Raw recipes: Get a morning boost from a health shot or smoothie

Who'd have thought shots in the morning would be a good idea. But these intense shots and smooties created out of of berries, juices and root vegetables get the morning off to a flying start

Red and yellow shots are perfect in the morning for a hit of energy

Icelandic author, Sollar Eiriksdottir packs Raw full of recipes for a modern vegetarian lifestyle. As one of the countrie's most famous chefs, Sollar has worked to propell the raw movement intor the forefront of the food world since the 1980s. She practices as she preaches and eats a raw diet herself, based on at least fifty per cent of the ingredients being raw plant food, which the book reflects. Every recipe is clearly marked if it's dairy, nut, gluten and nut free as well as being suitable for vegans which has been aided by Solla's daughter, Hidur, who studied nutritional science.

Here are our favourite shots and smoothies to brighten your morning.

Green Juice

You can use whatever greens you prefer: kale, spinach, or another favorite vegetable. Chopping the fruit and vegetables into small pieces will make the blending easier as well as preserve more nutrients.

GF DF V R NF
Serves 2

1 handful of kale, stems (stalks) removed and leaves chopped into small pieces
½–1 apple, cored and chopped into small pieces
½ cucumber, chopped into small pieces
2 celery stalks, chopped into small pieces
1 lime, quartered
½ bunch of cilantro (coriander)
1 tablespoon Ginger Shot

Put all the ingredients into a blender with scant ½–scant 1 cup (3 ½–7 oz/100–200 ml) water and blend well. Strain through a nut milk bag or a piece of cheesecloth (muslin) set over a bowl, then pour into a glass and drink. Set the pulp still in the nut milk bag or cheesecloth (muslin) aside and use it for the smoothie (see below) and the crackers.

These recipes are flexible enough to allow you to use your favourite greens and fruit tea to make it your own

“Green” Smoothie

Use your favourite herbal tea in this smoothie. We like cinnamon and star anise. For a nut-free version, use tahini instead of almond butter.

GF DF V R
Serves 2

1 ¼ cups (10   oz/300 ml) herbal tea
2 tablespoons pulp from the Green Juice (see above)
2 cups (11 oz/300 g) frozen blueberries
½ avocado
1 tablespoon almond butter
2 tablespoons Ginger Shot (see page 96)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground cardamom powder
a pinch of salt

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend well. Pour into a glass and drink. Tip: Use sesame seed paste (tahini) instead of the almond butter if you prefer not to use nuts.

For the ginger shot

5 inch (13.25 cm) or about7 oz (200 g) piece fresh ginger root, peeled

To make a ginger shot, put the ginger through a juicer or chop the ginger and put it into a blender with 1–2 tablespoons water and blend until smooth.

Red Shot

A shot is more concentrated than a smoothie and has little fiber, which means the nutrients enter your system faster and you get a hit of energy.

GF DF V R NF
Serves 1

scant ½ cup (1 oz/30 g) goji berries
seeds from 1 pomegranate
scant ½ cup (3 ½   oz/100 ml) beet (beetroot) juice
1 small red chile, seeded
1 teaspoon acai powder

Put the goji berries into a bowl, pour in enough water to cover, and soak for 30 minutes, then drain. Put the soaked goji berries into a blender with the remaining ingredients and blend well. Strain through a nut milk bag or a piece of cheesecloth (muslin) set over a bowl, then pour into a glass and it’s ready to drink.

Yellow Shot

GF DF V R NF

Serves 1

2 inch (5 cm) piece of fresh ginger root, peeled
2 tablespoons water or
coconut water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Use a microplane, zester, or grater to grate the ginger ¬ finely and then squeeze the paste in your hands over a bowl to catch the juice. (You will be surprised by how much juice will come out.) You need 1 teaspoon of pressed ginger. Put the pressed ginger into a clean jar with the remaining ingredients, put the lid on, and shake together. It’s ready to drink.

Raw – Recipes for a modern Vegetarian Lifestyle by Solla Eiriksdottir is published by Phaidon, £24.95