Açaí Basil Seed Breakfast Jar (Easy Vegan/Sugar-free Recipe)

Açaí Basil Seed Breakfast Jar (Easy Vegan/Sugar-free Recipe)

This Açaí Basil Seed Breakfast Pot is a combinination of my two of my favourite breakfasts: an açaí bowl and a chia pudding (or basil seed pudding in this case). I love this breakfast combination because it’s packed with antioxidants, plant-protein, fibre, complex carbs and healthy fats, and of course it tastes delicious!

Chia seeds and basil seeds are very similar in both form and taste. They’re both hydrophilic seeds which means they’re able to rapidly absorb a large amount of water in a short time. But basil seeds have a slightly different nutrient profile than chia and for that reason are my go-to.

Basil seeds come from the holy basil plant and like chia seeds are considered to be a super food which means they deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with a minimum number of calories. They’re a great source of plant protein and are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which support heart health, healthy skin, hair, and nails. Basil seeds are high in fibre which is essential for healthy digestion and preventing blood sugar spikes. They’re a good source of iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamin K and have more potassium per serve than bananas!

These magickal little seeds are also rich in antioxidants (flavanoids and polyphenols) which give them some amazing anti-inflammatory properties. But my favourite thing about basil seeds is the unique combination of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals that is thought to help stimulate collagen production in the skin so they keep your skin glowing from the inside out.

Basil Seed Acai Breakfast Pot - Swoon Food recipe

The other component to this breakfast jar is Açaí. I’ve talked about the amazing Açaí berry in this post How to Make a Low Sugar Super Antioxidant Açaí bowl. But to sum it up, açaí berries contain very little sugar and are absolutely packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants slow down the ageing process, lower cholesterol levels, improve circulation and help prevent disease.

To complete this super powered breakfast, top with a spoonful of your favourite yoghurt to add a serving of probiotics and sprinkle over some crunchy granola for a truly satisfying breakfast.

Açaí Basil Seed Breakfast Pot

Serves: 2
Prep time: 10 minutes

2 Tbsp basil seeds (or chia seeds)
1 cup plant milk
1 tsp vanilla extract or 1/4 tsp vanilla powder
2 packets/serves frozen Açaí
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup frozen blueberries 
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup/250ml coconut water

To serve:
Coconut yoghurt
Crunchy granola

 

Make the basil seed pudding first by combing the seeds in a small bowl with the plant milk and vanilla. Optional to add a little sweetener such as pure maple syrup or honey. Stir well and set aside to allow to seeds to absorb the liquid.

Next make the açaí layer. Soften the frozen açaí first by placing the packets under hot tap or in a bowl of warm water until you can easily break the blocks into pieces. Removce from packets and combine with the mango, blueberries, raspberries and coconut water in a blender and blend until smooth.

Layer up your jars or serving bowls with the açaí and basil seed pudding, and top them off with a dollop of coconut yoghurt and sprinkle of crunchy granola and enjoy!

You can make these breakfast jars ahead of time as they will keep in. the fridge for a day or two, just leave the granola off until serving so that it stays nice and crunchy.

 

 

The 5 Day Green Smoothie Challenge

GREEN SMOOTHIES GET YOUR DIGESTION FLOWING & YOUR SKIN GLOWING!

Roasted Red Pepper & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto (Vegan)

Roasted Red Pepper & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto (Vegan)

Roasted Red & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

I love pesto. The combination of creamy cashews, sharp parmesan and fragrant basil is just dreamy.

Unfortunately since going dairy free and now plant based, I haven’t been able to enjoy it so I kind of forgot about it.

That is until recently when a new range of plant based pesto’s appeared in our local food store. These new pesto’s were made with good quality extra virgin olive oil (as opposed to canola which is so often the case which store bought dips) and they tasted so authentic I was inspired to try and create my own.

I discovered the way to recreate the cheesy parmesan flavour in a vegan/plant based pesto is to use nutritional yeast (also called savoury yeast flakes), a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a little salt.

 

Roasted Red & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

 

One of the first pesto recipes I created was a classic green pesto made with basil and spinach. It was so good I ate it with literally everything!

I’ve posted that recipe here Basil Pesto Zoodles with Roasted Tomatoes where I’ve tossed with zucchini and black bean noodles, but it’s equally good served straight as a dip on a sharing platter.

My next pesto recipe creation was this Roasted Red Pepper & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto. While it might sound complicated, it’s actually very simple. Once you’ve roasted and peeled the red peppers, simply throw all the ingredients into a food processor.

If you don’t have a good food processor you might be tempted to use a blender, but don’t. Pesto should be a chunky dip and a blender is way too powerful and will turn your pesto into a sauce in two seconds.

