Cleansing Recipes

So it’s a new year, out with old and all that, new prospects, resolutions and dreams, go for it. But it’s cold outside and the couch is comfy and there’s loads of time for turning over that new leaf, walking more, eating less, tomorrow I promise…..

It’s so easy I find to put things on the long finger, there is always something else more pressing, but I have learned to manage my time a bit better, to cook for 2 days some days, to go to bed early a couple of nights a week, to set aside a morning or two for paper work, hail or shine which enables me to a bit more ‘’me time’’.

When I walk I sing, when I garden I get exercise, when I cook I’m happy, when I listen to what my body needs, I take action, and as Hippocrates said, let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

In the Spring I need to detox. Simple I hear you say, well yes, actually.

What better way than with the wonderful wild herbs and plants around us and some stables from the garden/larder, Nettle, Dandelion, Seaweeds, Watercress, Artichoke, Cabbage, Onions, Leeks, Lemons, Limes , Melons and Wild Berries.

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Due to their potency in spring time, Nettles were and still are used as a blood purifier after the heavy starchy foods of Winter. A blood tonic to Cleanse the system, raise the yang energy and provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals, including iron, silica, potassium, and vitamins A and C and chlorophyll and are easily absorbed and assimilated. They stimulate the kidneys and help clear the blood of toxins.

Nettle Tea

Use gloves to collect some nettle tops and use to make a pot of nettle tea, by simply pouring hot water over them. Allow to infuse for 20 mins. Better than any nettle tea you can buy and it’s FREE…

Also great used as a green vegetable, in with other veg. stir-ried, or use a juicer to extract the iron rich juice and add to a smoothie.

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Dandelions are another beneficial plant, supporting overall health and are used for cleansing the skin.  All parts are used, flowers, leaves, and roots, for making all sorts of interesting drinks, preserves and salads.

Another plant high in minerals, notably potassium, and vitamins A,B,C and D.  The young leaves eaten in spring or boiled up into a tea, act as a detox , cleansing the skin, blood and lymph.

Dandelion and Wild Garlic Leaf Salad

• Lettuce
• Wild Garlic leaves (Ramsons)
• Handful of tender dandelion leaves, well washed
• Olive oil
• Juice of half lemon
• Sea salt

Arrange the salad ingredients and make a dressing to pour over,enjoy.

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Now to something close to my heart, Seaweed.

Seaweeds have many beneficial actions and the edible ones include kombu,kelp, nori, wakame, arame, hiziki and bladderwrack with their therapeutic properties, they are super food at it’s best. One of their most important roles is their ability to cleanse the blood of toxins, including research suggests, heavy metals such as strontium and barium, counteracting the affects of radiation.

Cleansing Seaweed Soup

Make a broth with carrot, onion,celery,and couple pieces of wakame chopped into matchsticks, simmer for 10 mins. then add a teaspoon of miso paste, delicious.

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Blog post by Oonagh O’Dwyer, Wild Kitchen