Food Intelligence

Roasted Sweet Potato, Arugula & Pomegranate Salad

with Zen Basil Seeds + Citrus Herb Dressing

A vibrant, fiber-loaded, antioxidant-rich, metabolic meal that proves:
you don’t need powders to nourish your body — just real whole foods.

🥗 Ingredients

Greens + Fresh Produce

  • 1 large (≈16 oz) box arugula, chopped into bite-size pieces

  • 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced

  • 3 small Meyer lemons, thinly sliced with skin

  • 1 orange — zest + juice

  • 2 sweet potatoes, cubed (skin on)

  • 2 carrots, sliced

  • 1 cup pomegranate seeds

  • 3 dates, chopped

  • 2–3 cloves fresh garlic, chopped

  • Handful fresh basil leaves

Seeds + Crunch

  • 2 tbsp Zen Basil seeds, hydrated in ½ cup water

  • ¼ cup Zen Basil seeds (dry)

  • Handful pecans

  • Handful pistachios

Cheeses (optional)

  • ½ cup Parmesan, finely grated

  • ½ cup feta OR goat cheese

Dressing + Roasting Seasonings

  • ½ cup olive oil (plus leftover oil from roasting tray)

  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • Salt & pepper

  • Paprika

  • Garlic powder

  • Balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tbsp honey (optional)

🔥 Step 1 — Roast the Sweet Potatoes & Carrots

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.

  2. Spread sweet potatoes + carrots on a parchment-lined tray.

  3. Season generously with:

    • salt

    • pepper

    • paprika

    • garlic powder

    • olive oil

  4. Roast for 30 minutes, until tender + caramelized.

  5. Save all the leftover oil from the tray — this becomes flavor gold.

🔥 Step 2 — Hydrate the Zen Basil Seeds

In a bowl:

  • Add 2 tbsp Zen Basil seeds

  • Pour in ½ cup water

  • Set aside 5–10 minutes to gel

This is your whole-food powerhouse.

🔥 Step 3 — Prepare the Cheese Layer

On a small tray:

  • Spread feta or goat cheese

  • Sprinkle salt + pepper

  • Drizzle with balsamic

Set aside (or lightly warm if you prefer it softened).

🔥 Step 4 — Build the Arugula Citrus Base

In a large bowl:

  1. Add chopped arugula, thin-sliced celery, lemon slices, and garlic.

  2. Add orange zest + juice.

  3. Add hydrated Zen Basil seeds.

  4. Add ½ cup olive oil + apple cider vinegar.

  5. Add the leftover roasted olive oil from the tray.

  6. Add Parmesan.

  7. Fold in chopped dates.

  8. Add pomegranate seeds.

  9. Add ¼ cup dry Zen Basil seeds for crunch.

  10. Massage gently for 1–2 minutes to soften and activate the greens.

This becomes the nutrient-dense center of the whole dish.

🔥 Step 5 — Assemble the Salad

On a large platter:

  1. Create a circular border of roasted sweet potatoes + carrots.

  2. Place the arugula–citrus–Zen Basil mixture in the center.

  3. Add the balsamic cheese, loosely broken over the top.

  4. Sprinkle pecans + pistachios.

  5. Finish with:

    • a drizzle of honey

    • the remaining orange juice

    • a splash of balsamic

    • a final pinch of salt

  6. Garnish with fresh basil.

Serve immediately.

🌱 FOOD INTELLIGENCE™ FIBER COUNT

Zen Basil seeds alone:

  • 2 tbsp hydrated = 15g fiber

  • ¼ cup dry = 30g fiber
    ➡️ Total from seeds = 45g fiber

Additional whole-food fiber sources:

  • Arugula (16 oz): ~10g

  • Sweet potatoes (2): ~8g

  • Carrots (2): ~4g

  • Celery (3 stalks): ~2g

  • Pomegranate: ~7g

  • Dates (3): ~3g

  • Nuts (pecans + pistachios): ~4g

👉 Estimated salad total = 83–85 grams of whole-food fiber.

No powders.
No extracts.
No isolates.
Just Food Intelligence™.

🌿 Food Intelligence™ Takeaway

This recipe proves what the wellness industry doesn’t want you to know:

You can nourish your microbiome, stabilize your glucose, reduce inflammation, and fiber-max every day using only whole foods.

Real nutrients.
Real fiber.
Real results.
Every bite.

Zen Basil Support