Like the basil pesto, this roasted red pepper & sun-dried tomato pesto is delicious on it’s own, spread on crackers or toast, tossed with your favourite noodles or pasta or dolloped on top of a nourish bowl.

Roasted Red & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

 

When you make this Roasted Red Pepper & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, let me know!

Leave a comment below, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or Facebook. Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

Makes: 1 jar
Prep time: 30 minutes  Cook time: 20 minutes

2 red capsicum
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup cashews
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (savoury yeast flakes)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp turmeric

To roast the red peppers:
Preheat the oven to 180ºC, wash the 2 capsicums and place in the centre of a lined baking tray to roast for approximately 20 minutes.

The peppers are done when the skins start to blister and turn black. Remove from the oven and place in a sealed, heat proof container. This causes the peppers to steam and makes removing the skins much easier.

When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel off their skins and discard along with their cores and seeds.

To make the pesto:
Place the roasted red peppers in a food processor with the sun-dried tomatoes, cashews, garlic and salt. Pulse/blend until they resemble coarse crumbs.

Add the remaining ingredients and pulse to combine but be careful not to over blend. You ‘re aiming for a pesto which should be chunky, rather than a smooth sauce.

Store the pesto in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days (can also be frozen for up to 3 months).

Serving suggestions:
Add your pesto to entertaining platters with your favourite crackers and crudités. Toss your pesto with your favourite noodles or zoodles. Add to sandwiches, salads or nourish bowls. Spread on toast with slice avocado.

 

Roasted Red & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

 

Creamy Hemp Seed & Kale Green Smoothie + Why It’s So Good For You

Creamy Hemp Seed & Kale Green Smoothie + Why It’s So Good For You

 

Spring is finally here and the change of season has also reignited my desire for green smoothies!

During the cold rainy winter months green smoothies become less and less appealing. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re cold and my body is craving something warm, or whether it’s because the ingredients are raw and my body wants something cooked. Perhaps it’s both.

Either way I tried to keep up my routine for a little while, but after pouring a few too many unfinished green smoothies down the sink I listened to my body and gave them a rest for the remainder of the winter.

Now that the weather has started to warm and the days are getting brighter, I’ve jumped back on the green smoothie train and have created some inspired new recipes I think you’re going to love! I’ve written quite a few posts about why these green drinks are so good for you, and this most recent post sums it up nicely.

If you’re like me and green smoothies have taken a back seat lately, here’s a quick reminder of why they’re so amazing:

 

Green smoothies are a simple way to give your diet and health a boost!

They’re an amazing way to get a lot of nutrients into your body in one go and are a really simple and inexpensive way to boost your diet naturally.

Green smoothies get your digestion flowing!

Just about everybody who does my 5 Day Green Smoothie Challenge reports back they’ve never been so regular, thanks to all that amazing fibre and hydration.

Green smoothies leave your skin glowing!

Good digestion is one of the keys to having glowing skin, the other is hydration which green smoothies provide in volumes. They also contain an abundance of antioxidants which protect your cells from free radical damage and ultimately the ageing process.

Green smoothies can boost detoxification and healing!

Because the ingredients are already partially broken down by the blender, your digestion doesn’t have to work quite as hard, so your body can put more time and energy into detoxification and healing. Also because the ingredients in green smoothies are plant based and raw, the nutrients and enzymes in those ingredients remain intact and unaffected by heat. As a result your body is better able to digest and absorb them, which can help boost the body’s natural detoxification and cell renewal pathways.

Green smoothies can help keep you healthy!

These fabulous green drinks contain an abundance of phytonutrients, which are the chemical compounds unique to plants that give them their vibrant colours, tastes and smells. In humans phytonutrients have the ability to promote healthy cell function and have some very unique roles in preventing disease.

 

 

 

Lets talk about this hemp seed & kale green smoothie recipe I know you’re going to love!

It’s completely raw, plant based, dairy, gluten and sugar free. This green smoothie doesn’t contain any fruit except for lemon, and just happens to be one of the delicious recipes from my 10 Day Sugar Cleanse program. Despite the lack of fruit, it’s surprisingly sweet thanks to the lemon and coconut water. Of course, if you need a little more sweetness in your green smoothie feel free to add some green apple, kiwifruit or mango.

What this green smoothie does contain is hemp seeds which are one of my favourite ingredients. They have a unique, beneficial fatty acid ratio and are a great source of dietary fibre and plant based protein. In fact, hemp is one of the few complete plant based protein sources which means it contains the 9 essential amino acids that your body can’t make.

