Freekeh, chickpea and green bean salad

This beautiful bowl of delicious goodness is full of protein, fiber and flavour  - perfect for a busy day, healthy lunch.   Freekeh is one of my favourite grains and a great alternative to quinoa, rice etc.  It is an ancient roasted grain with an amazing nutty, chewy texture.  This is such an easy salad to make and only takes 20 minutes.

Ingredients

100g freekeh

50g cooked chickpeas

100g green beans

2 spring onions

½ cucumber

1 handful of mint

1 handful of coriander

1 handful of dried cranberries

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

1 squeezed lemon

1 tablespoon of good olive oil

Method

·      Put the freekeh in a saucepan with cold water and bring to the boil.  Cook for 12-15 minutes then drain and leave to cool.

·      Steam the green beans and drain in cold water

·      Finely chop the spring onions, cucumber, mint and coriander.

·      Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.  Add Himalayan salt and pepper to taste.

GUEST BLOG RECIPE: 'RAW ASIAN SLAW' BY PUNCH FOODS

My lovely friend, Alexandra Dudley, founder of Punch Foods has kindly given me this delicious, healthy and nutritious salad which will hopefully inspire you all to start cooking similar dishes at home this January!  

Punch foods seeds are definitely my favourite healthy snack ('Meet your Maca' is my regular!) is and fit perfectly in my handbag to keep me going throughout the day.  Using only the finest 100% natural and organic ingredients, Alexandra has created an innovative range of artisan snacks that, as well as containing highly potent health benefits, taste totally delicious.  

Raw Asian Slaw with black and white sesame seeds, pistachio and cashew nuts and a Feel the Heat Superseed Boost

Bursting with vitamins A, C, D, E and K this salad is one of our favourites.

Packed full of delicious nuts and seeds providing you with essential proteins and amino acids this salad does wonders for your skin and eye health. Crunchy and tangy with a little fiery kick thanks to out Feel The Heat Superseeds it’s a definite crowd pleaser!

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

- 1 small or ½ a regular sized red cabbage finely sliced

- 6 large/8 medium sized carrots peeled and grated

Dressing

- 4 Tbsp Organic Cold Pressed Olive Oil

- 2 Tbsp Organic Tamari

- 1 large garlic clove (minced)

- 2 tsp Brown Rice Syrup

- 2 tsp Japanese rice wine vinegar

- 1 heaped tbsp. white sesame seeds

- 1 heaped tbsp. black sesame seeds

- ¼ cup shelled pistachios

- ¼ cup raw cashews quickly browned in a hot dry pan (to give them colour)

- Punch Foods’ Feel the Heat Superseeds

Method

-  Combine the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl.

- In a separate bowl combine all the dressing ingredients, whisk and pour over the vegetables.

- Add the sesame seeds and nuts and toss everything to combine making sure everything is thoroughly dressed.

- Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with a generous topping of Feel the Heat Superseeds for a metabolism boosting kick!

(can be stored in an airtight container and kept for up to three days)

The Art of Cleansing: The Fuel

To start 2015, why not learn how to cleanse your body through fuel instead of starving yourself with strict diets? Here are a few of my tips on the art of cleansing with food!

Every so often we need to cleanse our livers.  Why the liver is so important:

• Filters endogenous & exogenous toxins

• Nutrient Absorption

• Cholesterol

• Hormone stability

• Immune strength

The art of cleansing is much about what you put in as opposed to what you take out.

Fuel to promote natural cleansing

Fruit & Vegetables (rich in antioxidants, fiber and phytonutrients):

Cruciferous Vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower Brussels sprouts. Cabbage

Others  - watercress, rocket, onions, garlic, chicory, beetroot

(Rule of thumb: steam, eat raw (warmer months), add to sauces, soups.  Organic or local. Scrub if organic, peel if not.)

Fruit – berries, apples, pears, pomegranate ,pineapple

(Rule of thumb: stew or poach in colder months as it releases the pectin. Organic or local, peel or scrub.)

Spices – high antioxidant activity, increases the enzymatic activity needed for toxicant breakdown, promotes optimum digestion and therefore elimination.

Use these spices – turmeric, anise, caraway, celery seed, cilantro, cumin coriander, dill, fennel, mint, garlic, onions, ginger, paprika, saffron (i.e. Curries are IDEAL for a cleanse!)

Proteins – organic grass-fed lean meats (poultry, wild fish, lamb) and plant protein.

Grains – they contain fiber, antioxidants, B Vitamins and phenolic acid needed for almost all of the detoxification pathways.

Grains to eat – brown rice. Millet quinoa. Oats.

FATS – our body NEEDS them! They modulate & regulate the ability to store toxins.  Sat fats & trans fats reduce was cells own ability to detoxify.  Essential Fats (fish oils, seed & nuts oils) can increase the breakdown of toxins. 

Fats to munch – seeds & nuts (best if soaked or grind), oily fish (sardines, anchovies. Wild salmon, mackerel)