It’s apricot season!
During most of the year, we expect to see these tiny, delicate, pale-orange-hued nuggets in dried form. Wrinkled and chewy, dried apricots are sweet and tasty, especially when combined with raw nuts and seeds.
But take a look around the grocery store fruit and vegetable section this week. They’re here! The velvety apricot is everywhere these days and we should all be enjoying its sweet, peach/plum-like tang. Lean in and take a whiff of the apricot’s perfume – fresh, fragrant and willing you to toss a few in the cart.
So I did.
In fact, my local grocery store had the organic apricots on sale – even better! So, I stocked up on a few handfuls, and of course, came up with a winner of a green smoothie this morning, courtesy of a couple of blushing apricots.
More about that in a moment. But first, let me applaud the nutritional profile of the apricot, in case taste alone isn’t enough to convince you to pick up a few.
Apricots deliver goodness in the form of:
- fiber – we all need more fiber to keep our bowels in check, to regulate blood sugar, and to feed the good bacteria in our gut
- vitamin A – for a small fruit, these gems provide ample amounts of this micronutrient, which is excellent for eye and skin health, and bolsters your immune system; be sure to consume a little fat with your apricots to enhance the bioavailability of vitamin A (a handful of raw nuts alongside is delish!)
- vitamin C – this vitamin is amazing for skin health, helping to build collagen and heal wounds, and is a major immunity hero; vitamin C assists in absorbing iron from our plant-based foods, so try tossing a diced apricot into your spinach salad
- potassium – this mineral supports blood pressure regulation, and is important for healthy digestion and bones
Whew – that’s a lot of nutrient joy in such a tiny fruit! Here’s how I got my apricot love on this morning:
Apricot-Apple Green Smoothie
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 knob fresh ginger, peeled
1 organic lemon, seeded (yes – peel and all; make sure to scrub well)
1 tbsp. chia seed
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp spirulina
2 celery stalks
1/2 English cucumber
2 enormous leaves of rainbow chard (stalk, too)
3-4 leaves of kale
1/2 green apple
2 apricots, pit removed
big handful of fresh basil leaves
big handful of fresh mint leaves
Optional – liquid stevia, or other natural sweetener, to taste
Directions
Place first 8 ingredients in high-powered blender; whir. Add leafy greens; whir again. Toss in remaining ingredients and blend to a thick, creamy smoothness.
Et voila! As you probably know by now, I like to eat my smoothies with a spoon – so, the thicker the better. If you prefer a beverage to a bowl, simply add more water. I think unsweetened almond or hemp milk would also be lovely in this smoothie.
Oh yes – note that I always include a bit of fat in my morning green mash, usually in the form of chia seed, flax seed, hemp hearts…or a combination thereof. This is really important to help absorb fat-soluble vitamins, like the vitamin A in apricots and leafy greens.
I think I can see better already!
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