Hemp is also a fantastic source of vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenes, lecithin and chlorophyll – and you can read a whole article about hemp here.

If you make this Hemp Seed & Kale Green Smoothie with a dash of coconut yoghurt – let me know!

 

HEMP SEED & KALE GREEN SMOOTHIE

Makes: 1 large or 2 small smoothies
Prep time: 10 minutes

3 to 4 kale leaves
1 handful fresh parsley
1/4 cucumber (peeled if not organic)
1 lemon (peeled if not organic)
4 slices fresh ginger
2 Tbsp hemp seeds
pinch cinnamon
250ml unsweetened coconut water

To serve (optional):
2 Tbsp unsweetened coconut yoghurt

 

Wash the kale leaves and parsley well, then leave to drain while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

Peel the cucumber and lemon if not organic, and place in your blender jug along with the remaining ingredients.

Blend on high until smooth.

If you’re using the coconut yoghurt, dollop two spoonfuls into the bottom of your serving glass and pour the green smoothie on top.

Enjoy immediately or if saving for later, store in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 3 days.

 

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

 

I created these savoury Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters for Chantal Organics using their new Organic Hemp Hearts.

You may have noticed a sudden influx of hemp food products and recipes lately, the main reason for this in New Zealand is because of new legislation passed last year.

 

It’s Now Legal To Sell Hemp As Food

In New Zealand new legislation was passed last year which makes it legal to sell hemp seed products as food for humans.

This is a great win as it opens up a lot of new business opportunities, hemp farming has a very positive impact on the environment and consuming hemp food products carries many health benefits.

 

Hemp Hearts Are Not Psychoactive

Hemp hearts are the raw shelled seeds of the hemp plant and are very safe to eat.

Despite being a close relative to the marijuana plant, hemp hearts (and all hemp food products for that matter) have no psychoactive effects. 

 

Hemp Seeds Have A Uniquely Beneficial Fatty Acid Composition

In fact, hemp seeds are considered extremely nutritious largely due to their fatty acid composition. Hemp has a unique 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which means you can consume it without needing to balance it out with another fat rich food.

By comparison, most western diets have a whopping 10:1 omega ratio which is hugely alarming given that high dietary omega-6s relative to omega-3s are associated with numerous health issues such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

One particularly significant omega-6 fatty acid found in hemp is GLA or gamma kinolenic acid. It’s an extremely potent anti-inflammatory which makes it very effective at reducing chronic inflammation and it’s associated diseases.

What Else Is In Hemp

As well as fatty acids, hemp is a great source of dietary fibre and plant based protein. In fact it’s one of the few complete plant based protein sources which means it contains the 9 essential amino acids that your body can’t make.

Hemp is also a fantastic source of vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenes, lecithin and cholorphyll.

You may notice your hemp products have a slight green tint to them and this is a good thing as it’s due to the high chlorophyll content.

 

 

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

 

Hemp Plants Benefit The Environment

Hemp crops are easy to grow and very eco-friendly. They only need moderate amounts of water and rarely require herbicides or pesticides, so you can rest easy that your hemp foods will be low in chemical residues.

On average hemp plants pull around 20 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per hectare, as well as promote soil remediation, absorb toxins and help to replenish the earth.

Is there anything this super plant can’t do?!

They’re also extremely versatile, with nothing going to waste. Their fibres, core, seeds and flowers can be used as raw materials to form a wide variety of products such as: food, clothing, paper, carpeting, livestock feed and bedding, moulded plastics, construction, medicines, supplements, and body care products. 

 

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

 

Hemp Hearts Have A Very Mild Flavour

Surprisingly, hemp hearts have a very light, nutty flavour (unlike their protein powder counterpart) which makes them very versatile to use. They go beautifully in both sweet and savoury recipes, which brings me to these savoury hemp clusters.

Made with pumpkin and sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, a dash of savoury yeast and tamari for flavour, these clusters are bound together by the powers of psyllium. As such, they’re completely plant based/vegan, gluten/grain and sugar free.

I must warn you though, they’re unbelievably moreish so don’t be tempted to only make half a batch!

You’ll regret it, trust me.

If you can avoid eating them all straight from the oven tray, these clusters make a very nutritious mid morning or afternoon snack. They’re perfect for post workout given their high protein content, fantastic as salad or soup toppers, and make a great addition to cheese boards or mezze platters.

When you make these Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters, let me know!

Leave a comment below, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook. Enjoy!

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

Makes: 2 trays
Prep time: 10 minutes  Cook time: 1 hour

Dry Ingredients
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup cashew nuts
2 tsp psyllium powder
2 tsp savoury yeast flakes
1 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Wet Ingredients
2 tsp tamari sauce (optional)
1/2 cup water

Preheat the oven to 120ºC fan bake and line 2 baking trays.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well to combine.

