Carrot and Beet Salsa

Liver Loving Carrot and Beet Salsa

The star ingredient in making this salsa liver loving are beets!

Beets protect liver cells and bile ducts from free radical damage. They are rich in phytonutrients - betaine, which supports detoxification pathways in the body. Their health benefits don’t stop here! They are also rich in fiber, iron, folate and the trifecta of blood pressure lowering minerals: calcium, magnesium, and potassium. 

Other supporting roles are: 

Carrots - contain detoxifying properties, rich in fiber and carotenoids including beta-carotene which help stimulate bile to flow and remove wastes. 

Apples - hydrating and detoxifying, rich in fiber and natural plant polyphenols that protect cells from free radical damage and inflammation.

Now that school is over, here are some simple tips on how to prepare the salsa. 

I will say that prep time requires a bit of effort but I promise you, after it’s done - everything comes together within seconds! 

Ways to make sure your prep time is cut in half-  using a mandolin or food processor with a shredding blade. I promise you - this cuts your prep time in half vs getting a mini workout using a box grater or cutting your ingredients into tiny little bite size pieces. 

I also want to mention that if you are following the Nourishment Program, you will see that this salsa can be turned into a Six Senses Nourish Meal! 

SIX SENSES NOURISH COMPONENTS: 

Non-starchy carbs | beet and carrot salsa

Starchy carbs | grain-free tortillas (Siete)

Protein | Grilled tilapia (wild-caught)

Fats | buffalo sauce dressing (primal kitchen), feta/goat cheese, avocado

Probiotics | pickled red onions

Flavor | cilantro, lime, seasonings on fish

If you would like more information on how to build more six senses nourish meals and why it’s an easy and seamless way of getting nutrient dense, whole foods into your diet, then check out the Nourishment Program for more information! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Liver Loving Carrot and Beet Salsa

Ingredients

• 1 beet

• 1 carrot 

• ½ red onion

• ½ red apple

• Juice of ½ lime + zest

• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

• 1 jalapeno (optional)

• Clove of garlic (optional)

• S+P to season

Directions

1. Shred the beets, carrots, onion and apples. You can use a mandolin, box grater or food processor fitted with the shredded blade. Place the shredded ingredients into a large bowl. 

2. To the bowl, add juice and zest of lime, cilantro, seasonings and optional ingredients and toss until combined. Taste test to see if you need to add more salt, cilantro, etc. Keep in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the ingredients to marry into each other before serving! 

3. Great to serve with plantain chips, or use as a topping for breakfast eggs, tacos, fish, anything! Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Curry Quinoa with Spicy Roasted Carrots and a Lime Mint Yogurt Sauce

Curry Quinoa with Spicy Roasted Carrots and a Lime Mint Yogurt Sauce - The perfect Indian-inspired side dish that is fresh, flavorful, and family-friendly! 

Apparently, an Indian-inspired side dish is a perfect addition to an outdoor barbeque because the “barbeque” I went to, as well in fact an outdoor pizza party with hotdogs to cook on the fire. Haha, there was no theme but it did not matter because this side dish ended up being the theme of the night!  

And just like the barbeque, there is no rhyme or reason to this recipe other than the fact that it tastes amazing! Who would have ever thought that a yogurt sauce that tastes like a coconut lime margarita could cut through the spicy roasted carrots and a flavor bomb of fluffy quinoa? Topped with the crunchy spicy granola-like mixture and you will find yourself going to flavor town! (I can’t believe I just said that!)

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Curry Quinoa with Spicy Roasted Carrots and a Lime Mint Yogurt Sauce - The perfect Indian-inspired side dish that is fresh, flavorful, and family-friendly! 

Ingredients 

Curry Quinoa

• 1 cup quinoa

• 2 cups water

• 1 Tbsp grass-fed butter, coconut oil, or ghee

• 1 Tbsp hot madras curry powder (or regular curry powder)

• 1 tsp salt

Spicy Roasted Carrots

• 1 large bag of carrots (or tri-color carrots)

• 1 Tbsp salt-free spicy seasoning

• 1 Tbsp avocado oil

• 1 tsp salt 

Lime Mint Yogurt Sauce

• ½ cup organic plain yogurt (lactose-free or dairy)

• ½ juice of lime + zest

• ½ tsp organic sugar

• 1-2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves

• ½ tsp salt

Topping blend 

• 2 Tbsp coconut flakes

• 2 Tbsp chopped almonds

• 1 tsp no-salt spicy seasoning

• ¼ tsp salt

Garnish: cilantro and lime wedges

Directions

1. Add all ingredients (from curry quinoa) to a medium pot and prepare quinoa as instructed on the package. 

**What I like to do to save time - add all ingredients (from curry quinoa) to a rice cooker and cook on the white rice setting. 

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Peel and cut carrots longways. In a large mixing bowl, combine carrots, seasonings, and oil. Toss to combine. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place carrots on the tray. Try not to overcrowd the carrots for even cooking! Cook for 20 min until cooked through and crispy. If you have thicker carrots, you may need to flip carrots over and cook for an additional 15-20 min. 

2. To make the yogurt sauce, simply add all ingredients to a processor or nutri-bullet and blend until fully corporated. Taste test first before setting aside. You may need to add 1 Tbsp increments of water for desired sauce consistency. 

