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Pumpkin seed butter is increasingly popular as an excellent source of plant-based protein that helps you to avoid nut allergens. This seed butter is a great alternative for those who suffer from nut allergies and anyone who loves to mix things up a bit! Use in your smoothies, drizzle on your bowls, or simply spread on toast or a rice cake.

Seed butters are a growing trend in terms of natural foods, especially with the growing demand for plant-based protein. Pumpkin seeds for example, are one of the best plant-food sources of iron, a great source of zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, healthy fats, protein and fiber. Two tablespoons of pumpkin butter can provide up to 10 grams of protein. Best part about turning your seeds into a butter is that it makes the nutrients easier for your body to absorb.

Pumpkin seed butter is buttery, nut-free and super easy to make yourself. All you need is a high-speed blender to handle all the work. It’s great for blending into smoothies, thicken savory plant-based soups or just to spread on a cracker.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Add the pumpkin seeds and half of the olive oil to your Omniblend jug. The 2ltr jug works best for butters, as it has a narrow base.

Secure the lid and remove the cap from the lid, to insert the tamper. Start blending from low to high. Use the tamper to push into the corners to move the seeds into the blades, and continue to blend, scraping the sides of the container with the tamper from time to time. Blend at high speed so that the motor can do the work for you.

Blend until the pumpkin seed butter is mostly smooth, then slowly add the remaining olive oil a little at a time to reach your desired consistency.

Pulse in your favorite flavorings like salt, honey or cacao at this stage if you want to spruce up your butter. Use a spatula to transfer the pumpkin seed butter to a glass container. Seal and store in your pantry or fridge.

Try our Sunflower Seed Butter too! 

We’re all trying to live a little healthier, eating as much food from nature as possible to get all nutrients we need without having to opt for vitamin pills and supplements. Some of these foods have become labelled as superfood thanks to their high density in certain nutrients. But if you can’t see the wood for the trees in the world of superfoods anymore (as there are no set criteria for determining what is and what is not superfood) you’ll find this summary of 5 of the most popular superfoods useful to pick the ingredients that suit your needs. To make it easy and tasty to add them to your diet, we’ve also included some delicious smoothie recipes so that you can start reaping the benefits of these powerhouse foods.

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that grows in both salt and fresh water. Spirulina has been consumed for centuries due to its high nutritional value and health benefits. Spirulina contains a number of nutrients, including B vitamins, beta-carotene and vitamin E. A 7 gram portion contains 4 grams of protein with essential amino acids ( the building blocks of protein) making it a great source of vegan protein. It is also a good source of antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative damage. Spirulina powder can be easily added to smoothies and smoothie bowls. Spirulina blends really well with fruit and juice-based smoothies. Spirulina has an intense blue-green colour, great for all those pretty smoothie bowl creations.

Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru, it has been cultivated as a crop in this area for many years. In foods maca is eaten baked, roasted or prepared as a soup. Maca root powder is a good source of carbs and protein, and rich in a number of nutrients including vitamin C, copper and iron. It is also a great mood booster, known for the ability to relieve depression and anxiety. Maca has also been studied as a remedy for hormonal imbalances and its rich phytochemical content is great for relieving the symptoms of PMS and menopause. Maca has an earthy, nutty taste and can be added to smoothies, oatmeal and sweet treats. Try it in a peanut butter smoothie, check the recipe below.

The moringa plant is gaining more popularity as a superfood due to its highly nutritious profile and powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue protective properties. Moringa Oleifera is also known as horseradish tree, is a small tree from India, Pakistan and Nepal which has been used for generations in Eastern countries to treat and prevent diseases. Moringa is also popular as a natural leaf powder supplement. The pods, roots, bark, flowers, seeds and fruits are also edible. Moringa is nutrient packed, a rich source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It contains significant amounts of vitamin A, C and E, calcium, potassium and protein. It also fights free radicals and inflammation, moringa has blood clotting properties that benefit wound healing. You can add Moringa to your smoothies like the mango smoothie below or tea. The powder has a mild flavor, so it makes for a light Moringa tea with a slightly earthy taste.

Baobab is a tree native to certain regions of Africa. The Baobab tree can produce a large fruit that is commonly consumed and appreciated for its delicious citrus like flavour. The pulp, leaves and seeds, have been associated with many health benefits and are a staple in various recipes and cuisines. The leaves are rich in calcium and high-quality proteins. Powdered baobab pulp contains many important nutrients but is especially high in vitamin C, B6, niacin, iron and potassium. Aside the nutritional value, baobab can be used to add punch of flavour to desserts, stews, soups and smoothies. Give it a try while boosting your immune system with the recipe below.