Combine the wet ingredients, then add to the dry and stir well to combine. The mixture should come together as the psyllium absorbs the water.

Divide the mix between the two prepared trays and roughly spread over each tray to form clusters.

Place the trays into the oven and bake for up to 1 hour.

The clusters are ready when they come off the tray easily and hold together. They may be a little soft when they first come out but should harden up as they cool. If not, return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Allow the clusters to cool completely before transferring to a tightly sealed container to store at room temperature.

Clusters should keep well for a couple of weeks if they’ve been properly baked and all the moisture evaporated.

 

 

Hemp Heart, Nut & Seed Clusters

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

Lentil & herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

 

When Chantal Organics asked me to create a Christmas recipe using their lentils I jumped at the chance! I wanted to create a recipe with all the traditional flavours of Christmas that everyone could enjoy, including anyone eating a vegetarian or vegan diet.

We have a lot of different tastes and food preferences in our family and mum tries to cater to them all. This often means she spends the day slaving over a hot oven when she’d much rather be playing with the grandkids.

In past years we’ve had so many different things on the table it’s just crazy. We always have the traditional roast turkey and vegetables, then there’s often a chicken as well (my brother doesn’t like turkey), a side of salmon (for the non turkey eaters), a side of beef (‘cos your father likes it) and some kind of vegetarian patty (or three!). We only have one vegetarian in our family but we all love our vegetables and want to eat the vegetarian dish too!

 

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

 

So I created these lentil and herb Christmas stuffing balls which have all the nostalgic flavours of traditional stuffing but without any gluten or dairy. They go beautifully with roast turkey and vegetables, or can be served a main themselves.

To the lentil base I added toasted pine nuts and sunflower seeds to create a complete protein profile and enhance the delicious nutty flavour. Tamari sauce and mushrooms add a savoury unami element and a generous amount of fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley and sage, complete the traditional stuffing flavour.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Swoon Food recipe if it didn’t contain a healthy serving of greens, so I’ve also thrown in a generous handful of spinach.

The recipe below uses egg to bind everything together, but if you need them to be fully vegan I’ve also given the option to use a flax egg instead.

And if you’re still reading this post and it’s not Christmas, by all means don’t let that stop you! These lentil balls make a delicious week night meal served with a side salad or roast vegetables, and an even better leftover lunch the next day.

 

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls 

If you make these lentil stuffing balls, I’d love to hear from you!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook. Enjoy.

 

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

Makes: 20 to 22 balls
Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20-25 minutes

70g pinenuts
1/2 brown onion
1 cup mushrooms
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp tamari sauce
1 cup baby spinach leaves
2 Tbsp fresh parsley (or 1 Tbsp dried)
2 Tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 Tbsp dried)
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary (or 1 Tbsp dried)
2 Tbsp fresh sage (or 1 Tbsp dried)
1 can lentils
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp flaxseed (linseed)
2 cloves fresh garlic or 1 tsp garlic granules
1/2 cup rice flour
1 egg (or flax egg for vegan: 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water)
salt & pepper to season

Preheat your oven to 160ºC fan bake.
Place the pine nuts on a lined baking tray and toast for 5 to 10 minutes, or until just golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Turn the oven up to 180ºC fan bake.

Finely chop the onion, and wash and chop the mushrooms into small pieces.
Heat the coconut oil in a heavy based pan, add the onion and cook a few minutes until it starts to soften.
Add the mushrooms and continue to cook until softened.
Add the tamari sauce and cook a further minute until half the liquid is evaporated, then turn off the heat and allow the mix to cool.

Wash the fresh herbs and spinach and roughly chop (you can also do this in a food processor).
Drain the lentils and add to food processor along with the pine nuts, spinach and herbs, mushroom mixture, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, garlic granules, rice flour, egg, salt and pepper. Pulse to combine, scraping down the side as needed.

Roll the mixture into bite sized balls and place on a lined oven tray. At this point you can refrigerate overnight and bake the next day if desired.

To bake the balls place them in the centre of your preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they’re cooked through. Note, their centre’s should remain slightly moist. Serve as a side at Christmas lunch or dinner, or for a plant based weeknight meal serve with a fresh side salad.

 

Lentil & Herb Christmas Stuffing Balls

5 Reasons Why You Need Green Smoothies In Your Life!

5 Reasons Why You Need Green Smoothies In Your Life!

5 Reasons Why You Need Green Smoothies In Your Life + Fennel & Cardamom Green Smoothie Recipe

 

Before I talk about this fennel & cardamom green smoothie recipe, I want to share 5 reasons why you need green smoothies in your life!

