the last one, but in all the excitement, I forgot to type in my name, haha :]
what a great giveaway! Ive been dying to try your delicious looking zucchini pasta but have been wishing i had a spiralizer to make it with. and after your post of raw desserts, i’m definitely thinking those are going to be my next RAW attempt
thanks gena!
I have a spiralizer on my birthday list, so I would love to be enjoying a zucchini pasta dish on that special day! I have also been eyeing a whole lot of Chia on these blogs and I would love to try the Raw Chia Holiday Pudding!!!
Oh, that’s so cool! I really want to make that zucchini pasta, it looked so good!
all i have wanted to make lately is raw pata with zucchini- i tried it with a peeler and what a mess!
your dressing and salad look fabulous- how long do you think that the dressing will last?
Oh my gosh! I have been dying to get a spiralizer but haven’t gotten my paycheck yet! I would love to try substituting zuchini for pasta!!!
I am dying to make home made gazpacho. I know it is simple but it is something I have not done! This is super giveaway!
Thank you so much for the chance to win!! I am a vegetarian and this would get so much use at my house!!!
Leslie
I have been dying to make zucchini pasta but have no clue how! I think this would really help!
I long to eat at a restaurant that serves coconuts with straws in them. (yet another reason to travel to NYC soon)
Your Spicy Thai Dressing sounds fab. I’d also use it for an easy veggie dip, and I wouldn’t mind trying it drizzled over some kelp noodles either. Mmmm.
I would love to try to make the zucchini pasta! It looks like light and delicious!
I want to make raw pasta!! I would love a spiralizer, I can see myself eating raw pasta every night haha.
I’d love to try making raw Lara-type bars! and raw “speghetti” with zuchinni!
The raw dish I am most eager to try making at home is raw sushi. I’d use the spirooli to make wide ribbons of carrots to put inside it.
I would love to try the Raw Zuchinni Alfredo! The spiralizer would look great in my kitchen!
That salad looks amazing!!! I would defiantly try your Raw Zucchini Alfredo I have lusting after it!
AH! I’ve been dying to try Ani Phyo’s raw marinara with spiralized zucchini! Zucchini is my favorite veggie hands down. I had the marinara with kelp noodles but I know it will really soar on some spiralized zucchin. I literally just started a blog today so it is very weak but I will be happy to mention your incredible giveaway and will send you a link!
I want to try the raw pesto pasta that the fitnessista made recently!
Hi Gena,
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog and for leading me back to your own fabulous blog!
The Spirooli was next on my list of appliances to get, until…(dramatic music)…my (formerly) reliable, 20-year old Vitamix finally died. Now the Spirooli will have to wait — unless I’m lucky enough to win your contest!
I’ve been struggling with making pasta using a vegetable peeler and it takes me forever to create a reasonable portion for one, so what I’d like to try most of all is creating a family sized meal of pasta using the Spirooli.
I would love to try raw pasta as the real thing is pretty great but it looks like too much work for me to do with a vegetable peeler–I am lazy, I’ll admit it.
I have never tried a raw food meal. I’m a healthy eater, but wanting to get in on raw food and more vegetarian options!
That little contraption would be such a great accessory
I have been seeing zuchini used as pasta noodle, I think that would be so neat to try! With some sort of sesame sauce, yum.
mmm that dressing looks delic!!
I’ve been dying to try two raw recipes-a raw cheese from melomeals and roshi’s raw curry!!!!!!!!
I really want to try making zucchini “pasta”, with some sort of sauce on top!
That salad looks so good! I love Caravan! YUMMM!
I would like to try raw pizza, I’ve yet to make it or try it!
I want to try the zucchini pasta. I saw this on The Fitnessista’s blog and it looked so delicious!!
I would like to try a collard wrap with nut pate and lots of vegetables inside (namely: carrots, jicama–possibly spiralized!, and LOTS of avocado). Oh man, I’m drooling and I just finished breakfast!
I most want to try raw pad thai. I have also been wanting to do the spiralized zucchini ribbons. Thanks for having such a great giveaway – how exciting!!
I’d love to be able to make my own raw zucchini pasta. Yum!
I’d love to make raw mac-n-cheese!
I would like to try raw pizza!
I’m dying to try this recipe for raw ravioli!
http://www.fromsadtoraw.com/Recipes/RawRavioli.htm
Would LOVE to make raw pasta, raw dessert with lots of yummy fruits, ANYTHING! Raw food makes me feel so clean and healthy!
I’m intrigued by chia pudding.
How exciting! I would like to make sweet potato noodles along with maybe parsnip noodles and put into a raw pad thai. I saw a similar dish being served at a raw restaurant once and it looked so good I’ve wanted to give it a go at home.
how neat! i have been looking at making different raw pastas, but wasn’t sure how to make the “noodles” duh this tool totally makes sense! zucchini pasta would be my first toe in the water attempt
awesomeee! i would love to try to make those raw noodles with zucchini! that would be so fun! im linking to the giveaway in my next post
Well now that I heard about the beet pasta with cashew alfredo, its that;)
I would be SO excited to win the spiralizer. It was actually your guest post on another blog that I read that got me interested in the benefits of eating raw. I’m working on incorporating more raw foods into my diet and this would be a great help. I think I would spiralize every vegetable possible and make lots of “pastas.” Thanks!
