Friday, March 26, 2010

raw potato salad and my new vitamix =)


with their "starchy carbohydrates", potatoes often get a bad rap in the health food world. i agree the way most potatoes are prepared (fried, topped with cheese, mayo, or bacon bits) is questionable, but what about raw potatoes in a sensible salad? 

through some online research i've come to the conclusion that potatoes can be quite nutritious when lightly steamed or eaten raw. the little tubers contain 60 different phytochemicals, and of all the vegetables, potatoes contain the highest amounts of potassium (about 22% of what they say we need everyday).

(potassium is essential for cell maintenance and some studies show diets high in potassium may lower blood pressure and help prevent strokes. fortunately, potassium is abundant in most fruits and vegetables, especially bananas).

the skin of the potato is packed with nutrients like vitamin C and B6 (also good for the blood stream). potatoes contain a nice amount of dietary fiber and even some protein!

while i was planning this potato salad my new vitamix was delivered! perfect timing! we blended homemade tahini, a tahini miso sauce for the salad, and then a super creamy raw soup. oh happy day!!!=)

sliced potato, shitake mushroom, zucchini, carrot, spinach, and basil topped with broccoli sprouts and tahini miso sauce

tahini miso sauce, tomato, spinach, zucchini, garlic, and basil soup with nori pieces

and here she is, in all her sloppy splendor...


what shall we make next? 
(i'm thinking chocolate sauce!=)

22 comments:

  1. new vitamix, whoopie! i am sure you will get good use out of it.

    i had heard rumors that raw potatoes were toxic but it could be a myth. did you see anything like that in your research? I've only eaten them raw when they were soaked in vinegar and dehydrated at a restaurant. very good that way.

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  2. i've read the leaves of the potato plant can be toxic, but i think raw potatoes are safe. they're something i'd eat in moderation anyway.=)

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  3. Raw spuds on a salad, I like that. I will have to try it with some of our purple potatoes. I remember that my wife and I talked about it once but never did follow thru...now I must.:)

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  4. Hey Kelli! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and entering the giveaway. I'm so excited to have found your blog as a result:)

    I've been wanting a spirilizer, and your blog makes me want one even more now!

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  5. You got your Vitamix! That's funny because my Blendtec came today too! I haven't posted about it yet because I've been two busy playing with it. Four kinds of sorbet and counting:)

    McKella

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  6. i want a vitamix!! Was it hard to clean?

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  7. congrats on your vita...

    i read that potato foliage is toxic for dogs, i didn't realize it was for humans as well...good to know...

    the soup looks yummy...really yummy!

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  8. thank you everyone for taking the time to comment!=)

    hi amy! it's fairly easy to clean. just like any other blender, but it's large so kind of hard to rinse when you've got other dishes in the sink.

    i love it, though! today i drank the smoothest smoothie ever!=)

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  9. Yummy!!! looks so good!! I just got a new vitamix too! I love it.
    Debra @ Vegan Family Style
    PS There is a giveaway on my blog- ends in a few days.. check it out!

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  10. hi kelli, i wanted to send you an email regarding the comment you left me today. i'm not sure whether you receive replies i leave on my blog...anyway, i couldn't find an email address and just thought i would leave you a little note on here, i hope that is ok...thanks for commenting and i am really sorry about your little kitty...the food that we buy for our animals are not good...and it's so scary, especially with all the recalls...i know this and i really want to change jackson's diet, right now i have him on an organic kibble, and i also cook for him and give him veggies and fruit (minus onions, grapes, raisins, avos and a few other things that i have read are toxic)...but i definitely want to introduce him to a home cooked/uncooked plant based diet...unfortunately he doesn't only belong to me, and my boyfriend and i have very different views on food...we'll see what happens. thanks again for the comment.

    have a wonderful weekend lady!!!

    =)

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  11. I've always loved raw potatoes & eat them all the time ... it's the one thing I craved when I was pregnant. From what I understand, the starch isn't digestible when potatoes are raw ... so the starch is really more like fiber until it's cooked. Potatoes exposed to sunlight can develop a toxin called solanine ... it's easy to tell when they've been exposed though because they turn green with just the slightest bit of sun.

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  12. That's awesome you got a vita-mix! I've wanted to try making raw tahini so that's cool that it can be done! I love the crunch of raw potatoes. Good thinking about putting them in a salad with tahini-miso sauce..sounds delish!

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  13. Woooooo Hoooooo! Congratulations on your new toy! Have fun playing with your food. ツ

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  14. Congrats on your new Vitamix!!! She looks great in her green splendor! Food looks tasty too. Thanks for all the info on potatoes. Good to know. ;)

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  15. I know i am super late to the party here but just wanted to say CONGRATS on the vita!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks like your life is just about to change. Seriously mine did about 18 mos ago when i got mine. ENjoy it and your raw tater salad with sprouts just looks great, Kelli!

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  16. YAY for your new vitamix! You are so lucky, I can't wait to see all the amazing things you make for it. That tahini sauce looks so amazing, I can't wait to combine tahini with miso. Pure genius.

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  17. I've never had raw potatoes before, I may have to try that! Thanks for all the insightful info!

    I can't wait to see what things you come up with using your vitamix. I dream of having a VM one day!

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  18. Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! Thanks bunches for helping us see what can be done!

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  19. Oh, so the potato itself is safe to eat raw? I was wondering, because I never heard about them being toxic until I went raw. I ate so many of them that way as a kid (I liked to steal them from the pile while my mom was cutting/peeling them). It is amazing that I never got sick from them.

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  20. Well, I've already commented once on this post, but I've gotta comment again to say thanks so much for your sweet comment on my blog yesterday. I can't tell you how much it touched me to read your story. I am in a very similar situation right now, and reading your comment gave me much needed affirmation and inspiration. I actually got a little teary eyed reading it (I'm not a freak, I promise:)

    I just agree with everything you said more than you can imagine, and hearing about your courage gave me more motivation to do the same thing! It made me feel like maybe I'm not completely crazy.

    Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to share. I loved it:)

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  21. Great info! Love the new vm and you're well on your way to becoming a great raw chef!

    Sam

    yardsnacker.com

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  22. Don't you love your vita mix?! My Blendtec is still my new best friend ever. I'm intrigued by your raw potato salad... but I don't know if I can do potatoes raw! It's good to know that it's worth a try :)

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