Turmeric is used internationally as a staple spice in cuisine, holistic medicine, and even coloring in cosmetics. Turmeric has been providing the world with countless uses and immense health. Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or colour curry powders, mustards, butters and cheeses. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, the active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin a potent anti-inflammatory. Some people apply turmeric to their skin for pain, swelling and inflammation. You can add turmeric to your tea, mix it up in a curry, blend it into a smoothie, or juice it. To increase absorption of turmeric, best to enjoy it with good fat like avo, coconut oil and curries. You can also add it to your favourite smoothies or try it with our turmeric coffee smoothie.

Honest Jar is a Joburg based company that makes it super quick and easy to make healthy smoothies at home, offering a variety of flavours in convenient ready-to-blend packs. Honest Jar delivers the pre-portioned frozen smoothie ingredients in a biodegradable to-go cup straight to your door. All you need is a liquid of your choice, 30 seconds and a blender and you get a 500ml superfood smoothie that you can enjoy on the go.You can blend it with almond or oat milk to keep it vegan, as all ingredients are plant-based. 

For the month of January we're excited to share that Honest Jar offers its Johannesburg customers a 10% discount on a smoothie box, which contains 6 smoothies. Simply order online at www.honestjar.com to pick your flavours, and build your box. In the checkout, use OMNIBLEND10 and immediately receive a 10% discount. Deliveries are only made in Johannesburg, so this offer is valid for Joburg customers only.

Still looking for a reliable and durable blender? The OmniBlend I - 2ltr Pro is our most versatile blender, suited for blending smoothies, smoothie bowls (use the Honest Jar ingredients with just a little liquid to create a thick and creamy smoothie bowl), nice creams, hummus, nut butter, pesto, soups, nut milks, and more. You can use it to grind dry ingredients too, and make your own nut or oat flours. The OmniBlend I model has a turn dial for variable speed control, allowing you to fully control the power you require. Find out how more about our blenders for homeuse here.

You definitely won’t be slaying any dragons to make this smoothie! Full of coconut flavour, and packed with nutrients, this recipe is fit for paradise. Blend fruits from frozen in your OmniBlend blender, for a super smooth consistency.

Dragon fruit is considered a tropical superfood because of its wealth of benefits, not only is it good for you, it also adds a bright pink color to smoothies without altering the flavour. Another one of our office smoothie bar releases.

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, has bright pink spiky skin, and the flesh can be white or pink with black seeds. Fresh dragon fruit can be hard to find and quite expensive, that’s why we use frozen packs which are cheaper and easier to find. This also helps to make nice thick smoothies, so if your blender can crush ice then you’re good to go. Which brings me to the benefit of having a durable blender, it makes it easier to get a little creative in the kitchen even with the toughest ingredients! Investing in the best smoothie blender is worth it if you love making beautiful food, or have a family to feed.

For a bit of a boost I added chia seeds, which makes it more filling. After all this recipe was developed for our office, and it’s supposed to sustain you during a busy day. This smoothie is more coconutty than sweet, so you can add some honey or a date to sweeten things up.

This smoothie does not only taste good, it looks great as well. With that bright pink color you can’t help but feel happy! Frozen banana creates a sweet base, and the berries add some tartness. If you’re not a banana fan then kiwi does the trick, adding a bit of an exotic flavor. I honestly felt like I was having a milkshake for a second there.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to the Omniblend jug. Blend from low-to-high for 30 to 60 seconds or until creamy. Serve with some coconut and mint, find the nearest island and relax!

Annie Spratt

This harissa recipe is so easy to make at home with a food blender. The warm flavours of roasted peppers and spice, and hot chillies make the sauce irresistible. Homemade Harissa is much more value for money, and it’s always rewarding to make this unique Middle Eastern blend in your own kitchen. Use it as a marinade for grilled chicken wings, mix it in a salad with chickpeas, roasted butternut, and baby spinach, or simply add some of this paste to spice up your avo on toast and other sandwiches.

No doubt the increased interest in the Middle Eastern kitchen, has contributed to the popularity of Harissa. Recipes vary slightly, however the chillies are an essential ingredient. The OmniBlend is a powerful food blender that purees pastes like these with ease. Any kind of (commercial) chilli sauce, is best blended using the 2 liter jug, which has a narrow base (or our 1.5 liter jug with the narrow base). For this recipe we used the OmniBlend I – 2ltr Pro, which is also used in commercial kitchens to blend sauces.

