Dandelion Detox Juice
Dandelion leaves are bitter, and there is no point pretending otherwise. A sweet apple carries most of that, cucumber keeps it drinkable, lemon lifts the finish and ginger rounds off the last of the edge. Best very cold, in a small glass.
Equipment
- 1 Juicer masticating or centrifugal
- 1 High-speed blender for the blender method
- 1 Nut milk bag or fine-mesh sieve to strain the blender version
- 2 Airtight glass bottles for storing
- 1 Budget cold press juicer a good value alternative
- 1 Budget blender a good value alternative
Ingredients
- 60 g dandelion leaves young leaves only, about three loose handfuls
- 2 sweet apples about 300g, such as Gala or Pink Lady, cored and quartered, peel left on
- 150 g cucumber half a cucumber, roughly chopped
- 1 lemon peeled, white pith removed
- 15 g fresh ginger a thumb-sized piece, no need to peel
Instructions
Juicer method
- Rinse the dandelion leaves properly. They grow close to the ground, so grit hides down in the stems. A bowl of cold water and a good swish beats rinsing them one at a time under the tap.
- Core and quarter the apples and chop the cucumber into chunks that fit your feed chute. Peel the lemon and leave the pith behind, because pith is what makes a green juice taste bitter in the wrong way.
- Feed the ginger and lemon through first, then the apple and cucumber, then the dandelion leaves last. The watery fruit pushes the greens through with it and stops the leaves clogging the mesh.
- Stir and drink it cold. It keeps for two days in a full, airtight bottle in the fridge, though the first day is the best of it.
Blender method
- Chop the apple, cucumber, peeled lemon and ginger, then put them in the blender with the dandelion leaves.
- Add 100ml of cold water and blend on high for a full minute, until there is no sign of leaf left.
- Pour it through a nut milk bag or a fine sieve and squeeze the pulp properly. If it comes out too thick, loosen it with a splash more water.
- Serve over ice, or bottle it and keep it cold for up to two days.
Notes
Use young dandelion leaves: the small ones from the middle of the plant, or the first leaves of spring. Older leaves turn woody and bitter enough to take over the whole glass. If you are picking your own rather than buying a bag, take them from an unsprayed garden or a quiet field, never from a verge, a path or anywhere a dog has been.
Dandelion is a mild diuretic, so drink it earlier in the day rather than last thing at night. If you take diuretics, blood thinners or lithium, or you are pregnant, check with your GP before making it a habit.
Nutrition
Serving: 1glassCalories: 115kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSodium: 26mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 3210IUVitamin C: 31mg
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