Detox Diet Recipe: Vegan Dandelion Risotto

March 21, 2012

in Detox Recipes

detox foods : dandelion greens

Photo credit

Try this delicious gluten free vegan detox recipe to incorporate fresh wild greens to your diet. Wild spring greens like dandelions or nettle are boasting with nutrients and detoxification support compounds.  They protect your liver and help your body to flush out the toxins.  Spring is the best time to incorporate it into your diet, as they are bright green and haven’t fully developed their bitterness.

Ingredients – for 2 servings

  • 2 cups fresh dandelion greens
  • 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Arborio rice
  • 2 to 4 cups vegetable stock divided, preferably homemade
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons Dayia cheese-style shreds (optional)

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add washed dandelion greens. Let boil for about 3 to 4 minutes. Quickly remove the greens from water and immediately place them in a big bowl of ice water. Let them cool and drain in a colander. Squeeze all excess water from the blanched greens with a cloth or a tea towel. Finely chop dandelion and remove any tough stems.

Gently heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add shallot, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring.  Add the garlic and the rice and stir well for a minute until the rice is well coated in olive oil. Add 1 cup of the vegetable stock into the rice and increase heat. When the rice starts boiling, turn down the heat to medium and stir often, at least every minute or so, until the rice absorbs the stock. Repeat with a second cup of stock.

When the second cup is absorbed, add the greens and the third cup of stock. Stir well to combine. Keep stirring constantly to develop the creaminess in the risotto and to distribute the greens evenly. Let the stock absorb well. Adjust the stock quantity, or add a bit of heated water to loosen up the risotto a bit. The texture should be smooth, not firm. You might need to add a bit more of liquid if you use Daiya shreds.

Add the Daiya cheese. Stir everything well and let the Dayia melt in the risotto for about 2 or 3 minutes, stirring often. Serve immediately.

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  • http://www.globallaservision.com/ San Diego LASIK

    Really Dandelion?  I haven’t tried it, as kids I remember just blowing the flower to scatter the petals.  I never though that it can be made into food. So how was the risotto?

  • lifewithnature

    Dandelion leaves are consumed as a food by many cultures. It’s often part of Italian cuisine, as example. As for the taste, it is somewhat similar to other bitter greens such as kale, turnip tops, mustard greens, etc. Blanching it drastically reduces the bitterness, so in the ends, it taste a bit like spinach. Dandelion is really, really healthy. I used store bought dandelion, but you could definitely use wild dandelion. If you pick your own, please make sure that it doesn’t grow on pesticide sprayed lawn, or in an area with a lot of car traffic!

  • maryambler

     I love my dandelions raw and green, but this is such a delicious recipe!  Did you know that dandelions are ranked among the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value? They have a ton of micro-elements and trace minerals that are essential for your body:
    Vitamin A

    Vitamin B

    Vitamin K

    Potassium

    Calcium

    Also! Part of the reason why dandelion greens are such an effective blood and gastrointestinal detoxifyer is because they contain pectin which is prescribed regularly to remove heavy metals and toxic elements from the body.

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