On Sundays, we eat crudite.
Well, we basically have crudite available pre-dinner every night in my house. It is great way to stave off hunger while I’m preparing dinner and provides the perfect “crunch” craving solution without having to reach for the chips. I make simple small plate of raw vegetable spears and each week have a new dip for us to try. This recipe is inspired by my love for the classic green-goddess dressing I grew up on, but is in no way your grandmother’s dip! This dip (also an excellent dressing for bitter greens and leafy crunchy salads) is packed with skin illuminating ingredients, such as amino acids, sunflower and flax seeds, olives and olive oil, and most importantly spirulina. For those of you unfamiliar with this superpower green powder, Spirulina is a plant-based protein, a freshwater blue green algae to be exact, loaded with all essential amino acids, a multitude of vitamins, calcium and minerals that are all extremely beneficial to our cardiovascular health, immune system, cellular health, and enormously benefits anti-aging from inside out. I try to hide spirulina in smoothies, dressings and dips wherever I can as you only need to add a little to your daily diet to reap the amazing benefits, most of which you will dramatically see within even 48hrs in the texture and look of your facial skin.
BUT the best part about the Glowing Green Goddess Dip is that all these amazing health ingredients are virtually hidden in what tastes like a sinfully delicious creamy basil laced summer dip! For my small family, this recipe amount lasts us the work week, but for most families I would suggest doubling it, as you can always freeze half to bring out fresh midweek, preserving all the nutrients. It is also an amazing party dip, as the bright green color pairs beautifully at the center of a multi-vegetable platter!
Glowing Green Goddess Dip
(or dressing) V GF DF
makes about 2 cups
Ingredients
1/4 cup raw cashews, walnuts, sunflower seed mix
1 heaping cup shredded or chopped zucchini and or summer squash
1/8 of a yellow or green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 cup torn up fresh basil
4-6 pitted olives
pinch of capers (5-7 aprox)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp Spirulina
1/2 tsp ground flax seed/flax seed meal
1-2 shakes/sprinkles/pinches of Braggs Nutritional Yeast
About 1/2 tsp (or 3 squirts) Braggs Liquid Aminos
1 1/2 TBSP cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
small pinch of sea salt and ground pepper
*Serve with raw vegetables such as carrot and celery spears, broccoli, radish, snap peas and cucumber
Method
1. Soak the 1/4 cup of nut-seed mixture in a shallow bowl of filtered water for 15minutes. Drain, rinse and dry.
2. Add all ingredients into a high speed blender such as a Vitamix and blend on speed 3-4 for 30 seconds. Increase to speed 7-8 for another 30 seconds until all is blended, but do not over do it as there is no need to puree these ingredients to achieve the desired texture. Refrigerate for 1 hr, serve, freeze or save…
What are your eating secrets to great glowing skin? Leave me a comment bellow as I’d love to know!
