Raw Cooking
Raw cooking might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s actually the name for a fantastic, and delicious type of food preparation that helps preserve more of the essential nutrients in foods. It’s an excellent way to combat one of the common complaints about a raw diet: that it gets boring quickly. Cooked food isn’t eaten without preparation and flavoring, so there’s no reason we ought to be eating raw foods the same way. A little bit of artistry allows us to eat raw without feeling like we have to give up enjoying our meals.
Of course, you don’t have to be dedicated to raw food to enjoy raw cooking, either. Experts are agreed, across the board, that including more fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer pre-processed foods is a smart idea, and raw cooking is a great way to get more of those into your diet. You’ll be amazed at what nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes can do, without the application of much or even any heat.
People who don’t understand the raw diet may think that it all comes down to salad, but there are so many other options out there. Pasta-like dishes, complete with fresh, uncooked marinara sauces, can be made from thinly sliced vegetables. The result is fresh and delicious. Many traditional dishes can be made in a raw form, too. This is excellent for people who are trying to be healthier and eat more raw food, but who find that they miss their old favorites.
There are great raw lasagnas, burgers, raw macaroni and cheese, and even raw desserts, such as cheesecake. These foods may not include the same ingredients we’re used to, but the taste is enough to make even the most skeptical person admit they’re pretty good. Don’t expect raw foods to taste just like their cooked counterparts, complete with animal products, of course. The vast majority of raw cooking is done according to a vegan plan, and avoids things like refined sugars and flours.
Nuts and fatty fruits like avocado replace ingredients like cheese, and legumes and grains replace meat. The results are extremely tasty, however, and a great way to add variety to your existing raw diet, or to get a little more of those fresh fruits and veggies into a predominately nonraw diet. There are even decadent chocolate desserts. If you or someone you know has been feeling like raw eating requires giving up great tastes, check out raw cooking. You’ll be amazed by all the options.