Ingredients (for about 2 cups):

3 Red Peppers

2 Red Onions

3 Cloves Garlic (big cloves)

3 Medium Hot Serenade Red Chillies

1 ½ tsp Coriander Seeds

1 ½ tsp Cumin Seeds

1 ½ tsp Caraway Seeds

4 Tbsp Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

100g Tomato Paste (about 4 tbsp)

1 Tsp Course Sea Salt

A little olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven at 250C

Half and deseed the peppers, drizzle some olive oil on top, and place them skin up on a tray. Grill in the oven, for about 10 minutes, keeping close eye on it. It needs to char, but be careful not to burn them completely.

Remove from the oven, and cover with foil or a plate to cool down. Once cooled down, peel the skin off, and discard the skin. Add the peppers to the OmniBlend jug.

Place a dry frying pan over low heat and lightly toast the coriander, cumin, and caraway seeds for 2 minutes. Remove them and add to the OmniBlend jug.

Now heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat, and fry the onion, garlic, and chilies for 10 to 12 minutes, until a dark smoky colour and almost caramelized. Add to the OmniBlend jug.

Add the lemon juice, tomato paste and salt to the jug too, and then start blending. Blend until smooth, add to 1 or 2 glass jars, leave to cool on the counter, then store in the fridge.

We've also used this harissa for Ottolenghi's Pappardelle with Rose Harissa, Black Olives & Capers; replacing the rose harissa with 3 tablespoons of this recipe. It was so delicious, give it a try!

You will have noticed the hype around turmeric, and the food products that have launched on the market to make golden milk or tea, to add more turmeric to your diet. What is all the fuss about? Turmeric is said to be one of the most effective natural nutritional supplements. It contains compounds with medicinal properties, of which curcumin is the most important. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and it is a very strong antioxidant. The natural pain relief properties are also contributed to curcumin, and therefore turmeric may be beneficial as a natural painkiller to manage chronic pain.

ROOT VS POWDER

Let’s talk a little more about this magical root. Turmeric is widely available as a powder, however as a raw root it’s very similar to ginger. Raw turmeric has several health benefits which may not be found in turmeric powder. The turmeric oil is one of the components which is lost during processing, and this oil is essential for your body to be able to absorb the curcumin well. Depending on which processing method is used, there may also be loss of curcumin. So aside from raw turmeric being cheaper than other products, using raw turmeric can be more beneficial for your health than using turmeric powder.

5 REASONS WHY TURMERIC IS GOOD FOR YOU

1. Helps increase antioxidant capacity and help fight free-radical damage

2. Helps boost your immune system - powerful anti-inflammatory properties

3. Eases joint pain

4. Protects your heart

5. Helps heal your gut

COOKING WITH TURMERIC

Turmeric has a peppery, warm, bitter taste, which makes it a popular spice in the Indian kitchen. It is used in many different ways, usually in curries, turmeric pickle, hummus and to make turmeric tea. Turmeric can also be used to add color to a broad range of dishes including soups, rice dishes and omelets.

But don’t limit yourself to these foods to get your dose of this herbal medicine. When blended with the right fruits, the pungent taste of turmeric compliments the recipe nicely bringing out aromatic flavours. We’ve created some delicious sweet fruity smoothies, to benefit from turmeric first thing in the morning. In these recipes we’re using fresh turmeric using the Omniblend blender, which makes it so easy to blend root vegetables like turmeric, ginger, beetroot, and carrots. It can be difficult to blend these in a domestic blender, but with a high-powered blender it’s done with ease. Investing in the best blender is key to happy smoothie blending!

SMOOTHIES TO BENEFIT FROM TURMERIC

Here are 3 ways to use raw turmeric in your smoothies. Milk (you can substitute with almond milk), avocado, and chia seeds add fat, which helps the body absorb curcumin better!

Peachy Turmeric Breakfast Smoothie

Berry Good Turmeric Smoothie

Directions

Add all your ingredients to your jug and blend for 60 seconds. The measures for the ginger and turmeric are a volume indication. There is no need to chop the root, as the blender will create a smooth texture. Simply add a slice of the root that makes up a teaspoon.

When you’re new to turmeric, the Berry Good Turmeric Smoothie is for you: the combination of the berries with turmeric and ginger hits the sweet spot! The Golden Glow Smoothie has that comforting cup of tea feel, and makes you feel good inside and out. For a breakfast kick-start the Peachy Turmeric Breakfast Smoothie is the one. It gives your traditional oats breakfast a healthy kick, and will boost your day.

