Recipe for Simplicity - Sunflower Seed Pate

Now is a great time to start eating raw foods as the warm weather of spring melts away the winter chill.  Eating raw foods revitalizes the body and provides energy.  A raw food diet can be cleansing and refreshing.  Yet, certain recipes can also seem overwhelming, complex, and time consuming.  For, if you know anything about raw foods, you know there is a lot of soaking and sprouting and dehydrating involved.  From my experience as a raw foodie, planning a meal 12-24 hours in advance is the best way to create a successful raw foods diet. 

However, for those times when life happens and there has been little time to plan (soak/sprout/dehydrate), it helps to keep it simple and go back to basics.  Also, this recipe is wonderful for anyone just starting out on a raw foods diet.  It is quick, simple, and easy.  And, it allows for many variations and lots of culinary creativity.


Recipe for Simplicity - Sunflower Seed Pate 

BASIC Recipe - Combine the following ingredients in a Food Processor (with the "S" blade):

• 2 cups soaked raw sunflower seeds (ideally soaked for 4-6 hours, but less is okay if there is no time to plan)
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 1-2 clove garlic (according to your own taste)
• 2 TB nama shoyu (or substitute gluten-free tamari or Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
• 1/2 TB cumin
• dash of cayenne (or more to taste)

Tasty Additions (add some or all of the following):

• 1/2 bunch of fresh parsley or cilantro
• 1/2 small onion (about 1/4 cup)
• 4+ kale leaves
• 1 small carrot
• 1-2 stalks of celery
• 1/2-1 bell pepper
• 1/4 cup raw tahini

Start with the Basic Recipe then become more creative and adventurous with the Tasty Additions.  Serve with raw vegetables (sliced bell peppers, celery, romaine lettuce leaves), as a nori wrap with sprouts, or on raw dehydrated crackers.  

Enjoy and give thanks for the simple things in life.  
Celebrate eating fresh.  
Let this recipe cleanse, revitalize, and energize you in mind, body, and spirit.