Berries may be some of the best fruits you could ever consume. They are low in sugar (great for people on the keto diet) and rich in powerful antioxidants, which help to fight oxidative stress and boost the immune system. According to several studies, the flavonoids, known as anthocyanidins, may improve cognitive function as you age.
While there are different types of berries that grow around the world, seldom do people realize how they can incorporate them in various recipes. Although there is nothing wrong with adding berries to smoothies, pies, or eating them fresh out of the clamshell, many people fail to realize how to incorporate berries into other recipes. Making condiments, for example, is one of the best ways to use berries. The greatest thing about the recipes below is that they are raw, meaning you can eat them if you are cleansing.
Salad Dressings
In case you haven’t tried it yet, the combination of fresh berries and greens is a match made in flavor heaven. Blueberries with spinach, strawberries with romaine, raspberries and kale, we could go on all day. If the idea of crunching on lettuce with the vibrant sweetness of berries seems too foreign, combine the flavors another way by blending berries into your homemade salad dressings. For each of the below recipes, add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. You can consume right away and store the rest in an airtight jar in the fridge for to 3-5 days.
Ingredients for Raspberry Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp. filtered water
- 1 tbsp. raw agave syrup
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup fresh raspberries
Ingredients for Strawberry Dressing
- 5 cups fresh strawberries
- 2 tbsp. extra olive oil
- 1 tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
- pinch of sea salt and pepper
Fruit Salsa
While you can’t eat chips during your cleanse, you can make raw fruit salsas to put on your raw tacos or to dip your bell pepper or celery sticks in. To avoid making your salsa taste like a weird smoothie, the key is to add herbs, spices, and some heat from jalapeno, habenero, or cayenne pepper. When making the following recipes, chop up all of the ingredients and combine them in a bowl. Serve immediately and consume within two days.
Ingredients for Blueberry Lime Salsa
- 1 cup fresh blueberries, chopped
- 5 medium strawberries, diced
- ¼ red onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- juice of two limes
- 1/3 cup cilantro, diced
- ½ avocado, pitted and chopped
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
Ingredients for Mixed Berry Salsa
- ½ cup strawberries, chopped
- ½ cup whole blueberries
- ½ cup raspberries, chopped
- ½ cup blackberries, chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup cilantro, diced
- 1 jalapeno, finely diced
- juice of one lime
- pinch of sea salt and pepper
Homemade Jam
Jams that you purchase at the grocery store typically contain preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, colors, and natural flavors that aren’t so natural. All you have to do is look at the labels to realize the horrible ingredients you are putting in your body. Why purchase jam at the store when you can easily make cleanse-approved raw jam at home? It’s so easy! All you have to do is blend all of the ingredients together and you’re good to go!
Ingredients for Raspberry Jam
- 1/2 lb. fresh raspberries
- 12 dates, pitted
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
Ingredients for Blueberry Chia Jam
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
We hope you like the recipes and let us know how they turned out for you in the comments below.
