KITCHEN TABLE
GOOD TO THE LAST DROP
The raw vegetable diet is the most potent and nutrient-rich, writes Sarah Cadji in her book Pure Juice (The Countryman Press, $18.95) . She lists the dirtiest (full of chemicals) foods which include apples, celery, cucumber, spinach, strawberry and kale, and the cleanest (lowest in pesticides) foods which include papaya, avocado, cabbage, cantaloupes, pineapples and sweet potatoes. Settling the should-I-pay-more-for-organic debate, she suggests buying organic varieties of fruits and veggies in the first category. The book has recipes for juices that help cleanse and energize as well as those that tone, heal and help with weight loss.
FOR GLOWING SKIN TARGET JUICE
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tbsp fresh or bottled aloe vera
1 orange, peeled
1 medium-sized cucumber, peeled
Place the chia seeds in the base of the bowl so they can soak up the juice. Pour the fresh or bottled aloe vera on top and then juice the orange and cucumber to finish.
FOR WEIGHT LOSS TARGET JUICE
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
2 large slices of watermelon, rind removed
1 carrot, peeled
A thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger root, peeled
Slice of honeydew melon, rind removed
1 lemon
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Juice the watermelon with the carrot, ginger, and the honeydew melon. Finish by squeezing the lemon and sprinkling a little cayenne pepper.
BEET TONER
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
2 carrots, peeled
1 whole beet with greens, well scrubbed and peeled
1 green apple, peeled
A handful of watercress
Never throw away the greens from your fresh beets. The leaves contain so many amazing nutrients and have an intense amount of flavour.
Juice your carrots first, add the beet along with its greens, and finish with apple and watercress. Remember to stir your juice while juicing, because the flavour will be stronger and fuller.
Drink immediately or pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
ALOE VERA HEALER
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
4 tsp fresh aloe vera or 4 tsp liquid aloe vera
2 medium-sized cucumbers, peeled
A handful of spinach, stalks removed
1 green apple, peeled
A handful of cilantro
1 lemon, squeezed or juiced, according to taste
Start by scooping the aloe vera from the leaves and putting it through your juicer with 1 cucumber. (If you are using liquid aloe vera, run it through at the end with the last ingredients.) Continue by adding the second cucumber and spinach and finish with apple, cilantro and lemon.
Drink immediately or pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
PAPAYA CLEANSER
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
1 green (unripe) papaya, peeled and seeded
1 medium cucumber, peeled
1 green apple, peeled
A handful of mint
1 tsp raw honey
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Always buy your papayas green and juice them before they have ripened. Most of their healing benefits are found in the unripe phase.
Juice the papaya with the cucumber and the apple and add the mint in the end.
Finish by adding raw honey and cinnamon.
Drink immediately or pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
TULSI BASIL JUICE
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
2 medium-sized cucumbers, peeled
A handful of tulsi or basil
1 red apple, peeled
1 tsp fresh aloe vera or bottled aloe vera juice
A great way to start juicing this recipe is to wash and chew four to five tulsi or basil leaves. The taste will liven up your palate and prepare it for the juice. Mix cucumbers with tulsi, add apple, and then the aloe vera and stir.
Drink immediately or pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
THE SMART ONE SMOOTHIE
Image credit: Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji.
1 cup coconut water plus 1 tsp coconut meat
1 banana, peeled
1 tsp raw cacao powder
5 walnuts, shelled
2 dates, pits removed
1 single espresso shot
1 tsp coffee beans
Blend all ingredients together.
Pure Juice by Sarah Cadji is published by The Countryman Press, $18.95.