Thursday, June 1, 2023

When Life Offers You Lemons...

  




Yes, we know you've heard that one before. But it's especially true with this lemonade. That's because it has cilantro in it, and the healing properties that come with it! You read that right! Brittany Wood Nickerson, who wrote the new cookbook The Herbalist Kitchen, came by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about her Cilantro Lemonade. And while standard lemonade is quite refreshing, it's not known for its cleansing properties.  This drink, on the other hand, is very healthy and can work as a gentle detoxifier. By the way, it also tastes great! Learn more at Brittany's website: thymeherbal.com

Yield: about 3 cups

1 bunch cilantro (about 2 cups packed)
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1–2 lemons)
2 tablespoons raw honey
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups water

Combine the cilantro with the lemon juice, honey, salt, and water in a blender and purée for 3 minutes. The drink will be a rich green color with a beautiful white foam on top. I enjoy drinking the lemonade as it is, with the cilantro pulp, but you can strain it through a sieve or tea strainer before serving, if you like. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.



Cilantro for Gentle Cleansing
You can drink cilantro lemonade on a daily or weekly basis to stay cool in hot weather or to support liver and digestive function and gentle detoxification. It also makes a nice seasonal tonic to help the body transition from colder to warmer weather.

“Excerpted from Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen, © by Brittany Wood Nickerson, photography by © Alexandra Grablewski, used with permission from Storey                                                                   Publishing.”