3. In a small bowl, combine the topping blend until fully incorporated. 

4. To assemble your side dish, layer the following components on a serving platter: Curry quinoa, spicy roasted carrots, yogurt sauce, chopped cilantro, and sprinkle topping blend! Enjoy! 

Notes

• Products used in this recipe: salt-free spicy seasoning, hot madras curry powder, curry powder, organic plain lactose-free yogurt

Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cinnamon Cashew Cream Cheese

A healthy take on the classic carrot cake, made into pancakes that are sure to please everyone! I pair it with an irresistible cinnamon cashew cream cheese that you can’t help but lick right out of the bowl! Best of all, these pancakes are oil-free, gluten-free, and entirely vegan.

Carrot cake has got to be in my top 5 favorite cakes.

From the spices of cinnamon and nutmeg to the textures of walnuts and carrots, there is nothing that will stand in the way of me and carrot cake.

Nothing.

That is why I have decided to try and incorporate carrot cake into my life in an innovative and healthy way. Now that I’m getting older, I am more aware of how many sticks of butter it takes to achieve the perfect taste of carrot cake. After experimenting, I have found a way to not only indulge my desires completely guilt-free but to also do it for breakfast.

You’ll need a few key ingredients for that classic carrot cake taste, such as carrots, of course! I prefer starting with fresh carrots so I can medium grate them to get more of a crunchy texture, but if you prefer to have a well-blended batter then you can finely grate your carrots or put them in a processor. Be sure to pat your grated carrots with paper towels or a kitchen towel to absorb excess liquid so it doesn’t make your batter too liquidy.

Another key ingredient is the spices. Now, you can go about this either two ways: You can mix a ratio of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, or you can simply use a pumpkin pie spice mix. Both seem equal in flavor, I just had leftover pumpkin pie spice from the fall days and I basically use it in all my pancake batters!

Prepping for the pancake batter is a breeze. Just add your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and then use a spatula to fold in the walnuts and grated carrots. It is important that you let your batter rest for at least 10 minutes so that the starch molecules in the flour can absorb the liquid in the batter. This causes them to swell and gives the batter a thicker, more viscous consistency. This allows time for the air bubbles to slowly work their way out.

Now, onto my favorite part… The cinnamon cashew cream cheese! It really takes the cake in this recipe (no pun intended)! The cashew cream cheese tastes almost like confectioners sugar to me. It has the perfect amount of sweetness thanks to the pure maple syrup. It’s so addicting that I will literally make an extra batch of this and sneak it in the fridge to take a spoonful (or three) out of the jar when I need to satisfy my sweet tooth!

*Updated - You can make this recipe into waffles! (notes below)

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

Vegan, gluten free and oil free take on a classic carrot cake pancake that is sure to please everyone! Paired with an irresistible cinnamon cashew cream cheese that you can’t help but lick right out of the bowl!  

INGREDIENTS

Carrot Cake Pancakes

• 1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts

• 1 cup (loosely packed) shredded carrots ((2 medium carrots))

• 1 cup non dairy milk ((I used unsweetened almond milk))

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix or (2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg)

• 1/4 cup applesauce unsweetened

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup almond flour (not almond meal)

• 1 cup GF baking flour

• 1 Tbsp sweetener of choice (I used pure maple syrup)

• Dash of salt

Cinnamon Cashew Cream Cheese

• 3/4 cup raw cashews drained (soaked overnight with warm water)

• 1 1/2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

• 1/4 cup non dairy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

• squeeze of small lemon wedge

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. To prepare the batter, in a medium bowl, add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and a dash of salt. In a separate bowl, add applesauce, milk, vanilla, and sweetener and mix until combined. Add your dry ingredients to your liquid ingredients and mix until combined.

2. Gently fold in the walnuts and carrots and let the batter sit for at least 10 minutes.

3. Lightly coat your skillet with vegan butter or coconut oil over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add about ¼ cup of the pancake mixture to the pan. Cook for 2-3 min or until the bottom of the pancake is brown and bubbles have formed on the outside. Flip and cook for 2-3 min or until brown and fully cooked through.

4. While pancakes are cooking, add cashews, maple syrup, milk, lemon and cinnamon to a processor and pulse on high for about 4 minutes or until mixture is smooth and creamy in texture. Add additional maple syrup for a sweeter taste.

5. Layer pancakes with cream cheese and top with walnuts and maple syrup!

• Make sure to grease your skillet in between batches as well as to keep a consistent strain of heat. If you let your skillet get too hot, then the pancakes will be crispy and brown on the outside but mushy and raw on the inside.

• Since the pancakes are vegan, an egg is not present, so let your batter rest is key to get that perfect fluffy texture.

• If you are short on time, you can actually boil the cashews! Just cover cashews with water in a small saucepan and boil over medium-high heat. As soon as the water boils, turn the oven off and let the cashews sit in the saucepan covered for 1 hour.

NOTES

1. Ingredients trusted brands: GF Baking Flour, Almond Flour, and Pumpkin Pie Spice

2. Can be easily made into waffles! If eggs are not an issue, I would recommend substituting applesauce for 1 egg and omitting almond flour.