Avocado & lemon balm green dream smoothie
This green avocado and lemon balm smoothie is especially velvety and refreshing.
Contents
- 10 g Grüne Fee lemon balm
- 35 g Grüne Fee spinach
- 145 g bananas
- 240 g pears
- 140 g avocados
- 160 g oranges
- 500 g water
- 4 ice cubes
- fresh peppermint for garnishing
Use
- Lemon balm
Lemon balm
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Lemon balm has a lemony scent and flavour, and it is used in cooking, herbal medicine, and honey production. The herb is used for making medicinal tea, while fresh and dried leaves are used for cooking. Lemon balm leaves and shoots should be used before flowering, as once the plant starts to flower, it develops a bitter taste.
As a flavouring, lemon balm is used in all kinds of dishes that go well with lemon due to its similar taste and aroma. It can also be used successfully with other herbs, though lemon balm should only be added after boiling. The somewhat hairy leaves, when used in moderation, can be used to wonderful effect in salads. This goes particularly for raw food salads containing apples, pumpkin, zucchini or carrots. Lemon balm is also used in soups, sauces, pea and carrot foods, cold green sauces, boiled fish, and egg dishes, and is one of few herbs used for flavouring compotes, juices, jellies, and sweet vegetable preserves. Fresh lemon balm leaves are used for garnishing desserts and cold dishes. Also used in the canning industry, and widely in the liqueur and vodka industries. Lemon balm is a great substitute for lemon, which makes it perfect for preparing stuffed fish. It can used to make vinegar as well as infused oils.
Lemon balm makes a wonderfully refreshing tea on hot days, and hot lemon balm tea goes well with any meal or dessert as an alternative to coffee.
To prepare a refreshing tea, try combining lemon balm with sweet wine and black tea. Prepare the black tea and lemon balm tea infusion separately, as black tea requires boiling water and 3 minutes of steeping, while lemon balm should be steeped in hot water for 10 minutes. After cooling, mix with wine and keep in the refrigerator or serve with ice. For extra flavour, try adding some tarragon. Lemon balm can also be used to prepare a tasty buttermilk drink by mixing chopped lemon balm leaves with dairy ice cream in a blender.
Lemon balm has a number of medicinal properties known since antiquity, when the plant was prized as an revitalising and uplifting herb. It has been especially revered for its soothing effect. Thanks to a mild lemon aroma, lemon balm acts quickly: a strong dose has a soporific effect, while a weak dose can be used to calm a nervous stomach. Lemon balm is believed to have a rejuvenating effect, and prevents vascular calcification. It can also be used for general pain relief, preventing spasms, easing digestion, as well as relieving gas, colic and menstrual pain. Lemon balm improves memory and helps with migraines. It promotes healthy heart function, helping prevent palpitations and oedema. When suffering from elevated blood pressure, it reduces dizziness and ringing in the ears, while inducing a moderate drop in blood pressure. To shake a cold quickly, drink 4–5 cups of lemon balm tea per day.
To prepare lemon balm tea, it is generally recommended to use 1 tablespoon of the dried herb for 1 cup of hot (not boiling!) water. Then steep for 10 minutes, or longer to treat certain illnesses, and drink while hot.
Lemon balm can also be used in some herb mixes, though it does not go well with all herbs. Good for combining with rosebay willowherb and birch leaves for regulating thyroid activity, not suitable for combining with mugwort in the case of intestinal problems. When treating illnesses, the combined effect requires careful consideration due to the biochemical mix (consult a specialist). In Lithuanian folk medicine, lemon balm is frequently used together with marjoram for enhancing memory.
Storage tips
Lemon balm is best stored between +4 and +8 °C. This means storage is easiest in a cool place, such as a pantry or refrigerator. For longer storage, you should also lightly water the plant once a day. You can keep the pot in a glass of water, but cool conditions are still recommended. Will also keep on the kitchen table or a window sill if watered properly, though not quite as long as when kept cool. Lovely to look at and fills the air with a wonderful aroma when kept on a table.
- Spinach
Spinach
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Spinach is a superfood that can be used in both hot and cold dishes. It is a versatile plant that can really unleash your culinary imagination. For example, recently spinach has become a popular ingredient in smoothies. Spinach is used in soups, purées, fish, omelettes, pies, fresh salads, and even pancakes.
Spinach is very rich in nutrients. It contains an abundance of antioxidants as well as vitamins A, C, E, K and B9, iron, magnesium, copper, calcium, and dietary fibre.
Storage tips
Fresh spinach lasts longest when kept between +4 and +8 °C. This means storage is easiest in a cool place, such as a pantry or refrigerator. For longer storage, you should also lightly water the plant once a day. You can keep the pot in a glass of water, but cool conditions are still recommended. Will also keep on the kitchen table or a window sill if watered properly, though not quite as long as when kept cool.
- Peppermint
Peppermint
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The peppermint plant is commonly used for making aromatic peppermint tea. Fresh peppermint leaves are also used for flavouring and garnishing a range of desserts. Can be used equally well for seasoning meat dishes. Peppermint tincture has pain-relieving properties, reduces nausea and intestinal gas. Peppermint tincture can easily be prepared at home: just gather some peppermint flowers and leaves and soak them in vodka.
Storage tips
Peppermint is slightly easier to preserve than most other herbs, as long as you protect it from the cold and water it well. While not as delicate as basil, peppermint leaves will turn dark in cool conditions. To keep it fresh longer, ensure an even temperature: temperature fluctuations reduce the shelf life of the plant. The most convenient way to store peppermint is to place it on the kitchen table in a decorative pot. This way, it is lovely to look at and will freshen the air with its wonderful aroma. Provided the plant is kept sufficiently moist, it will keep this way for a relatively long time.
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. The avocado gives this smoothie a particularly velvety consistency. Serve in a clear glass or cup to fully display the lovely colour. For a beautiful presentation and an extra kick of flavour, garnish with fresh peppermint.
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