Energising Recipes
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Raw Food Diet Recipes: the out-of-the-ordinary lunch

Raw food diet recipes: To most people, the mere mention of raw food diet recipes is usually met with raised eyebrows and the question ‘What do you eat?’ I can see them summoning up visions of boring salads, carrot sticks and humous but when you enter the magical world of raw food diet recipes you […]

Raw food diet recipes:

To most people, the mere mention of raw food diet recipes is usually met with raised eyebrows and the question ‘What do you eat?’

I can see them summoning up visions of boring salads, carrot sticks and humous but when you enter the magical world of raw food diet recipes you become amazed at the flavours, textures and ease of preparation of such recipes. Using cashew nuts and pine nuts to create creamy cheese or yoghurt as an alternative to dairy has to be tasted to be believed.

Incorporating raw food diet recipes as part of your meals can benefit you immensely by increasing your energy, vitality and overall health and wellbeing. In doing so you will be getting the maximum amount of nutrients from fruits and vegetables that are usually destroyed during the cooking process. Any raw or living food that is heated above 45 degrees celsius kills off important nutrients and food enzymes that are essential for cellular repair and renewal. It is recommended that three quarters of your diet should contain fruits and vegetables and with hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables available it’s a brilliant way to get creative or follow tried and tested raw food diet recipes.

At an OHM raw food lunch recently, the attendees were delighted by the raw food diet recipes that they sampled, so much so, we at OHM were asked to make the recipes available so they could be recreate at home. It was a real education whilst eating!r

The main equipment that is needed for these raw food diet recipes is a good sharp knife, chopping board, and a Mandolin or spiral slicer that are pretty inexpensive. It is however, worth investing in a good high-speed blender, which, I would say, is the most used piece of equipment when preparing raw food cuisine.

So without further ado, please let me introduce to you OHM’s raw food diet recipes:

Raw food diet recipes: #1 The Starter

 This very easy to prepare soup includes the mighty avocado. A nutrient rich fruit containing Vitamins, B5, B6, C, E and K. Avocado is high in fibre, high in heart healthy fatty acids and contains more potassium than a banana!

Sun-dried tomatoes is also featured in this raw food diet recipe. They are a good source of protein, fibre and magnesium, boost your intake of important minerals such as iron, manganese, copper and phosphorus and are also, high in potassium and Vitamin K.

Tomato and Basil Soup

Serves 2-4

  • 1 small avocado,
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice, or more to taste
  • 30 grams of sun dried tomatoes, soaked in water for 2-3 hours and drained.
  • 700ml of water
  • 1 spring onion, white and green parts chopped
  • 10 grams of basil leaves roughly chopped
  • 1½ teaspoon of salt, or more to taste
  • Black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper.

Put all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, adding more water depending on how thick you want the consistency. Taste and add more seasonings and salt if required. Serve immediately, or keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

*You can use warm water if you prefer a little warmth to your soup

Raw food diet recipes: #2 The Salads

Salads are another way of packing in the nutrients and are very low in calories that help with weight loss. The combination of vitamins in a salad supports the immune system and keeps your cardiovascular system healthy. With a fresh taste and crunchy textures they are a joy to eat. We teamed our salads with healthy option dressings which contain a few unusual surprises!

Raw food diet recipes: #3 Greek Salad with Tzatziki Dressing

Serves 1 to 2

 Tzatziki Dressing

  •  350 ml of Cashew Yoghurt (recipe to follow)
    The tatziki dressing

    The tatziki dressing

  • 4 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, pressed through a garlic press or grated
  • 2 tablespoons of finely chopped dill
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • ¾ teaspoon of salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • 70 grams of shredded cucumber.

Whisk all ingredients, except the cucumber, in a bowl. Stir in the cucumber after.

Salad

  • 70 grams or torn romain lettuce leaves
  • 1 plum tomato, chopped
  • ½ a red bell pepper, cord, seeded and chopped
  • ½ a cucumber, chopped
  • 1 spring onion, chopped
  • Handful of pitted, kalamata olives
  • Handful of capers.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Cashew Yoghurt

  •  225 grams of cashews, soaked in water overnight, and drained.
  • 350 ml of water
  • 1½ teaspoons of acidophilus powder*

Blend the cashews, water and acidophilus powder on high speed until very smooth for about 5 minutes. Stop and rest at intervals to scrape the sides and to stop the mixture from getting too warm.

Transfer the mixture to a glass container, cover tightly with plastic wrap and leave in a warm part of the kitchen to ferment for 12 hours.

* Acidophilus powder can be found in the refrigerator of your health food shop. It generally comes in capsules and you break open the capsules to release the powder.

