Posted July 26, 2011
No Cook Marinara Sauce
Eating so-called raw food is an increasingly attractive option for some people, such as Taylor Wells, owner of Prana Yoga Power Centers and Restaurant. This “raw” recipe uses most of the same ingredients that a cooked marinara will use, and is actually warm when it comes out of the blender, so uncooked food does not necessarily mean cold food.
What is the raw food diet and why do people do it?
A raw food diet is based on eating whole, live, uncooked and un-processed foods as a large percentage of your diet. When 75 percent to 100 percent of your total food consumption is raw food, you are considered a raw foodist. At that rate, it is believed by Taylor and others, that your body can eliminate all or most of the toxins in the cooked portion of your diet. They believe that heating food above 118 degrees F. destroys enzymes in food that can assist in digestion. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value of food.
Raw foodists are usually, but not always, vegan, meaning they do not eat animal-based products such as dairy or meat. Mostly raw plant foods are eaten, including vegetables and fruits, plus soaked and sprouted grains, nuts and seeds.
Raw foodists in general all agree that consumption of uncooked foods encourages weight loss and prevents and, or can heal many forms of chronic disease. Taylor says that within days of eating food like this no-cook marinara that you will feel like you have more energy and will sleep less, all because you are not eating cooked food.
It is often thought that eating raw food takes a lot of preparation. Taylor claims that when you do it correctly, a raw food diet is actually one of the easiest and most convenient ways you can eat and feed your family. She has five kids and along with her husband, Philippe Wells, runs five yoga centers and a restaurant, and knows about being busy.
Taylor’s most emphatic plea is to try it, even one or two days a week, and you will start to feel the difference almost immediately.
Taylor ends all of her contacts with people using a common yoga salutation. She brings her hands together in front of the heart, bows her head and says “Namaste.” In the yoga classes, students bring their hands together and respond in kind. A good definition of “namaste” would be “I bow to your true self.” The true self might be seen as the deeper, more essential you, less connected to ego, social expectations and pretensions.
Recipe courtesy of Taylor Wells, Prana Restaurant and Prana Power Yoga, 2011.
No Cook Marinara Sauce (served with Zucchini Pasta)
Ingredients
10 sun dried tomatoes, soaked
2 fresh tomatoes
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 dried dates, soaked
1 tablespoon thyme
2 tablespoons basil
1 tablespoon oregano
Instructions:
1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Notes:
This sauce is served with zucchini pasta, which is a zucchini that has been rotated through a spiraler machine that creates thin strips from the zucchini. You can also make thin strips using a mandolin or slicing the zucchini very thin.
Recipe courtesy of Taylor Wells, Prana Restaurant and Prana Power Yoga, 2011.
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