HYDRATING FENNEL AND AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 cup cubed frozen mango – or pawpaw??
  • 1 fennel bulb – roughly chopped (use the green fronds, too)
  • 1-inch piece ginger
  • juice of 1 lime
  • handful fresh mint leaves (optional)
  • ½ – ¾ cup raw coconut water – depends on the kind of consistency you like, I used ½ cup for a creamy, spoonable smoothie
  • Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Adjust the amount of liquid if needed. Garnish with fennel fronds and mint leaves.

GREEN SKILLET PIZZA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PESTO

The millet polenta ‘crust’ is topped with a quick kale pesto then a mound of everything bright, fresh and springy – asparagus ribbons and tips, a ton of fresh greens and microgreens.

Serves: one 9-10 inch pizza

INGREDIENTS
for the crust:
1 cup millet – soaked in purified water overnight
1 Tab ghee or neutral coconut oil, plus more for oiling the skillet
juice of 1 lemon
3 cups warm vegetable broth
sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup ground flax seeds

pesto:
½ cup almonds – soaked in purified water overnight
1 garlic clove
sea salt
about 3 cups roughly chopped kale
juice of ½ lemon
½ cup olive oil

pizza:
1 bunch asparagus
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
neutral coconut oil or olive oil for drizzling

topping options
fresh salad greens
microgreens
nutritional yeast
hemp hearts (de-hulled seeds)

vegie peeler

the crust
1.  Drain & rinse the millet, place into food processor. Grind until partially broken down.

2.  In medium saucepan warm up the ghee/oil over medium heat. Add millet, stir to coat.

3.  Add lemon juice and stir until absorbed; for about 30 seconds.
Add the broth, salt, garlic powder & black pepper, and bring to a boil while stirring.

4.  Lower the heat & simmer for 10 minutes. Mix in the flax and simmer another 10 mins until creamy. Stir frequently to prevent clumping.

5.  Oil a 9-10-inch cast iron skillet or another heavy bottomed oven-proof pan. Evenly spread the millet over the bottom to make the crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let set.

to make the pesto
1.  Drain & rinse the almonds, optionally slip them out of their skins and rinse again. Add the almonds, garlic and salt to a food processor and grind into rice-sized pieces.

2.  Add the kale & lemon and grind into pesto. With the motor still running, slowly add in the oil through the funnel.

to make the pizza
1.  Preheat oven to 230° C. Bake millet crust for 20 minutes.

2.  Cut off tough ends of asparagus sprigs, discard them. Shave sprigs into ribbons with a veggie peeler. Reserve the leftover, unshaved parts and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

3.  Remove crust from the oven, evenly spread the kale pesto over it (maybe leftovers).
Pile the asparagus ribbons & pieces on top of the pesto. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, drizzle with oil and place under the broiler, on the low setting, for another 10 minutes.

4.  Remove from the oven, cool slightly before topping with greens & microgreens, if using. Optionally, garnish with nutritional yeast and hemp hearts, slice and serve.