Carrot Beverage – A Vitamin and Antioxidant Boost

In Mexico, fruit and vegetable juices are a healthy choice for a quick start of the day, and carrot has always been a favourite of many, including myself. Carrots contain vitamin A, B, C and K, as well  as antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, and lutein. Not many people have access to a juicer at home, but my mom used to make this carrot beverage in the blender, which was just as flavourful, and also nutritious.

Carrot Beverage – Agua de zanahoria

Printable recipe: Carrot beverage

Ingredients (for one portion)

2 medium carrots; washed, ends trimmed
1 cup drinking water

Equipment needed: knife, vegetable peeler (optional), blender, cheesecloth, 2-cup serving glass

Optional: peel the carrots. 

Slice carrots into chunks; place in the the blender jar with the water (photo below, left).  Process until smooth (photo below, right):

Fold cheesecloth a couple times to have at least four layers of cloth; place over the serving glass, pushing gently down to form a cup, then pour the blended carrots in (photo below, left). Grab the corners of the cheesecloth and bring together, twisting to close around the carrot pulp, and squeezing to extract as much liquid as possible (photo below, right):

Drink this delicious and nutritious beverage as soon as possible:

The solids may be used in other applications. For this batch, I used them to make a celebration carrot cake for my church’s liturgical musician. I followed my carrot cake recipe, which calls for three cups of shredded carrots; I had about one cup of pulp (photo below, left), so I supplemented with freshly shredded carrots (photo below, right):

The batter acquired a lovely, extra-bright orange colour:

Since the cake was for a musician, I shaped the layers as a baby grand piano, then carved a shelf on the top layer, for the keys. I filled and coated the cake with cream cheese buttercream, and let rest in the fridge. To finish the piece, I marked the white keys with a toothpick, then cut and placed tiny sticks of licorice for the black keys:

I was happy enough with the result to take it to church, and proud of accurately reproducing a full 52-keyboard, but if I were to do it again, I would have piped black buttercream on the bottom layer to simulate legs, so it would not look like the instrument is just sitting on the floor. Anyway, it was very tasty and definitely had a brighter shade of orange than cake made with just shavings.

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I am bringing my recipe to Full Plate Thursday #771 with Miz Helen @ Miz Helen’s Country Cottage.

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I am sharing my post at Thursday Favourite Things #738, with Bev @ Eclectic Red Barn, Pam @ An Artful Mom, Katherine @ Katherine’s Corner, Amber @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  and Linda @ Crafts a la Mode.

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I am joining Fiesta Friday #618 with Angie @ Fiesta Friday.