These Chocolate Chia Energy Bars are great to fuel a busy day, or as a lunch box or pre-workout snack. Packed with slow releasing carbohydrates, fiber, healthy fats, and minerals you’re granted of a pick-me-up just when you need it most. We’ve sneaked in little dark chocolate on top of the cocoa, boosting brain function, immunity and mood. Just what you need on a stressful day!

These bars are a nutritious way to take care of those chocolate cravings, satisfying and energizing! Aside from the small amount of the chocolate, these bars don’t contain refined sugars. The dates and cranberries provide natural sweetness. The healthy fats and protein in the chia seeds, coconut and walnuts really help to keep you full for longer.

Walnuts are one of the main ingredients of these bars, and did you know that walnuts are little power houses? They’re packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acid, E and B vitamins and essential minerals. They’re said to decrease inflammation and promoting a healthy gut. Each portion of these bars contains your recommended daily intake of walnuts, as part of a balanced diet.

The best part about these bars is there’s no baking required and they allow for a whole lot of creativity, substitute with your favorite ingredients or finish off with a peanut butter drizzle. We added just a pinch of salt which lifts the chocolate flavor, however you could leave it out completely if you’re looking to avoid salt completely.

These make more or less 10 bars depending on how you cut them.

Ingredients:

Directions:

The 2 liter jug works best for this recipe. Add the cocoa powder, chia seeds and chocolate chunks to the jug, and pulse about 3 times to combine and rough chop the chocolate, it'll blend more later.

Add the other ingredients, blend until a thick paste forms. Use the tamper through the lid to push the ingredients into the blades.

Line a rectangle or square pan with baking paper. Scrape the dough out of the jug with a silicon spatula into the pan. Firmly press the mixture into the pan, pressing tightly into all the corners.

Place in the freezer for an hour. Lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. 

For this recipe we used the OmniBlend I - 2ltr Pro, and you could also use the OmniBlend V - 2ltr Pro. 

Joburg’s vegan deli Free Food* Diner & Take Away is more than just that: it’s a celebration of life, offering original and unique products that will make you smile. All of the ingredients are carefully sourced, without harm or inconvenience to animals. The products are gluten-wheat-sugar-dairy-preservative-additive-free. This inspired the name Free Food*.

Ariel Cohen, owner and a vegan for nearly two decades, has been vegetarian since the mid-Eighties, and adopted a vegan lifestyle in 2000. When Ariel started Free Food* people were familiar with vegetarianism, but not so much with veganism. This has all changed recently, and social media has contributed to exposing cruelty, and building a positive message around veganism.

Ariel Cohen: “We want to make delicious and healthy food available and accessible to anyone considering an ethical and cleaner lifestyle. The entire menu is plant-based and vegan. Choose from our freshly prepared menu at the diner, or grab a take-away. Free Food* also offers a convenient frozen range that includes ready meals, burger patties, wraps (made from rice flour or Banting-friendly organic flaxseed flour) & vegan ice creams too! The deli offering includes a range of vegan cheeses, falafel, hot coriander salsa, hummus, tofu mayonnaise, basil pesto, ginger jelly, and loads more.”

Free Food* also offers an impressive catering menu to serve healthy and original food and snacks at your event.

Offering all these options, it’s clear the kitchen is busy, and the OmniBlend blenders are working hard to keep up grinding and blending ingredients for all these tasty options. Free Food* works with multiple 2 litre jugs, to keep jugs for food and drinks separate. The jugs are interchangeable, and it’s much more efficient to work with multiple jugs per OmniBlend base.

Visit the diner for a delicious milk-Free* shake, or for lunch and try the amazing Quinoa, Tofu & Shitake salad, the Roasted Chickpea & Brinjal Pizza or one of the flavourful big bamboo bowls. Just don’t forget to keep space for dessert: Free Food* proves that dairy- sugar-wheat-gluten-Free* still leaves plenty of room for deliciousness.

Free Food* uses the OmniBlend V - 2ltr Pro

A commercial blender makes it possible to add a variety of drinks, smoothies and iced coffee options to your menu. The best blender is capable of crushing ice, frozen fruits and nuts. When buying a blender for your restaurant or coffee shop, it’s essential to consider both price and performance. Look for the power of the motor, the materials used for the moving parts, the jug, and other features that contribute to the durability of the machine. All these are critical to the lifespan of the blender, and therefore your return on investment.

OmniBlend blenders are trusted by South African coffee shops and restaurants, because of the 3 horsepower motor with 2238 Watt peak performance, the stainless steel drive socket and blade assembly, polycarbonate jug that is virtually unbreakable and easy to clean, as well as the overload protection mechanism, which prevents the motor from overheating. All this is packaged in the best value for money blenders that you find in the market (find our range and pricing here).

