Cucumbers are less loved than they should be. We tend to relegate them to the world of crudité and salad toppers, but they can be so much more.
Cucumber is technically a fruit though we treat it mostly as a vegetable. It is bursting with minerals, like silica and folic acid for great hair and nails.It also boosts hydration with a good electrolyte balance (hello, hangover cure) and supports our connective tissues like joints and ligaments. All these properties make for a stellar pre- or post-workout smoothie.
I present this recipe as part of a series featuring lesser-appreciated ingredients in the plant-based world and three ways to fall in love with them.
RECIPE
Serves: 1 Time: 5 mins
INGREDIENTS
1/2 English cucumber, washed and chopped roughly 1 large handful spinach, kale or gentle lettuce like butter or baby greens(avoid peppery greens like rucola, or rocket as they say in the UK) 1 small handful frozen pineapple 6-8 leaves sweet basil Juice of half a lime
100ml of coconut water (or fresh squeezed orange juice) 300ml of water
HOW TO
Normally recipes just say toss the ingredients in the blender until smooth, but I do feel there is an art in layering it sometimes. Pineapple goes first, then cucumber, spinach and basil, so the frozen fruit can mix smoothly with the greens. Pour the liquids on top with the squeeze of lime.
If your blender is not powerful enough to liquefy greens, try adding only half the liquid and blend a bit, then the rest, thinning as needed until you get the consistency you want. Pour into a beautiful glass and enjoy.
Bon appétit!
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