This Week’s Harvest Recipe: Gut-Healing Summer Succotash & Cooling Cucumber Salad

Finally! My tomatoes are ready – plus functional foods that heal your body from the inside out

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My tomatoes have FINALLY decided to ripen! The cherry varieties that is.

After weeks of watching beautiful green globes stubbornly refuse to turn red, I’ve learned that tomatoes are as dramatic as I am about the heat. Who knew that temps over 90°F cause tomatoes to go on strike? They stop ripening when it gets too hot, which explains why my gorgeous heirloom varieties have been playing hard-to-get all July.

But now that we’ve had a few cooler days, my garden is exploding with color – purple and green okra, vibrant peppers, crisp cucumbers, and some funky tomato varieties that were worth the wait. This week’s harvest is perfect for two recipes that not only taste incredible but also function as medicine for your body.

As a functional medicine nutritionist, I’m passionate about the concept of food as medicine. These aren’t just recipes – they’re functional foods designed to support your gut health, reduce inflammation, and calm your nervous system. Let me show you how to turn this week’s garden bounty into therapeutic meals that nourish from the inside out.

Recipe 1: Gut-Healing Summer Succotash with Grilled Salmon

This isn’t your grandmother’s succotash (though I’m sure hers was delicious too!). This grain-free version is specifically designed to heal and support your digestive system using ingredients that have proven gut-healing properties. In addition to being grain-free, it’s low FODMAP, unlike traditional recipes.

The Functional Medicine Benefits:

Bone Broth Base: Contains collagen and gelatin that help repair the intestinal lining and reduce gut inflammation. It’s like giving your digestive system a warm, healing hug.

Okra: This underrated vegetable is a gut health superstar! The mucilage in okra acts as a natural prebiotic, feeding beneficial bacteria while soothing irritated intestinal walls.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Supports stomach acid production and digestive enzyme function, helping your body break down nutrients more efficiently.

Anti-Inflammatory Herbs: Fresh herbs like oregano, basil, and parsley contain powerful compounds that reduce inflammation throughout the digestive tract.

Peppers: Rich in vitamin C and capsaicin (even in mild varieties), which support immune function and gut barrier integrity.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1 succotash produce kit* with heirloom tomato varieties, green and purple okra, green beans, banana pepper, and shishito pepper/heatless jalapeño (depending on which one you got)
• 1 cucumber* – very thinly sliced
• 1 lemon* – halved
• 1 sprig each: dill, oregano, lemon basil, parsley* – finely chopped
• 1 sprig purple basil* – finely chopped
• 6-8 kale leaves* – chopped into ribbons
• 1/4 red onion – sliced
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup bone broth
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic – minced
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp grass-fed butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

*Available in this week’s garden harvest kit

Directions:

Prepare the Salmon:

1. Heat grill to medium heat.
2. Coat salmon with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 2 lemon slices.
3. For cedar plank cooking, grill for 8-12 minutes until salmon flakes easily (internal temp of 145°F).
4. Alternatively, bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes or cook in air fryer at 400°F for 7-10 minutes.

Make the Gut-Healing Succotash:

1. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add 1 clove of minced garlic, green beans, and okra. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
3. Add remaining vegetables (tomatoes, peppers) and toss to coat. Pour in half of the allotted bone broth and simmer 4-6 minutes until vegetables are tender but still vibrant.
4. Remove from heat and place in a bowl. Stir in apple cider vinegar and fresh herbs.

Prepare the Kale:

1. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the same pan with the remaining broth, scraping up flavorful brown bits.
2. Add chopped kale and sauté 2 minutes until wilted and bright green.

Make the Cucumber Salad:

1. Combine sliced cucumbers, onion, purple basil, remaining minced garlic, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.

Assemble: Place wilted kale on plates, top with grilled salmon, then spoon succotash over the fish. Serve cucumber salad alongside.

Recipe 2: Cooling & Calming Cucumber Summer Salad

This can serve as a side dish (makes 4) or a full dinner (makes 2- just add protein! *see below). This meal is functional medicine in a bowl. Featuring unusual mint varieties, cucamelons, and therapeutic herbs, this salad is designed to cool inflammation and calm your nervous system.

The Therapeutic Benefits:

Lemon Balm: A member of the mint family that’s been used for centuries to reduce anxiety and promote calm. Studies show lemon balm can lower cortisol levels and support nervous system balance.

Specialty Mints: Each variety offers unique therapeutic compounds. Mint aids digestion, reduces inflammation, and provides a cooling effect that’s perfect for hot summer days.

Cucumbers: High water content makes them naturally anti-inflammatory and cooling. They’re also rich in silica, which supports healthy skin and joints.

Cucamelons: These tiny treasures (also called Mexican sour gherkins) pack a concentrated dose of vitamins and minerals in a lime-flavored punch.

Ingredients (Serves 2-4):

• 4oz purple and dinosaur kale* – sliced into ribbons
• 1 suyo long cucumber* – cut into 3-4 inch pieces, then sliced into thin ribbons
• 4 sprigs fresh mint* (grapefruit, orange, strawberry, berries & cream varieties) – leaves removed from stems
• 2 sprigs lemon balm* – leaves removed from stems
• 3-4 cucamelons* – halved
• 1 lemon* – zested and juiced
• 1 sprig fresh lemon basil* – finely chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Optional toppings: grilled shrimp, chicken, or flaky white fish (be sure to add protein if making this as your main dish); feta cheese, sliced almonds, fresh berries
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

*Available in this week’s specialty garden harvest kit

Directions:

Prepare the Kale Base:

1. Place kale ribbons in a large bowl.
2. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.
3. Massage gently with your hands for 1-2 minutes until kale softens.

Add Fresh Elements:

1. Add cucumber ribbons, lemon balm leaves, and mint varieties to the massaged kale.
2. Sprinkle lemon zest over everything.

Make the Dressing:

1. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, chopped lemon basil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Finish and Serve:

1. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat.
2. Top with halved cucamelons and any optional protein or garnishes.
3. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and maximum therapeutic benefit.

The Garden Reality: Heat Stress and Patience

This week’s harvest taught me something important about both gardening and health: sometimes the best things come to those who wait for the right conditions. Just like our bodies need the right environment to heal – proper nutrition, adequate rest, stress management – tomatoes need their perfect conditions too.

The heat stress that stopped my tomatoes from ripening is actually similar to what happens in our bodies when we’re under chronic stress. Systems shut down, healing slows, and we stop producing the “ripe” results we want. But when we create the right conditions – through functional foods, stress reduction, and supporting our body’s natural processes – amazing things happen.

Functional Foods for Functional Health

These recipes represent what I love most about functional medicine: using food as medicine to address root causes rather than just symptoms. Every ingredient has been chosen not just for flavor, but for its therapeutic properties:

• Gut healing through bone broth, okra, and apple cider vinegar
• Anti-inflammatory support through fresh herbs and colorful vegetables
• The nervous system calms through lemon balm and cooling foods
• Digestive support through mint varieties, lemon, and fermented vinegar

Ready to Experience Food as Medicine?

If you’re curious about how functional foods can address your specific health concerns, I’d love to help you create a personalized nutrition plan. Through comprehensive lab analysis and detailed health history, we can identify which foods will serve as medicine for your unique body.

Whether you’re dealing with digestive issues, hormone imbalances, chronic fatigue, or simply want to optimize your health, there’s a functional food approach that can help you feel your best.

Book a consultation to discover how food can become your most powerful medicine.

Your body is designed to heal – sometimes it just needs the right ingredients.