Citrus & Fennel Juice

Store bought juices from regular grocery store or health juice bars look tasty, healthy and fresh in their fancy packaging, but they can be expensive and may not have all the nutrients as freshly squeezed juices. A lot of places use frozen fruit, concentrates or produce sitting on a shelf/fridge for days. Most times I prefer eating fruits as they have fiber and the chewing helps the digested fruit absorb better. On occasion when a fruit is in season and in abundance I juice them and use them in various recipes. Homemade juice is just as tasty and fresh, can be a little messy though.

I love citrus season, not the winter as much, but that’s when they peak. During the drab, colorless season of winter its refreshing to enjoy these gorgeous colors and fantastic zesty flavors. Combine different types of oranges or use just one type, fennel adds a fresh herbal taste and ginger amps the immune boosting properties and some warmth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don’t own a juicer to extract ginger and fennel juice, all you do is chop up the ginger and fennel into small  pieces and run it in a food processor with 1/2 to 1 cup of water till it’s a fine puree, then strain through a fine sieve or tea strainer or cheese cloth.

 

Citrus & Fennel Juice

Makes 3-4 tall glasses depending on the juice in the fruit

• 1 pink grapefruit
• 2 blood oranges
• 2 navel oranges
• 1 small fennel white part only ( you could use the green fronds, they will change the color slightly and add a stronger fennel taste)
• 1- 2 inch piece ginger chopped
• 1 cup chilled water

Using a citrus extractor (hand-held or machine) juice all the citruses. Use a juice machine to extract fennel and ginger juice or (chop the ginger and fennel into small pieces, run it with 1/2-1 cup of water in a small food processor and strain it through a sieve). Mix all the juices and serve.

Note: I eat some of the orange pulp after juicing, it’s a good source of fiber and it has some juice still left in it.  I hate throw out the pulp.