I created this simple but delicious dish to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon or Tsukimi, as it is called in Japanese. Today's full moon is also the last Super Moon of the year 2023.
The time around full moon is always magical. If you have pets, you probably noticed their enhanced activity. This is the time when your body is ready to receive the maximum of nutrients and care. Take time to pamper yourself.
For this dish I used golden beets and physalis berries. The dish, as such, does not use any Japanese ingredients. It is only the golden yellow color that is meant to symbolize the bright moon shining at us tonight.
I listed the pesto ingredients in the order I was adding them to the food processor. I started with garlic cloves and added all other ingredients gradually since this was the first time I was ever making this pesto. You may want to toss all ingredients at once to your food processor, if you prefer. Just keep in mind that you are working with fresh ingredients and may have to adjust the amounts to obtain similar texture and consistency. The amount used are good for two people. If you are planning to entertain more people, multiply the amounts listed. Adjust the thickness by adding more pine nuts.
Ingredients:
for the carpaccio
- 1 medium large beet per person
for the pesto
- 2 large young garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup physalis, add more as needed
- 1/4 sun dried tomatoes (use tomatoes marinated in oil if possible, or re-hydrate in water before blending)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, add more as needed
- freshly pressed juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup virgin olive oil
- Celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method:
- Make pesto using all the pesto ingredients. Blend in a food processor until you are satisfied with the consistency. Adjust the taste to your personal liking.
- Wash and peel the beets. Using mandolin or a very sharp knife, slice the beets and start arranging the slices in a circular pattern on round plates. Add a little pesto on each slice and continue adding more slices. Add more pesto and more slices till all beet slices are used up.
- Top up each portion with a little pesto in the center. Garnish with physalis berry and enjoy in good company!
Physalis berries, also known as Cape gooseberry, Aztec berry, golden berry or Peruvian ground berry, are rich in vitamin C. One cup of the berries delivers about 50% of the daily vitamin C value. Physalis also contains lutein, beta-carotene, some B vitamins and vitamin K, and is also rich in dietary fiber.
Although physalis is a berry from the Solanaceae plant family known to worsen inflammation in sensitive individuals, the berries contain steroid compounds known as withanolides. These compounds can help fight inflammatory processes in the body and provide relief for such conditions as lupus, arthritis and the inflammatory bowel disease.
To avoid exposure to pesticides buy organic produce whenever you can.
Wishing everyone a very happy full moon gazing - in radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique
Dominique Allmon©2023
*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.