Cameron Diaz’s Go-To Gut-Healthy Vinaigrette Is So Easy

As it turns out, Cameron Diaz and I have something unexpected in common: we both have the same ideal summer afternoon. The actress recently shared that her dream afternoon in the sun would consist of “a fresh summer salad, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a table full of friends.” Honestly, I’m not sure who could resist the idea of sharing a yummy summer salad at a table full of their favorite people. 

And if the salad in question is Diaz’s Summer Crunch Salad, then the afternoon is bound to be a truly delicious one. 

Diaz created this veggie-packed recipe with Chef Kim Floresca of goop Kitchen in partnership with Avaline, her wine label. The salad base, a collection of greens, snow peas, carrots, cucumber, mango and avocado, sounds amazing, but it’s the vinaigrette, packed with anti-inflammatory and gut-healthy ingredients, that has us swooning. 

To make it, she combines toasted cashews with maple syrup, sriracha, lime juice, Dijon mustard, fresh ginger, miso, rice wine vinegar, garlic and soy sauce in a blender and processes the ingredients until smooth. Next, she adds a bit of sunflower oil and toasted sesame oil for a creamy, pourable consistency. The salad ingredients can be tossed or layered with the vinaigrette, then it’s garnished with fresh herbs, cashews, puffed rice and lime wedges.

What makes this summer salad so successful? Not only is it packed with crunchy, nutrient-rich vegetables like lettuce, snow peas, carrots and cucumbers—it’s also paired with tender mango and smooth avocado to create that perfect balance of sweet-savory and crunchy-creamy. 

The dreamy vinaigrette is loaded with beneficial nutrients, too. The toasted cashew base provides protein, but it also packs in some copper, which supports nervous and immune system health. Fresh ginger, garlic and miso paste offer anti-inflammatory benefits, working to keep cells healthy and protect against illness and infection. And that garnish of mixed fresh herbs adds a variety of antioxidants, which help protect cells against free radical damage but also fight inflammation.

Plus, foods like miso and garlic are two of our favorites for supporting a healthy gut. Miso is a fermented soy product that offers benefits for digestion—not to mention tons and tons of flavor. And garlic, too, offers your gut some of the prebiotics it needs to stay in tip-top shape. Serve it over a yummy, crunchy base of fibrous greens—think cabbage, leafy greens like kale, mustard greens and more—for a truly gut-healthy meal that will satisfy your stomach and your taste buds.

If you’re ready to enjoy summer, then I suggest you take my advice and replicate Cameron Diaz’s dream afternoon—right down to her flavorful vinaigrette. Enjoy her big, beautiful salad with a table of friends, preferably outdoors, and soak up every bite and moment.