This giveaway is amazing! The raw dish I would want to try is seriously just zucchini pasta with marinara sauce! Keep it simple. (:
Zucchini “noodles” like so many others! I tried doing them by hand and it just didn’t work out so well :-/.
Plus I would just love my salads with pretty spirals of cucumber, carrots, beets…
Hi would love to win a spiralizer! All of the veggie “noodles” look so delicious. I am really excited to try some; I am also looking forward to trying some collard wraps!
The spiralizer seriously looks like wayyy too much fun
I would love to try a zucchini pasta, but your beet pasta sounds even better. I <3 beets!
I’m really looking forward to trying the zucchini pasta with the cashew alfredo! I keep telling myself i’m going to make it but it would be a whole lot easier with this.
Gena- What a great giveaway. I have been wanting to try raw pasta and the spiralizer would be perfect for that!
What an awesome give away!! I can’t wait to try your pasta and sauce!
i can’t wait to try zucchini pasta!
I would LOVE to make raw pasta pesto! Pesto is by far my favorite!
Love the blog, keep it up!
Raw pasta…Definately!!
i would LOVE to try that beet pasta with cashew alfredo! sounds fantastic!
What a wonderful giveaway! I have the same spiralizer you have, and it’s served me well for years, but it doesn’t do well with harder vegetables like beets and sweet potatoes. So, I’d say I need the fancy spiralizer to try hard-veggie pasta. Beet pasta sounds wonderful!
A SPIRALIZER! I have taken to making zucchini pasta but it takes sooooooo long to peel little strips. I love zuzzhini pasta with pesto sauce…mmmmm…
I absolutely love Thai food. I wanna try that salad using the spiralizer. ^^
I have been dying to try some zucchini “pasta” with raw pesto. Now, if only I had a spiralizer to make it with…
I am with everyone else…..raw pasta! I am new to the raw foods world, so this tool would definitely be a help
This thing looks amazing! I have been toying a lot with incorporating more raw meals into my diet and I think this would help me a lot! I would try to make a pasta inspired dish with zucchini as a substitute.
Hi Gena!
I’m really excited about the zucchini noodles with cashew sauce, and am also really into the massaged kale salad. Also, I’m about to move and get a bigger kitchen, so that I can start “cook”ing more! The spiralizer would be a wonderful addition to my new healthy kitchen. I’m also trying to get my boyfriend to eat more vegetables (he’s kind of a carnivore), and this would be a huge help!
I don’t have a blog, but I’m sending you an email with some of my mom’s favorite pasta recipes that i can’t wait to replicate with a spiralizer. Congratulations on your first giveaway and the success of your website, sweetie!
I would love to try this! I’ve been admiring everyone’s spiralized veggie dishes
I want to try raw ‘cookies’ … and if I win this, I will make lots of spiralised veges
I just ordered an Excalibur! First dishes on my list when it gets here??? Raw pizza and raw cookies!!! Can NOT wait. I’ve wanted a spiralizer, but after ordering a juicer and now the Excalibur, I would get booted out of the house for sure! It would be so great to win this one. Keeping fingers crossed. – Nancy
I don’t have a blog but I’m dying for a spiralizer-I’ve been wanting to do beets with one!!!!!I also have a major jones for a dehydrator!!!!!
Oh my goodness, what a dream appliance! That would make eating healthy so much easier! I have been drooling over Adelina’s menu (new raw resto on 17th St, apparently…?) and their raw zucchini pasta, but I would much rather try making my own! Plus it’s less intimidating to me than a dehydrator.
My husband is a HUGE fan of spaghetti and italian, so I just want to try a raw spaghetti of sorts with a raw tomato sauce!
I would love to try veggie pasta and raw macaroons at home. I don’t have a spiralizer or a dehydrator, so winning this would be a great “first step”
Thanks so much for the opportunity, Gena!
I will be sure to link back soon. Your spicy thai salad looks amazing, too. I love the green dressing!
Have a lovely weekend!
Gena,
I must try that salad dressing – looks sooo amazingly creamy! Oh, and I MUST win the spiralizer. I have been dying for one of those to make more raw pastas! Thank so much this giveaway. I’ll link in my next post.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your chia seeds!
thank you so much for the wonderful giveaway!
thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
I would love to win this wonderful contest.
love your blog! hooray for the first giveaway
i have heard so much good things about RAW food. i would love to try some
I am just learning about the whole RAW foods thing, but your salad sure looks tasty:) Thanks!
christinbanda(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Hi Gena,
I immediately did a post on my blog–I’ll e-mail you the link.
The raw dish I want to try is raw lasagna. I had it once in a cafe while I was out of town for work and it was sooooooo good. I think I could duplicate it, but I hate to go to all that work when I know my family would be less than eager.
For the spirooli–if I win that, I am going to do a lot of carrots. With my Joyce Chen spiral slicer, I haven’t had good luck with carrots unless I buy really fat ones. I am also going to do beets once I’ve got some ready in my garden this summer.
Thanks,
i’ve gotta try the pizza cheese!
I would love to try the raw cheese recipe! I’m getting a food processor for my bday (thanks so much for your recommendation), and I’m sure it would taste great with some spiralizer-made veggie noodles.
I hope I’m lucky! I would like to try and recreate a pesto dish I had in France with pepper type “noodles”.
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