Ayurveda has given us many gifts and one of those is the importance that is put upon eating for the seasons as well as local and organic when possible. This spring has been a bag of wintery conditions more like late winter then midway to summer. This smoothie h as all the ingredients needed to help flush the system. Beets, apples, celery and then a few spices to help regulate digestion. This drink can be sipped on warm to help heat the body during this damp season. Play around with some of your seasonal greens and nourishing roots. This recipe is from Divya Alters blog on Ayurveda cooking.
1 small red beet, peeled and thinly sliced (about ½ cup) 1 tablespoon raisins or 1 date 1-inch piece cinnamon stick ( 1 tsp fresh ground) 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (omit for Fiery/Pitta digestion) ½ teaspoon fennel seeds* ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 medium Granny Smith Apple
1 stalk of celery
Add ons. I like to throw in a few strawberries and cranberries. They can be frozen. Rhubarb is also just starting to grow and would be a nice addition.
In a small saucepan, add 1 ½ cups water, the sliced beet, raisins, cinnamon stick, minced ginger, fennel seeds, and fenugreek seeds, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes, until the beet slices are half cooked.
While the beet mixture simmers, peel, core, and chop the apple.
Add the apple to the beet mixture and continue to simmer, covered, until the apple and beet are fully cooked, about 3 minutes.
Set aside uncovered to let the mix cool down until warm. Remove the cinnamon stick.
Use a blender to make the smoothie. Add more water if you like a thinner consistency. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Variations
For variety, add 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice in Step 5.
NOTES
Caution
If you have been diagnosed with gallstones, drink this smoothie only under the supervision of a medical doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner, as your thinner and moving bile may push some gallstones into a bile duct, obstruct it, and cause serious problems.
Fennel seeds are highly estrogenic. Omit them if you are a woman experiencing the symptoms of a high estrogen/low progesterone ratio: long menstrual cycles, fibroids, ovarian or breast cysts, or uterine polyps.
Do not drink this smoothie if you have diarrhea.
