Ginger-Apple Smoothie

This smoothie is a refreshing tonic, and one I enjoy making in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. Ginger is known for its many healing properties, and combining it with fruit mellows its pungency and spiciness. The green tea powder adds a smooth, rich texture and turns the smoothie a beautiful pale green color.

I usually find green tea powder in the baking section or the tea area of the grocery store; look for matcha green tea powder, as it’s the purest.

Ingredients:

1 6-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled

1 ripe banana

½ cup unsweetened apple juice

¼ cup soaked almonds (see below), drained

2 ½ tbs. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. green tea powder

Preparation:

Grate the ginger over a bowl lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. Gather the edges of the cloth and squeeze the ginger pulp to extract the juice. Discard the pulp Add the ginger juice and all the remaining ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Soaking almonds:

Recommendation: soak almonds because it makes them easier to digest.

Yield 2 cups

Place 2 cups organic raw whole almonds in a medium bowl and rinse until water runs clear. Place almonds in a four-cup glass mason jar. Add enough fresh cold water to cover the almonds by at least 1 inch. Cover with the lid and set on the counter, away from direct light for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. The almonds will swell and the water will turn amber. They are ready to use.

This recipe, from Vegan Family Meals: Real Food for Everyone, was written by Ann Gentry for HealingLifestyles.com.