Image credit: Nicholas Collister
This recipe is completely raw, hence “rawlicious”. Raw recipes are chock-full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals. When I don’t feel like turning on an oven, this is one of my go-to’s, especially in the summer when zucchinis are growing like mad in Ma McCarthy’s garden up north.
Ingredients – Serves 2
- 2 zucchinis, ends trimmed
- 3 cups (750 mL) spinach
- 1 or 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) hemp oil or extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) sea salt
- Optional: 1/2 cup (125 mL) hemp seeds
Use a spiralizer* to turn zucchinis into noodles, or use a vegetable peeler to slice zucchinis into ribbons. Place zucchini noodles in a large bowl.
For the pesto, in a food processor, combine all ingredients. Process to desired consistency. I personally like my pesto with a bit of texture, a little crunchy, but you can blend until creamy if you like. Add more oil if needed.
Add pesto to zucchini noodles and stir well. Serve and enJOY!
*A spiralizer is a handy little gadget that turns zucchini into perfectly sized noodles. I like the Paderno brand. Make sure to include the skin, as it’s full of fiber and nutrients.
Joyous Tip
Zucchini is high in a trace mineral called manganese, which helps the body metabolize protein and carbohydrates, participates in the production of sex hormones (ooh la la!) and catalyzes the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.
Excerpted from the book Joyous Health: Eat Well and Live Well Without Dieting, by Joy McCarthy. Copyright Joy McCarthy, 2014-2015. Joyous Health is available for purchase at the following links:
- Amazon.ca – http://bejoyo.us/
1Es1eod - Amazon.com – http://bejoyo.us/
joybook - Indigo.ca – http://bejoyo.us/
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Joy McCarthy is a certified holistic nutritionist, founder of popular website JoyousHealth.com and bestselling author of JOYOUS HEALTH: Eat and Live Well Without Dieting. Joy is an international speaker, a featured nutrition expert on “The Morning Show” and CBC’s “Steven & Chris”. Joy lives in Toronto with her two adorable kitties and husband Walker.
To learn more about Joy and her holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle, visit www.joyoushealth.com.