A dehydrator is a highly versatile device, and it can be used to create a huge range of healthy snacks and meals. In particular, a dehydrator is perfect to make raw food in since the temperatures used are low, preventing them from damaging nutrients and vitamins. However, what separates raw food from other diets?
What is Raw Food?
Raw food is the craze that never died out, and it has been growing around the world for a while now. The basic idea behind it is that cooking food destroys many useful nutrients and vitamins found in ingredients. Therefore, when we consume food that has been heated up, the benefits we gain from it are lessened. 47°C is the temperature that food stops being raw at and as a result many who follow this diet prefer to use dehydrators instead of ovens, as they typically use temperatures of around 40°C.
Flax Crackers Recipe
Flax crackers are an amazing gluten-free replacement to regular crackers, and with Christmas on the horizon, they work as an excellent snack either alone or with some cheese.
Ingredients
- 100g of Ground Flax Seeds
- 25g of Ground Sunflower Seeds
- 50g of Nutritional Yeast
- 1 tsp of Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp of Paprika
- 1 tsp of Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp of Chilli Powder (Optional)
- ½ tsp of Salt
- 250ml of Water
Cooking Process
Begin by taking a bowl and adding all the dry ingredients together at once. Mix them well until there is an even texture throughout. Next, add the water and stir the mixture all together. Then take a tablespoon and place the mixture on to a dehydrator sheet or some baking paper. Flatten each spoon of mixture into your desired shape, but ensure it isn’t spread too thinly. Finally, place the sheet/paper onto a dehydrator tray. Repeat this for as many trays as you want, and when you’re done turn the dehydrator on to about 40°C and leave for 8 hours.
Oatmeal & Apple Cookies Recipe
Raw food doesn’t have to be boring and you can still create some delicious treats. These cookies are a great way to enjoy raw food while indulging yourself.
Ingredients
- 200g of Organic Oats
- 2 Diced Apples (Can also be grated)
- 80g of Raisins
- 3 tsp of Organic Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp of Ground Ginger
- 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp of Ground Cinnamon (Optional)
Cooking Process
To start you will need either a food processor or a blender. Take the oats, apples, raisins and dry ingredients and pulse them together until they have combined to an even texture. Next, add the coconut oil and vanilla extract and pulse further until all ingredients are evenly mixed. Then take a tablespoon and place heaped loads of the mixture onto a dehydrator sheet or some baking paper. Flatten each heap out into a circle, leaving it thick enough to have an enjoyable texture. Finally, fill your dehydrator trays up with the raw cookies and leave them to dehydrate for 12-15 hours depending on your preferences.