Lively Ambrosia

Lively Ambrosia

This recipe is fun to prepare. Choose whatever is freshly available and suits your fancy. Include complementary flavors, textures, and colors.

Seeds offer protein and crunch. Coconut milk makes it luscious! Young coconut is a treat if available. Equally delicious is mature coconut (in brown husk) or dried coconut. Another option is thawing frozen coconut, found in some Asian markets and "natural foods" stores.

If you do vary the recipe and want to post about it, feel free!

Lively Ambrosia

Ingredients:
(yields 2-4 servings)

 2 Young coconuts (or 1 cup shredded or fresh mature coconut)

1 large grapefruit

1-2 ripe bananas

1 cup  sprouted* sunflower seeds or your-fave-seed-mix
("Lydia's Organics" makes several delightful varieties)

1/4 cup whole-fat coconut milk (Native Forest brand, if available)

1 tsp Vanilla "Flavor" (alcohol-free, Frontier brand, if available)

*Sprouted sunseeds: Soaked seeds in filtered water for 6 hours. Drain and RINSE well. Use as is or wait 6 hours until tiny tails (sprouts) grow.

1. Crack the coconuts (see post "Cracking Your Coconut" for an alternative method, which seems safer  than others have seen)

 2. Pour out the "coconut water" and save (drink it as is, use it in a smoothie, or other recipes).

 3. Scoop out the coconut "meat." Use the back of a sturdy metal tablespoon to pry away the flesh from the shell. I find this safer than hacking the shell in two with a cleaver!

 4. Chop the coconut into bite-size chunks. Place in medium size bowl.

 5. Peel and chop the grapefruit and banana into bite-size chunks. Add to bowl.

 6. Add the seeds to the fruit and mix it up!

7. Pour in the coconut milk and vanilla flavor.

8. Mix it all up!

9. Adjust flavors to taste, including:
Sweetener (agave nectar or another low-glycemic, natural sweetener)
Spices (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ...)
Other types of seeds or fruit

10. Place in lovely bowls and enjoy!