Portobello & Muhammara Dip!

Yum!  I really am enjoying the RAW food recipes I've been experiencing lately.  Although it can be time consuming trying to make it taste like real food, it is definitely worth the time.  Wait, did I really just say that?  "Real food"!  Wow.  I suppose most of us have been eating the same meals of meat and potatoes, throughout the years, so I guess that is considered 'real food'.  What we don't see is how processed it really can be, that's the unhealthy part.

I was a vegetarian when I was younger, so going almost totally raw isn't an issue for me.  I can find it very fulfilling and a natural way of eating.  Meat was never my favorite, so I did only consume chicken and fish for the longest time.  What really made me change to NO meat, is a book called Skinny Bitch.  Sound familiar?  This book is so funny they way these ladies write it, but it is also sad how animals are inhumanely tortured and slaughtered. Sorry, but the truth always hurts.

With respect to you meat eaters out there, I do cook it for the family.  I just don't eat it. (All the while apologizing to the meat, wherever it came from or how long it sat there before getting to our table :) I have gotten more into the pre-packaged marinated meats, or toss everything but the kitchen sink into a crock pot, putting my focus on the vegetables and salads.  I can put together a mean salad, such as last night.

This is what I'm talking about!  Salad as a full meal.  This one I put avocado in it, kale, romaine, tomatoes, mushrooms, edamame, shaved carrots, hemp seeds, and a RAW made parmesan (by processing some nutritional yeast and almonds, tastes like the real thing), and light vinaigrette dressing.

I get a proud feeling when I make my RAW food and it tastes like an original food.  Such as my tuna-fishless sandwich. That was good.  I haven't made that lately, but it's a good weekend lunch.

Over the holiday weekend with my sister visiting, we made the Muhammara Dip and Portobello Burgers.  Oh so good!  Little Sis' marinated some portobellos and I made a burger out of some.

I cooked the porto-burger on the grill, in my cast iron pan.  I love cooking that way.  It seared it on the outside and it made for a nice juicy burger!  No worry about any 'raw meat' in the middle, it's always edible.  

(See the recipe below)

I used sprout bread and slapped some Muhammara Dip on this baby, along 

with some romaine and tomatoes.  It was so delicious.  (See the recipe below.) 

Muhammara Dip.  So good with fresh cut vegetables.  

This is full of amino acids, omega fats & vitamins.  

The vitamin C in red peppers, helps to repair and regenerate collagen. 

Both of these recipes are from my Beauty Detox Foods book.  I am not compensated in any way to mention this book, I just love the recipes!  You can find some of the recipes free on line by searching.  Check out the link, it is very informative.  For those of you interested in RAW eating or just some healthy tips and dips.  

  

Raw Muhammara Dip 

Combine all ingredients in a blender/processor until smooth.  You can add roasted peppers (dried) if you want a thicker consistency. I add hemp seeds and flax meal also.  

3 red peppers

1 cup raw walnuts (soaked in water for 15 minutes)

1 medium garlic clove

1 T nutritional yeast

3/4 tsp sea salt

1 T fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp powdered stevia (I chose not to add this sweetener)

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp cumin

Portobello Mushroom Burger

This is the best veggie burger "I" have ever had, and the first I ever made! Use your food processor for the mushrooms and parsley first.  Move to a large bowl and set aside.  In a skillet, cook the garlic and onions in the vegetable broth, until translucent.  Add celery and cook another minute.  Add spices and everything together with the porto-parsley bowl and mix.  I formed them into patties and cooked on the grill in my cast iron pan, from there.  You can refrigerate for 45-mintues, and then form into patties.  Place into the oven at 350, for 30-minutes.  

4 portobello mushrooms     

1/2 c fresh chopped parsley

1 T low sodium vegetable broth

1 glove garlic, minced

1/2 c finely chopped celery

2 1/2 T organic ketchup (I did not have, and did not add any)

1/2 T fresh chopped thyme (You could use dry if needed, on all the spices)

1 tsp fresh chopped oregano 

1/2 tsp fresh chopped sage

1 T low-sodium tamari

1 tsp sea salt

2 c gluten free bread crumbs

So there you have it!  If you want to go RAW, you can always start slow.  Or, just use it as an ultra healthy way of eating for a couple days during the week.  You could even see yourself shedding some unwanted pounds.  Find the recipes you like most and work with them.  I'm always improvising with different ingredients.  Especially if I don't have them available to me.  

Have you tried any raw recipes? 

Share your favorites!