5-Grain Bitter Chocolate Porridge
We’re revisiting one of my favourite companies today- Clearspring! You only have to peek into my kitchen cupboards/fridge and you’ll see a whole load of Clearspring labels shining back at you! Their Japanese seasonings (tamari, miso, brown rice vinegar), cold-pressed oils, noodles, sea vegetables and tofu are all staples of mine and I wouldn’t even think of buying a different brand. They’re exactly the kind of company I’m happy to give my money to and I trust their commitment to ensuring their products are free from nasties (no artificial additives, MSG, colourings, preservatives, added refined sugar or palm oil) and are ethically sourced.
I think it’s safe to say I’m a pretty big fan.
You might remember the review I did of some of their stuff last summer. Well, they’ve recently expanded their already huge range to include some great new Clearspring Organic products which I’m happy to be able to introduce you to.
First up, their range of Quick Cook Organic Grains & Pulses. These are a dream come true for someone like me who eats these kinds of foods every single day, as they cook up in just 10 minutes. Clearspring have taken all the traditional grains, including some of the extra nutritious ancient grains and pre-cooked them using steam and hot air to cut cooking time by two-thirds whilst retaining nutritional content. Super convenient to have on hand for everything from summer salads to stir-fries, wintry soups and stews.
Pictured above you’ll see the 5-Grain Bitter Chocolate Porridge I made with one of the Clearspring mixes (Emmer wheat, barley, long grain brown rice, kamut and whole grain oats). I loved all those chewy grains and definitely appreciated not having to wait around the nearly an hour they would usually take to cook.
See my recipe below.
The rice trio (basmati, long grain brown and whole grain red rice) was put to use in my Macro Bowl with Carrot-Almond-Ginger Sauce (recipe already posted).
Ingredients
- 1/2 C Clearspring 5-Grain Mix OR Barley/Brown Rice/Farro
- 1 C Almond milk (preferably homemade)
- 2 tbsp Raw Cacao powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- To serve:
- Chopped walnuts
- Sliced Banana
- Berries
Instructions
- Cook your grains according to package instructions (this can be done in advance).
- Add half the milk, the cacao powder and maple syrup to the cooked grains in a medium pot. Heat over low, stirring, until the mixture is combined.
- Meanwhile, in another pot, gently warm the remaining milk (Optional, can also keep milk cold)
- To serve:
- Transfer 5-grain porridge into your serving bowl(s), pour over remaining warm milk.Top with chopped walnuts, sliced banana and/or berries if you wish.
The new Omeg-A-Day Flax Oil Blend has been carefully formulated for today’s omega 3 deficient diet. You might have read about how important Omega 3 fatty acids are to our health. They’re important for brain function, skin, hair and nails, and have been shown to reduce inflammation and even help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
I wasn’t sure how much I’d like this as I know flax oil can have a distinctive taste, but blended with walnut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and pumpkin oil it’s not so strong and rather delicious on a salad.
Orange & Avocado Salad with Black Olive Vinaigrette
I used the oil for this tasty Orange & Avocado Salad with Black Olive Vinaigrette and many more times since…
- 2-3 C Salad greens (I think rocket/arugula would be good here)
- 1/2 Avocado, sliced
- 1 Orange,segmented
- 1/4 Red onion, minced
- 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Omeg-A-day Oil OR other nut/seed oil OR extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Minced black olives
- Salt & Pepper
- To serve: 1 Tbsp of spiced seeds (optional)
- Segment the orange into a bowl, reserving juice.
- Whisk the ingredients for the vinaigrette together, along with the reserved orange juice.
- Dress the greens with as much of the vinaigrette as desired.
- Add the other salad ingredients and gently toss to combine.
- Finish with 1 Tbsp of spiced seeds or plain toasted seeds (optional)
Finally, Clearspring have released these fun 100% Fruit on the go purées. I’ve been enjoying the original fruit purées in pots for a long while, and use them in baking and as a light snack or dessert with some non-dairy yogurt, but these squeezy packs are pretty snazzy for carrying around and about with you. The packets are mess-free so probably great for kids too. The apple & blueberry is my favourite!
There are a few more new products I haven’t had the chance to try yet- their organic peanut butter, Tsuyu Japanese noodle broth, and new selection of Japanese noodles , all of which I have a feeling will become firm favourites.
UK and European folks, do you use Clearspring products? Which are your favourites?
Friends elsewhere in the world, do you have a trustworthy company you rely on for a lot of products?
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[Disclosure: Clearspring provided me with these products for review purposes, but, as always, all opinions are my own]
