Sunshine Smoothie with Mandarin, Coconut and Turmeric
We are all reaching the point of winter where we are sick of the cold weather and long nights. We are all wishing we could catch a few rays of warm sunshine. It warms up for a day and you think "Cool! Spring is right around the corner!" but then the next day your car is covered in frost (or snow God forbid!). Then you're back to wearing 2 coats and clutching your warm coffee in the car to keep your fingers from freezing solid and wishing it wasn't January. Bleak....
The good news is that, while in the comfort of your heated home (and layered sweatpants), you can enjoy a taste of warm weather! This smoothie recipe is from the Kitchn and highlights some of the best things that winter has to offer: Vitamin C rich citrus! I am sure I am not the only one who looks forward to "Cutie" season; that special time of year I eat so many mandarins that my tongue is sore and my fingers are stained orange. It had never occurred to me to put actual citrus segments in my smoothie and on top of that I had never thought to freeze the segments so that they acted as ice cubes. This recipe has changed my smoothie life drastically!
In addition to the mandarins, this smoothie combines two things I hadn't added to my smoothies before: ginger and turmeric. I used to think turmeric powder was used only be for coloring food until my Auntie Karen visited and made tea from the turmeric root. The tea not only tasted great but has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Then, I have always liked ginger so of course I would love it in a smoothie!
If you're feeling the same way I am about January, why not put on an extra pair of sweatpants and a fuzzy blanket, make this smoothie, close your eyes and pretend you are beachside.
One year ago: Fenugreek Curry Lamb Popsicles, Chicken Pizzaioli
Two years ago: Egyptian Curry
Three years ago: Spanish Tortilla with Chorizo
Serves 1
what you'll need:
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chilled unsweetened coconut water
2 Tbsp coconut milk
Fresh or frozen segments from 2-3 mandarins (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/2 inch fresh turmeric or 1/2 tsp ground, more if desired
1/2 inch fresh ginger
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp honey
If you want to have a colder smoothie: the night before, peel and separate the mandarin segments. Place on a piece of plastic wrap, roll up and place in freezer overnight. If you don't remember to do this and find yourself ready to make your smoothie without frozen mandarin, don't worry about it. It'll still taste great!
Using a spoon, peel the ginger and turmeric segments. Roughly chop the roots. Turmeric is VERY colored and may stain your cutting board and fingers so if you care about those sorts of things use a dark colored cutting board and gloves while you peel and chop the roots.
Add the oatmeal to the blender and blend until you have a fine powder.
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Enjoy cold and with an extra blanket!
One year ago: Fenugreek Curry Lamb Popsicles, Chicken Pizzaioli
Two years ago: Egyptian Curry
Three years ago: Spanish Tortilla with Chorizo
Top 10 Best Hand Blender Reviews are one of the handiest and compact devices which are very useful in our everyday life. It has many other names such as stick blender, immersion blender. It adds certain ease to cooking. It avoids the need to go for heavy food processor for small every day needs.
ReplyDeleteA perfect blender should have long shaft with lighter body so that it can be mounted on wall easily. It should fit into various types of pots or pans so that you don’t have to transfer the contents here and there.
The hand blenders are used for preparing smoothies, ketchups, salsa, mayonnaise and many every day foods which can be prepared instantly without much efforts and need of a food processor or mixer or a regular blender too.
It is not easy to pick these hand blenders as they vary from 650/- to 6500/- and 200 watts to 800 watts. As there are many companies in market offer different models at different prices with various specifications, it is almost impossible to select the right one. Here is the list of best hand blenders available in Indian market.