Raw food diet recipes: #4 Beetroot Salad with Lemon and Mint Dressing

The second salad’s main ingredients are beetroot and carrot. Beetroot can help towards lowering blood pressure, fighting inflammation and contains anti-cancer properties. They are also rich in valuable nutrients and fibre.

The ever-faithful carrot is rich in beta-carotene and protects against macular degeneration and cataracts. Carrots promote healthy skin and help to slow down the ageing process. They also help to prevent cancer, infections and heart disease. This salad may seem simple but it is very powerful!

 Salad (serves 4)

  •  4 carrots, coarsely shredded
  • 2 medium beets, peeled and coarsely shredded.

Combine in a salad bowl, add dressing to taste, serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Easy! The dressing gives a nice twist to this wonderfully healthy salad treat.

Dressing

  • Greek salad and beetroot carrot mix

    Greek salad and beetroot carrot mix

     120 ml of water

  • 15 grams of mint leaves
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon, add more to taste
  • 120 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt if needed.

Mix all the ingredients, except the oil, in a blender until smooth. With the motor running, drizzle the oil in through the hole in the top until the dressing is thoroughly mixed. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Lemon and Herb Dressing

An extra dressing for the salads

  •  70 ml of fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
  • 1 date soaked for 2-3 hours, drained and pitted
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • ½ teaspoon of dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon of dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt, or more to taste
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • 140 ml of extra virgin olive oil.

It is always best to make your own salad dressing with the healthiest of ingredients. Steer clear of shop bought creamy salad dressings. They are full of additives, preservatives and are high in bad fats that could turn your salad into a disaster.

Raw food diet recipes: #5 Noodles with Tomato Sauce and Pine Nut Cheese

This recipe, our main, is so easy and so tasty. The humble courgette, a good source of Vitamin C, takes on a new meaning when sliced into noodles. Topped with a power-packed tomato sauce, high in antioxidants, this dish is a real treat. One courgette per person is enough but if your guests go back for seconds it only takes a few seconds to slice some more. Sprinkled with shavings of Pine Nut Cheese the combination of tastes will get your taste buds tingling. Pine Nut Cheese is an extremely brilliant alternative to parmesan cheese especially for those who follow a vegan diet but still miss the taste of cheese.

Serves 6

 Noodles

  • 6 courgettes.
    The courgette noodle with spicy tomato sauce

    The courgette noodle with spicy tomato sauce

Use a spiral slicer of mandolin and cut the courgettes into ribbon or spaghetti shaped noodles and place in a large bowl.

Tomato Sauce

  • 2 plum tomatoes
  • 20 grams of sun dried tomatoes, soaked in water for 2-3 hours, drained
  • 120 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2-3 dates, soaked in water for 2-3 hours, drained and pitted
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 4 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.

Mix all ingredients in a blender until well combined.

Pine Nut Cheese

  •  260 grams of pine nuts
  • 300ml of water
  • ½ teaspoon of acidophilus powder*
  • 1½ teaspoons of salt.

Mix all ingredients, except the salt, in a blender, on high speed, until very smooth. Stop machine at intervals to scrape the sides and rest to stop the mixture from getting too warm. Transfer mixture into a glass bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and leave in a warm part of the kitchen to ferment for 12 hours.

Next day, stir in the salt. Spread a very thin layer of the mixture on parchment paper on a baking tray and dehydrate for 24 hours until completely dry and crisp. If you do not have a dehydrator you can put into the oven on the lowest heat with the door open for a few hours until dry and crisp. Keep checking. Pull the cheese from the sheets and break into pieces. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

*Acidophilus powder can be found in the refrigerator of your health food shop. It comes in capsules and you break open the capsules to release the powder.

Raw food diet recipes: #6 Creamy Rich Chocolate Mousse

Now for the ‘pièce de résistance’, this chocolate mousse is made predominantly with avocadoes and once that cocoa powder and coconut sugar are added not even your children will notice them. The avocadoes are well disguised in a dessert full of nutritional value. Enjoy this one without feeling too guilty!

The rich chocolate mousse

The rich chocolate mousse

 Serves 8

  • 360 ml of water
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 5 ripe avocadoes, peeled and pitted
  • 40 grams of cocoa powder
  • 120 grams of coconut sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla powder
  • desiccated coconut.

Mix all the ingredients into a blender on high speed, scraping the sides once or twice, until smooth. Transfer into small dessert bowls and refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Here you go with a full lunch of raw food diet recipes: Happy eating!

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Melanie Henry

Written by Melanie Henry

Melanie's mission lies in supporting and encouraging people with their wellbeing. She conducts private coaching sessions and workshops to help people who are looking to improve their health and energy transition to a better lifestyle and diet . She is a Network-Marketing Entrepreneur with a health and wellness company. Away from her business life and career, Melanie is a busy Mum of three who enjoys family life with her partner, long walks with the dog, travelling, fun and adventure.


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