If you already drink green smoothies on the regular that’s fabulous! You may want to skip down to the recipe, or read on to reaffirm why you do it.

If green smoothies are an occasional or even non existent thing for you, the following 5 reasons may just persuade you otherwise.

Here are my top 5 reasons why you need green smoothies in your life:

 

1. Green smoothies are a simple way to give your diet and health a boost. 

Green smoothies are an amazing way to get a lot of nutrients into your body in one go and are a really simple and inexpensive way to boost your diet naturally.

Think of how many greens go into a green smoothie compared to piling that same amount on a plate. It’s a lot easier to drink a green smoothie than it is to eat a huge plate of raw vegetables…wouldn’t you agree?

 

2. Green smoothies get your digestion flowing.

Green smoothies are packed with fibre and hydration which are essential for good digestion. Just about everybody who does my 5 Day Green Smoothie Challenge or the 10 Day Sugar Cleanse reports back that they’ve never been so regular!

And let’s face it, no one wants stagnant food hanging around in their gut. It slows the metabolism and can cause unpleasant gas.

A healthy digestive system means a healthy body that’s less prone to illness.

 

3. Green smoothies leave your skin glowing.

As I discussed in the previous point, green smoothies get your digestion flowing and this is also one of the keys to having glowing skin. Green smoothies are also very hydrating and as any good beauty therapist will tell you, adequate hydration is the first step towards reducing those fine lines.

Green smoothies contain an abundance of antioxidants which protect your cells from free radical damage and ultimately, the ageing process. Antioxidants are found in all fruits and vegetables, but are particularly abundant in the green variety.

 

4. Green smoothies can boost detoxification and healing.

This happens in two interlinked ways. Firstly, because the ingredients are already partially broken down by the blender blades it means less work for your digestive system which means your body can put more time and energy into other important processes such as detoxification and healing.

Secondly, because green smoothies are predominantly plant based and raw, the inherent nutrients and enzymes in those plants remain intact and unaffected by heat. This means your body is better able to digest and absorb these nutrients because often the plants enzymes aid in this process. Also, these intact nutrients can help boost the body’s natural detoxification and cell renewal pathways.

 

5. Green smoothies can help keep you healthy!

Green smoothies naturally contain an abundance of phytonutrients, which are ‘magical’ chemical compounds unique to certain plants. Phytonutrients give these plants their vibrant colours, tastes and smells, and their role is to help the plant thrive or fight off competitors, predators or pathogens.

In humans, phytonutrients have the ability to promote healthy cell function and have some very unique roles in preventing disease. Some examples of phytonutrients you might be familiar with are carotenoids (e.g. betacarotene which makes carrots orange), flavanoids (e.g. anthocyanin which gives blueberries their blue colour), resveratrol (found in red grapes, aka red wine!) and glucosinolates (e.g. sulforaphane, found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower).

These compounds have been shown to collectively support cardiovascular and cognitive health, regulate inflammation, support the immune system and help prevent and fight cancer. However, the research is only in it’s infancy and I’m sure a lot more will be discovered about these compounds in the years to come.

But all the more reason to ensure you eat a wide variety of plants in abundance today!

 

FENNEL & CARDAMOM GREEN SMOOTHIE

 

That sums up my top 5 reasons why you should include green smoothies in your diet, and if you get the recipe right, they taste pretty damn amazing too!

So without further ado, here’s one of my favourite green smoothie recipes, Fennel & Cardamom Green Smoothie. Fennel has a beautiful mild anise flavour which combines beautifully with fragrant cardamom. If you’re not a big cardamom fan go easy at first and slowly increase the amount to your taste.

If you try this green smoothie recipe, let me know!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think, and be sure to tag a picture #swoonfood on Instagram. Enjoy!

 

FENNEL & CARDAMOM GREEN SMOOTHIE

 

FENNEL & CARDAMOM GREEN SMOOTHIE

Makes: 1 extra large or 2 small smoothies
Prep time: 10 minutes

1 large handful of spinach leaves
1/4 -1/2 bulb of fennel (depending on how large your fennel is)
1/2 green apple
1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp coconut yoghurt
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 cup filtered water

Wash the spinach leaves well, and leave to drain in a sieve.
Wash the fennel well and chop in half.
Peel the lemon and apple (if not organic) and place in the blender jug along with the spinach and fennel.
Add the coconut yoghurt, cardamom and water and blend on high until all the ingredients are well blended and smooth.
Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy.
This smoothie will keep in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 3 days.

 

FENNEL & CARDAMOM GREEN SMOOTHIE