The Big Boost: Broccoli-Banana Smoothie

Now, before you go all a-shudder at the thought of drinking your broccoli raw, remember this: broccoli is best when it has not been put on a stove. Not just broccoli, most of its other Brassica cousins too lose their anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer properties once you cook them. If the idea of raw broccoli absolutely turns you off and you are the kind that would  have no broccoli at all rather than raw broccoli, then you can perhaps get off with steaming your brocs, but then that would only be second best. So, get used to it, take your brassica as is.

Now, here is the good news. You will neither taste nor smell raw broccoli in this smoothie. What you will taste instead are the bananas and the cilantro. Plus the luscious tomatoes. So, it is definitely a win-win.

Serves 3-4

Preparation Time: 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

 1 cup broccoli florets

2 large ripe bananas

2 large ripe tomatoes

1 large kiwi

1 cup chopped parsley/cilantro or a combination of both

1 cup chopped spinach

1 large cucumber

3 stalks of celery

1 lime, peeled.

1/2 cup water or unsweetened soymilk  (if using just a blender)

 Instructions:

1) If you are using a juicer, juice the greens, cucumber, celery, broccoli and lime. Chop tomatoes and kiwi and place in blender. Pour the juice into the blender and run on medium-low speed till well mixed.

2) If you are using just the blender, blend the broccoli, greens and cucumber first on medium-high speed with the water or soymilk. Add the remaining ingredients--all chopped--and blend till smooth.

3) Add a dash of squeezed lemon, if desired, before drinking.

Note: This smoothie tastes best if consumed immediately, but can also be stored for up to a day in air tight bottles in the refrigerator. You may experience some loss of nutrition upon storing, so go ahead, gulp it down straight out of the blender.