Raw Nachos - Rawchos If You Will

The following information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness.

Rawchos are an excellent snack that raw food lovers can enjoy at any time of the day. They are also among my favorite raw renditions of popular meals, up there with raw pizza and raw lasagna!

The raw tortilla chips used in this recipe are made primarily of corn kernels, which contain significant amounts of B complex vitamins, vitamin C and loads of antioxidants to create an environment for a healthy heart and cancer-free body!

Moreover, corn supplies an important amount of amino acids, including threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, alanine, proline, serine and more. Some amounts of magnesium, potassium and iron can also be derived from corn.

The second major ingredient, flax seed, may well be considered a superfood, as it is loaded with fiber, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seed has become a staple in raw food preparation, as few ingredients pack such a substantial nutritional punch, even when consumed in small quantities.

High in phytochemicals, flax seed is our most important source of lignans - which are estrogen-like natural plant chemicals that act as powerful antioxidants within the body. Lignans have been shown to be important in the prevention and management of breast cancer, and are highly recommended in the diets of women.

Moreover, men can benefit from eating flax seed as well, since flax consumption has been associated with a decreased risk of prostate and colon cancers.

Now rawchos wouldn't be a great raw Mexican dish, were they not well seasoned with flavorful spices. Cumin and pepper are both rich in trace minerals, while black pepper contains substances that encourage serotonin production in the brain.

Since serotonin is known to influence general mood, consuming more black pepper can literally make us happier! And what better way to include more pepper in our diets than by using it in our favorite raw Mexican specialties?

Equipment Needed:

• Food processor
• Dehydrator
• Spice grinder

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 cups of corn kernels
• 1 chopped yellow bell pepper
• 3/4 to 1 cup of flax meal
• 3 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of chili-powder
• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoons of pepper

Directions:

1. Grind all ingredients in a food processor, leaving aside the flax meal and pepper. When the mixture is smooth, add in the freshly ground pepper and flax meal, and keep mixing until you obtain a homogenous dough.
2. Take the mixture and spread it evenly across 2 non-stick dehydrator sheets, and, using a knife, gently divide the dough into even triangles.
3. At this point, you can add a pinch of black pepper over the triangles, to give them a bit more flavor and texture.
4. Insert the sheets into the dehydrator and let the tortillas dehydrate gently over 10 hours, at 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Remove them from the non-stick sheet and let them dry out on the mesh until they become crispy.
6. You can enjoy them with guacamole, salsa or raw, cashew sour cream.
7. To serve raw nachos (or rawchos), spread the tortilla chips evenly on a wider plate, and add an assortment of salsa, guacamole and raw sour cream on top of them
8. You can garnish rawchos with fresh coriander or other green spices of your linking.
9. To serve raw nachos (or rawchos), spread the tortilla chips evenly on a wider plate, and add an assortment of salsa, guacamole and raw sour cream on top of them
10. Tip: For preparation, you can use either fresh corn, or frozen corn kernels. Since fresh corn can be a bit bitter, you can add a few teaspoons of agave syrup or other natural sweeteners to the mix.