We call this drink 'Shrek Juice'. I'm sure you can see why! It's so simple it's hardly a recipe, but I thought I'd go ahead and post it as I get lots of questions about the best way to make juice in the Thermomix.
The Thermomix is great for making delicious, healthy juices. The best way to do it is to make a 'boost juice' style of juice... just whiz up your fruit and/or veges with a couple of handfuls of ice, speed 10 for a minute or two, add a little water if you need to thin it down to a drinkable consistency, and there you are - no wasted pulp, the fibre is there in a drinkable form, and the bowl is easy to clean up afterwards. All you do when you've finished juicing is whiz up some water in the bowl, rinse under the tap, and voila - it's clean! There's no messy filter to scrub out - which makes it much more likely that you'll drink fresh juice every day, right? I know when I had to rely on a juice extractor for juices, I didn't juice too often - those things are such a pain to clean.
The reason you add the ice is because it helps grind up the fibres of the fruit and veges, stops the juice from becoming foamy, and also helps retain the enzymes in the juice by keeping them cool. So don't leave out the ice.
One of my favourite things about making juice this way is that I can afford to use organic fruit and veges and not feel like I'm wasting money by throwing out the fibre, because it's all incorporated into the juice. A couple of carrots, a couple of apples, a handful of baby spinach, a stick of celery and a little ice makes juice for four people - no need to use half the fruit and veges in the fridge! It also makes it a lower GI drink, as the fibre prevents your blood sugar levels from soaring because of concentrated sugars. And the juice is more filling, so it's great when you're in a hurry in the mornings and don't have time for breakfast; or if you're trying to lose weight. So my advice is keep the fibre in your juices - don't strain it all out!
Shrek Juice - makes about 3 serves
Grind up in the Thermomix on speed 10 for 1 minute or so:
- 3 oranges, peeled (cut off skin & pith, leave whole)
- 2 handfuls baby spinach
- a handful or two of ice
That's it!
I love to add baby spinach or other greens to smoothies and juices - you can't taste them, and fresh greens are so good for you. And most of us don't get enough of them.
Sometimes I add nuts to my juices, to make a creamy fruit drink like Pecan Orange Milk, or Creamy Citrus Smoothie. They're great for a breakfast drink, as the protein helps you wake up and gives you energy.
There's so many different types of juices you can make in the Thermomix - this is just a very simple one that's a favourite at our house. So what are your favourite juice combinations?
Oh, by the way, just in case you have little princesses at your house who are totally not interested in Shrek, here's a Princess Fiona Juice too... ;)
(Okay, it's more of a smoothie...)
This one is made from a few handfuls of frozen blueberries, a handful of baby spinach, a handful of raw almonds, a few dates, a frozen avocado or banana (chopped in bits), a handful of ice, water to cover, and a little agave syrup or honey to taste if needed. I don't really measure with juices and smoothies - just keep adding til it tastes right!
Enjoy!
