I decided it was time to take a stab at making my own green juice. I've been buying the stuff at $4 a bottle for a couple of months now, and always feel so accomplished and healthy after I finish a bottle but the guilt of spending so much got to be too much. I concocted this recipe, which was intentionally lacking on sweetness, as a base on which to build. I'm thinking next time I'll add a bit of watermelon for a sweeter, more summery feel!
[skip to the bottom for the words-only version]
[skip to the bottom for the words-only version]
I started out with a fairly simple base - celery, cucumber, green apple.
Next, I threw it all in my handy-dandy juicer.
Once you're finished with all the veg, the juice should look like this. For now, leave the film at the top, since we will strain later!
Next for the leafy greens! I chose spinach and a bit of basil for an herby sharpness. The juice can definitely take it because most of the other flavors are fairly muted. I know that's some sad looking basil, but it was leftover from tomato-mozzarella sandwiches yesterday and I didn't want to waste it!
Finally I threw the juice, along with the herbage (no need to de-stem them, they add fiber!) into the blender and let 'er rip.
This is what the final, unstrained product looks like (gorgeous!). Below is an example of strained [back] and unstrained [front]. You be the judge - I chose to strain mine for a smoother feel.
Now sit back and enjoy all the green-leafy-veggie-healthy goodness!
The Words-Only Version: Basic Green Juice
The Heavy Artillery:
Juicer*
Blender
The Veg:
2 green apples
1 cucumber
2 stalks celery
1 lg. handful spinach
6 leaves basil
The How:
1. Cut all the veggies into the size appropriate for your juicer.
2. Juice the apples, cucumber, and celery.
3. Transfer the juice into a blender, add spinach and basil.
4. Pulse for approximately 10 seconds, then let it roll on high until smooth (approx. 2 min)
5. Strain over a glass.
6. Chill and serve!
You can customize this any which way you like, there are no limits! I'm thinking variations with kiwi, mango, cranberry, and watermelon!
*I am the first to admit that a juicer might be one of the most inconvenient pieces of kitchen machinery ever made. They are bulky, tedious to clean, and have limited uses. BUT that being said, there is nothing more delicious than fresh juice. It might just be worth it if you can get your hands on the right model.
{k}