Simple Raw Fusion Dish – Corn, Shitake and Asparagus Fricasse

Raw Fusion Recipe – blending the incredible health benefits of the raw foods lifestyle with the comfort and convenience of mainstream meals.

 Over the past few years the raw foods lifestyle has gained quite a following.  Eating primarily raw foods does not necessarily mean that you subsist on a boring diet of carrots and celery; or even that the food is always cold and completely uncooked.  In fact, gourmet raw food recipes are some of the most sophisticated-tasting foods that I have ever experienced.  The premise of this lifestyle is that you eat mainly whole foods that have not been exposed to heat over 118 degrees, which destroys most of the vitamins and minerals and virtually all of the digestive enzymes, making these meals very easy on the body.  Dr. Oz said this when asked about raw foods:  “There are immeasurable health benefits to maintaining a raw foods diet.”

The key word here is “maintaining.”  Because there are specific ways of preparing raw foods,  as well as certain equipment, many people would find it challenging to sustain a high raw foods diet over a prolonged period.  While there is nothing that I have personally experienced like the raw food diet that can almost miraculously transform a number of chronic food allergies and other health issues, I am also keenly aware of the human need for comfort, convenience and camaraderie in their eating habits – as well as getting certain cravings satisfied.

Over the years I have found ways to integrate the two lifestyles in very appealing combinations..  My first recipe offering is deceptively simple, yet everyone who has tried it is astounded by the tantalizing variety of tastes and textures of flash-sauteed veggies served over greens, which become semi-wilted and ultra-delicious.   Although other oils can be used for flash-sauteeing, there is none that imparts such a rich and nutty taste as virgin coconut oil.

This can be served as a main course or a side dish, however, one of the tenets of the raw fusion philosophy is proper food-combining.  Corn is a starchy, high carb food.  If you are seeking to lose weight, it combines favorably with the greens and other veggies and makes for a very fulfilling dish.  However, if you combine corn with a protein (meat, chicken, fish, tofu) it does not support weight loss.

Buy fresh corn on the cob for this dish and whenever possible, from organic sources so that you can be confident that it is not genetically modified.

Fricassee of Corn, Asparagus and Shitake over Spinach and Arugula

VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE

Serves 6–8

 Ingredients:

4 ears of corn

1 cup of fresh shitake mushrooms, rinsed and dried (stems removed)

1 bunch of asparagus

3–4 TB. virgin coconut oil (We love the Kelapo brand as it’s free-trade!)

3 scallions, diced

Bag of organic baby spinach and 1 cup of arugula leaves (can be mixture)

Celtic sea salt, to taste

Garlic Gold granules, fresh or powdered garlic, to taste

Directions:

Divide spinach and arugula leaves among the serving plates.

Cut away the kernels from each cob and reserve.  Break off bottom of each asparagus stalk – if they are the thin kind, chop into ½ inch pieces.  If these are the thicker stalks, peel up from bottom to remove fibrous skin.  Then chop into small slices.  Tear or cut shitake caps into small pieces or slices, use stems if they are not withered.

Heat coconut oil in a wok or deep frying pan – starting with the shitakes, brown them slightly.  If using fresh garlic, add it now.  Add more coconut oil if needed.

Toss in the asparagus and quickly sauté, then the corn, adding the garlic granules or powder and salt to taste.  Cooking time should be short for these 2 ingredients in order to maintain their essentially raw state.

Spoon warm vegetables over the greens, including any of the remaining coconut oil.

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