Juicer free green juice
I am a green juice lover. Cold pressed, organic fruit and vegetable juices taste amazing and are amazingly good for you. However, in most cities, one bottle of fresh pressed deliciousness will run you between $10-$12. PFFT, $12?! I can just make my own cold pressed juice for pennies, right? Not quite, friends. A hydraulic press, used by your favourite cold pressed juice maker, will run you approximately $3000. Needless to say, both options are not exactly economical.
Of course you could buy a standard juicer. But, between the food processor, blender and bullet blender, I can't stomach the idea of another huge, bulky appliance on my countertop.
SO, out of necessity and desire, I came up with this easy and inexpensive way to make your own, delicious green juice with just a standard blender, strainer and bowl. YES YOU CAN!
The recipes here are my two favourites but you can experiment with whatever you like. As always, I don't recommend berries in green juices or smoothies as they will turn your delicious concoction a not so beautiful, brown. But, if you're into it, go for it. I'd also stay away from frozen fruit and vegetables for these recipes. I recommend using the freshest fruit and veg you can find.
Each recipe will yield approximately 500-600ml of fresh juice.
Ingredients
Option 1
2 apples - washed, cored, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cucumber - washed and roughly chopped
3 stalks celery - washed and roughly chopped
2 inches fresh ginger - peeled, washed and sliced
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves - washed
2 lemons - juiced
2 cups curly kale - washed and roughly chopped
Option 2
2 large oranges - peeled (don't worry about the seeds - we will strain them out later)
3 clementines - peeled
1 cucumber - washed and roughly chopped
2 inches fresh ginger - peeled, washed and sliced
2 cups curly kale - washed and roughly chopped
1 lemon - juiced
Method
1. blend all ingredients (for your desired option) in your blender for 45 seconds to a maximum of 1 minute - the mixture should be thick and pulpy. stir with a spatula to encourage blending. Do not add any water or additional liquid.
2. pour the blended, pulpy mixture into a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl
3. using a spatula, gently press the mixture to extract the juice, turning and stirring it until the liquid is in the bowl and the blended pulpy mixture is thick and dry. do not force the pulp through the strainer.
4. pour the extracted juice into a bottle or mason jar and chill in the fridge. OR, pour into a glass with some ice and drink right away.
5. feel alive