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In celebration of all things delicious and plant-based, I've teamed up with Navitas Organics to share some insight into one of my favorite superfoods, the maqui berry and celebrate with a delicious superfood Maqui Cheesecake recipe (below).
The maqui berry is an intensely purple berry that grows wild throughout southern Chile. Like many dark fruits and berries, such as pomegranate, acai, elderberries, blueberries and blackberries, maqui berries are very rich in anthocyanins, which give them their purple pigments and high antioxidant levels.
The maqui berry, in particular, contains high levels of anthocyanins called delphinidins, which is also found in violas, delphiniums, and Concord grapes. But these compounds are found in very high amounts in the humble maqui berry. The delphinidins are especially conducive at protecting cells from oxidative stress, supporting healthy immune function and reducing the risk of degenerative diseases that involve inflammation. They are also helpful in reducing blood sugar levels and decreasing glucose absorption.
These tart little berries are hardly ever found fresh outside South America, so we are extremely lucky to have Navitas carry them in an organic freeze-dried powder form. Taste-wise, they resemble a mix of blackberries, blueberries and watermelon, and blend well with fresh juices and smoothies or mixed into desserts, yogurts and porridge.
And without further ado, I'd like to raise a spoonful of this gluten-free, dairy-free, superfood maqui cheesecake to a brand I can proudly stand behind!
Blueberry Maqui Cheesecake Recipe
You’ll love this completely raw recipe for the creamiest, berry cashew cheese filling with a dense, chewy, chocolatey crust made of walnuts, coconuts, dates, and cacao.
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
1 cup dates, pitted
½ cup shredded coconut
1 cup raw walnuts
1 Tbsp. Navitas Organics Cacao Powder
Pinch of sea salt
Filling:
2 cups Navitas Organics Cashew Nuts, soaked overnight
½ cup lemon juice
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup maple or agave syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
Blueberry Maqui Layer:
½ the filling mix
¼ cup blueberries
2 tsp. Navitas Organics Maqui Powder
DIRECTIONS
Add the nuts, salt, cacao powder, dates and coconut to your food processor or blender and process to a coarse meal. Transfer the mixture to a spring form pan or individual tart shells and press down to form the crust. Place in the freezer to chill.
Add the filling ingredients to your high-speed blender and process. Add as little water as necessary to facilitate blending. Pour half the mixture on top of your crust and place in the freezer for one hour.
Add the remaining ingredients for the maqui layer and blend once more.
Pour the maqui layer on top of the frozen cheesecake and freeze overnight.
Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Makes 10-12 servings