We’re often asked for smoothie recipes. Smoothie recipes can vary from fresh or frozen fruits blended with vegetables, yoghurts, milk or dairy-free options, to smoothie pre-mixes that offer a high quality convenient alternative. Readymade re-mixes contain flavor and nutritional value, and offer the ease of use by blending a smoothie mix with ice and liquids. This enables you to add various flavours to your smoothie menu, with low inventory. OmniBlend blenders crush ice cubes with ease, making it possible to use these smoothie packs with ice cubes and blend a high quality smooth drink, time and time again. For smoothies and iced coffees that use a lot of ice cubes or frozen fruits, we recommend the 1.5ltr jug, which has a wider base. You can opt for either the OmniBlend I – 1.5ltr or OmniBlend V – 1.5ltr. You can opt to add a sound enclosure when operating the blender in your shop front.

Contact us for suppliers of such smoothie and iced coffee recipes.

Irene’s Gourmet has become an iconic brand in South Africa’s vegan food market. The plant-based range includes sauerkraut, kimchi, coconut yoghurt, Mozzarella, Gouda, Cheddar, Meltme, pesto, vegan butter, patties, falafel and more. All products are developed by Irene herself, and made with love by the team that strives for making vegan food accessible to all South Africans.

Irene has always been a foodie, trying out new dishes and spending a lot of time in the kitchen to develop new ideas. An artist by profession, she started applying her creativity fully on food in 2014 and so Irene’s Gourmet was born. Irene has been vegetarian since the age of 16 and became fully vegan about 10 years ago. Back then it was disappointing how few options were available for vegans. Though over recent years the vegan food market has been booming, some products are highly expensive, and that’s where Irene and her husband Jason aim to make a difference: “We want everybody to have a choice to eat vegan, and within the boundaries of using natural plant-based and natural ingredients without adding a lot of commercial additives, we aim to offer a range that is reasonably priced so that eating vegan is not only for the well off.”

Starting small, finding the right equipment that was strong enough to endure long production days and still affordable, posed a challenge. “After looking at many power blenders we decided to try an OmniBlend blender as the value for money looked promising. Well, I can assure you that we were definitely not disappointed! We now have 3 OmniBlend blenders; They run for hours every day making everything from plant-based milks, cheese mixes and even the occasional smoothie. I recommend OmniBlend blenders to everyone needing power blenders as I find them to be super strong, reliable and fantastic value for money. Furthermore, the service from the OmniBlend team is truly commendable! Whenever I have had any problems, they get dealt with promptly and efficiently. I also love that the spare parts and extras are readily available and affordable. So if you need a power blender, look no further! OmniBlend is your blender! They are super strong and reliable with infinite culinary possibilities.”, raves Irene about the blenders.

The jump from being a small-scale food production business to producing products for the commercial market and making it available through retailers is a challenging one. Irene is adamant about the quality of food and avoiding the use of chemical preservatives commonly used in processed foods, keeping it as natural as possible. She has therefore spent a lot of time researching and developing techniques to improve the shelf life of the products, while keeping it as close to nature as possible and with great taste.

This has enabled the business to distribute through large retailers nationally, and now Irene’s Gourmet products can be found in selected Spar and Dis-Chem stores in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, as well as health shops throughout South Africa. Or opt for vegan cheese on your pizza at Col’Cacchio, Andicchio 24, Balducci’s, Fussy Vegan, Leafy Greens and many more, also supplied by Irene’s Gourmet.

Once a month Irene and Jason can be found at the Vegan Hippie Connection Market, which they both love as it allows them an opportunity to meet and connect with people who have questions about vegan food and share their passion for making the change. Irene: “We see a lot of people are moving towards vegan food for health reasons. They don’t necessary not like meat, and that’s why we offer meat replacements too that have the same flavor and texture to offer an alternative for the meat cravings. We want people to know that you don’t have to give in on flavor and taste when eating vegan, we love making food that tastes great.” The Vegan Hippie Connection Market is held on the last Sunday of every month at Pirates Sports Club in Parkhurst from 9h00 to 15h00. Follow the market on Facebook to keep up to date with dates, times and more info about the market.

We're receiving many requests for Irene's Gourmet products, and pricing. Unfortunately we don't have all current information, so please connect with Irene's Gourmet through their Facebook or Instagram pages.

Irene's Gourmet is using the OmniBlend I - 2ltr Pro, which you can find here.