Asian Chicken Salad with a Soy-Free Dressing

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and arugula are more than just nutritious—they’re biochemical powerhouses that support your body’s natural detoxification, reduce inflammation, and promote hormone balance. But their healing potential isn’t just in what they contain—it’s in how you prepare and eat them. This post explores why eating raw (or lightly cooked) crucifers matters, how to boost sulforaphane production, and the science behind using everyday foods to gently activate your body’s detox pathways. Let these humble vegetables become catalysts for profound cellular renewal and daily allies in your transformation.

You are going to love this vibrant, nutrient-dense kale slaw. It’s full of detoxification and antioxidant compounds, and absolutely bursting with the fresh, bright flavors of basil, mint, and cilantro. Everything is tossed in a slightly spicy, gingery, creamy almond butter dressing that ties it all together. One of the things I love most about this salad is how well it keeps—up to five days in the refrigerator! Once it’s made, you can take out portions as needed throughout the week to easily meet your daily raw veggie needs. Lately, I’ve been serving a large plateful of this slaw with fried eggs for breakfast, or tossing it with leftover rice and garbanzo beans for a quick lunch. It also pairs beautifully with Thai-inspired dinners like Thai Coconut Fish Sticks, Thai Fish Curry with Garden Vegetables, or a Vegan Thai Green Curry.

Even though it may be winter, you can still eat the colors of the rainbow and give yourself a hearty dose of powerful phytonutrients! Consuming these deep red, magenta, and orange colors you see in this salad means that you are flooding your body with plant chemicals that prevent DNA damage, stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, block substances we ingest from becoming carcinogens, and of course mop up free radicals. If you haven't worked with fennel before then you are in for a treat. This delicious vegetable adds complex flavors to this salad. I love eating it raw but it's also delicious braised or roasted!

After the richness of holiday meals and celebratory treats, your body might be calling for a reset. If you’ve had a bit more sugar, alcohol, or indulgent food than usual, your detox pathways may be feeling the strain. Symptoms like sluggish digestion, low energy, bloating, or inflammation can be gentle signals that your system is ready for a little extra support. This vibrant detox salad is more than just a bowl of greens—it’s a therapeutic blend of plant compounds that help your body rebalance. Cruciferous vegetables like kale and cabbage are rich in sulfur-containing compounds (like glucosinolates) that activate phase 2 liver detox enzymes, while arugula and broccoli offer bitter compounds that stimulate bile flow and support fat metabolism.

For the past few months, citrus and cabbage have become two of my favorite foods! This light and flavorful salad combines them both in the most refreshing way. I use napa cabbage, which is especially tender and mild—more delicate than green or red cabbage, with a slightly sweet flavor and soft, crinkled leaves. It’s also a favorite in our house. My oldest daughter even likes to pack napa cabbage leaves in her school lunch! All four of our children devour this salad in no time. Napa cabbage is high in folate, calcium, vitamin C, along with gentle levels of glucosinolates—compounds that support your body’s natural detoxification processes through liver enzyme activation.

I’ve been making this soup a lot these days. It’s spicy, warming, and deeply nourishing—just the thing to help kick the lingering cold I’ve had. It starts with a simple homemade broth made from bone-in chicken breasts, a generous amount of fresh ginger, a whole head of garlic, fresh lemongrass, and a few cups of chopped shiitake mushrooms. After simmering for a few hours, the broth is strained and returned to the pot with fresh vegetables, the shredded cooked chicken, and some Thai rice noodles. We serve it topped with crisp napa cabbage, basil, and cilantro—and for the grown-ups only, a few slices of fresh Thai chiles.