braised daikon…

braised daikon…

from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

i was a bit cynical about this book when a newly vegetarian friend recommended it but it has since become one of my favorites. it is a great guide for those wishing to make the transition away from meat and highly processed foods to a diet that is kinder to your body and to the environment.

if you are not totally ready to give up meat, be forewarned that the beginning of the book can be a bit preachy (alicia is a huge advocate for PETA and animal rights). however, there is a ton of great information outlined in the intro that is super helpful in understanding what foods are good for you and what foods are just unkind. most importantly, the recipes are awesome.  

the recipes are divided into two sections: for FLIRTS and for SUPERHEROES. those who are flirting with the idea of cooking more meat-free meals will be inspired by things likeVegan Chorizo Tacos or Radicchio Pizza with Truffle Oil. 

those who are already accustomed to eating a fairly unprocessed vegetarian diet (yes, you are the SUPERHEROES), will love macrobiotic-influenced recipes like Maple-Roasted Lotus Root and Quinoa with Basil and Pine Nuts.

at least a dozen dishes from The Kind Diet are penciled in my menu for september (more on that project later!) and we have yet to taste one we didn’t like. so thanks to alicia silverstone and to my friend kristen for recommending this book to me, i’ll be posting more kind recipes for you in the coming weeks.

for now, the daikon…

1 large daikon radish 

2 tablespoons shoyu (a wheat-free soy sauce that is also called Tamari)

1/4 cup mirin cooking wine

2”-3” strip kombu (or dashima in korean is a dried seaweed for making soup stock)

• wash and slice the daikon into 3/4” rounds, and place in a skillet in a single layer.
• add water almost to cover. 
• add shoyu, mirin, and kombu and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to very low.
• cover and simmer 30 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed. 

note: i found the daikon on its own to be a little bland for my salt craving tastebuds so i mixed up a korean sauce (sesame oil, soy sauce + chopped garlic and scallions) to drizzle over the top. 

detoxify...

the recent tragedy in japan has raised concerns about radioactive material in our air, food and water. although the amount of radiation we are being exposed to is probably very slight, it is never a bad idea to protect your body from all of the toxins to which we are exposed every day. some very wise ladies at GOOP (yes, it’s gwyneth paltrow’s blog and it’s fantastic) and midnight apothecary have given us some tips that i think are worth sharing. here are some things we can incorporate in our lives regularly to keep our bodies toxin-free and feeling great.

1. SEAWEED: the iodine in sea vegetables helps protect your thyroid and other glands from radioactive uptake and in general is one of the most medicinal foods on earth. buy some nori and host a sushi or kimbap party, or dress up plain brown rice by wrapping it in toasted nori (trust me, it’s delicious!)

2. MISO/DOENJANG: fermented soybean paste is full of live cultures, amino acids, minerals, and protein. japanese and koreans have a bowl of miso or doenjang soup almost every day and it’s easy for you to do too. make a big pot of vegetable stock this weekend and use it throughout the week as the base for your soup. boiling miso or doenjang paste destroys essential nutrients so, while you are reheating your stock, put a spoonful of the paste in a bowl and pour the hot stock over to mix. add a few cubes of tofu and a handful of scallions and share the love with your family and friends. 

3. MUSHROOMS: strengthen your immune system with shitake mushrooms, sauteed in olive oil with salt and pepper or in a simple soup. mushrooms are the healers of the forest, knowing how to bring everything (on earth and in your body) back into balance.

4. Eat lots of vegetables, especially DAIKON radishe and BURDOCK root. throw them in soups or make a shredded salad or slaw. cooling and detoxifying daikon has been used for drawing out radiation.

5. FERMENT: make homemade sauerkrauts and kimchi or find someone who does (or just buy some of good quality). have a fermentation celebration and fill your empty jars or tupperwares with crunchy apple and cabbage kraut or spicy kimchi. it’s fun to massage vegetables with friends and these foods have the probiotics your gut needs and wants and are deeply nourishing and restorative. 

6. HERBS: some great herbal allies are nettle tea, cilantro (it helps draw heavy metals out), and milk thistle (helps your liver process toxins). 

7. WATER: DRINK lots of it. take baths. go to the sauna. sweat. cry. detox.

8. IMMUNE support: do the things you know boost your immune system. sleep well, limit sugar and processed foods, eat garlic and vitamin C rich foods and be happy!