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View Full Version : You favorite SIMPLE raw dishes



Mexpat
04-04-2008, 11:53 AM
Hi Guys,

I'm new to this raw thing, but I've been lurking in these forums for a while! I live in Mexico and mail is not very reliable (the cable company even tells you that you have to come pay your bill on the 17th whether you receive a bill in the mail or not), so ordering raw items online isn't really an option for me. Finding some raw food items is impossible- anything like raw oat groats would be basically impossible to find here (I'm having trouble locating dates here, and they're pretty basic!).

The upside is that there is an abundance of papayas, mangoes, coconuts, bananas... you get the idea. Plus, the weather is warm, so it's somewhat easy to stay raw because I don't feel the need to eat warm foods to warm me up. Produce is dirt cheap compared to the US, but "organic" isn't really available. I can say that I truly, deeply miss kale, which was a staple in my diet when I lived in the US. All I can find is Spinach and lettuce and the occasional different green. GOD- I miss Whole Foods! There aren't any health food stores in my town, so I have to make do with Wal-Mart and Commerical Mexicana.

Nonetheless, I'd like to get into a routine and I read Chilove's post (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=39693) where she gives her tips for staying raw and I'm in desperate need of some good, easy recipes that are the type that you guys love.

I have been eating green smoothies and salads and lots of fruit (oh, and avocados are plentiful and cheap here). I made one batch of raw soup, but it wasn't anything I'd write home about. HELP!

I have a blender. Juicers are available here. I haven't seen any dehydrators here (I might buy one when I'm back in the states in May to visit). I think food processors are available, but I haven't seen any good ones.

If anyone knows of a link to a list of uber simple recipes that don't require exotic ingredients, that would be super helpful!

Thanks in advance!

Mexpat

Veganforlife
04-04-2008, 11:55 AM
GREEN SMOOTHIES

Mexpat
04-04-2008, 12:01 PM
Yes- I made it about a week just eating salads and green smoothies before I needed something more. Do you guys eat green smoothies for every meal? :( I wish I didn't need a variety of textures! After about a week, sometimes green smoothies would make me dry heave as I was trying to drink them down- particularly if I added pineapple to them, ugh.

Banshee
04-04-2008, 12:02 PM
Anything with avocados.....

Crackers topped with mashed avocado...yum...I want that right now!

Dimond
04-04-2008, 12:06 PM
I have a few posted here & many others if you have requests:
http://dimondhealth.com/Recipes.htm

Veganforlife
04-04-2008, 12:17 PM
Yes- I made it about a week just eating salads and green smoothies before I needed something more. Do you guys eat green smoothies for every meal? :( I wish I didn't need a variety of textures! After about a week, sometimes green smoothies would make me dry heave as I was trying to drink them down- particularly if I added pineapple to them, ugh.

Yes. Alot of times. I'll either do green smoothies or just plain old fruit smoothies. Not OLD fruit per se, but, well, you know what I mean...:p

The cool thing about a raw diet is that YOU get to choose how YOU want it. The simpler the better. Listen to your body and see what it wants. Sounds like you're doing great already!

Mexpat
04-04-2008, 12:19 PM
THANK YOU GILMORE GIRL! That's exactly like what I'm looking for! Many of the items I can find here (minus raw cocoa or carob). I think I'll try your taco "meat" tonight. Oh- and despite there being plenty of Tequila here, I haven't found agave, but I'll keep looking. My list of food I'll be smuggling back from the states just grows and grows...

RawSinger
04-04-2008, 12:32 PM
Portobella mushrooms stuffed with guacamole, drizzled with Bragg's Liquid Aminos or Nama Shoyu

Mexpat
04-04-2008, 12:50 PM
I could definitely get the guacamole here... I'll be on the lookout for Portobella mushrooms- I've seen the small white ones here. I'm pretty sure Wal-mart doesn't carry Bragg's or Nama Shoyu, though. :( They mostly have teas in their "comida sana" section.

RawSinger
04-04-2008, 12:56 PM
Okay, well any kind of sauce that you like. Or none at all. There are no rules with this diet; except to eat living food!

Mexpat
04-04-2008, 03:38 PM
Ok- So I stopped by the grocery store and was able to find portobella mushrooms! I picked up some stuff to make guac, so that should be good. They didn't have walnuts or sunflower seeds, so I'm going to have to try a different grocery store for that. Also- I was hoping that they would at least have maple syrup, but no such luck- just regular syrup (of course no agave) but I was able to get some non-raw honey... might be able to substitute this for the harder to find raw stuff here for "kinda raw" desserts. *sigh*:confused:

Anyone else on the boards living raw in countries that have limited access to unique foods?

SuzyQ
04-04-2008, 04:57 PM
Do you have almond butter or any type of nut butter. (homemade works, too). My favorite salad dressing is 1 tablespoon of almond butter, some flax oil and a little Braggs (nama shoyu would work as well as soy sauce in a pinch). I can eat a ton of salad if I love the dressing. Maybe you can vary the dressing and that will help???? I hope so!

rawererin
04-04-2008, 05:22 PM
Green smoothie with frozen banana- you'd be suprised how good banana is on it's own, I don't really add any other fruit anymore, it's really creamy if you add a few frozen nut milk cubes too!
Guacamole!!!!
Sliced bananas with nut butter and chocolate sauce
You could blend/process some mango (I'm drooling over this) add a little sweetner and freeze it for some sorbet...
Frozen bananas blended make a great ice cream substitute...
Hope this helps!

JEN
04-05-2008, 06:38 PM
Here's one from Ani Phyo's raw cooking series.

SPANISH SCRAMBLE

Love the chicks pate

1 cup almonds, dry
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, dry
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon tumeric
1/2 cup filtered water

Put in a bowl.

Ani makes it Spanish style by adding

Fold these ingredients into the bowl mixture.

1/4 cup cilantro
1/2 cup tomato, diced
2 Tablespoons scallions, chopped
1 batch Love the Chicks Pate
1/2 cup spinach leaves
pinch black pepper

Aleesha Sattva
04-05-2008, 07:25 PM
i'm passing out on the spot thinking about not being able to have kale salad... you poor thing!

i love my green smoothies and i do drink they with every meal... i'm starting a green smoothie feast on monday for 30 days... mmmm yummmmyyyy

***edited to add: no i have nothing of value to add to this thread*** LOL