1000 Juices by Deborah Gray: cookbook review
Perhaps you think that I couldn’t possibly need another cookbook (I know KP does). Want? Yes. Need? Perhaps. However, within my groaning shelves there is one topic uncovered and that’s juices and smoothies. I’ve browsed various volumes but never been motivated enough to take one home.
Most juicing books are slender volumes but 1000 juices, green drinks and smoothies, in hardback, is the size of a normal cookbook (from Jamie for instance) and that’s the clue to what it contains. If I ever meet author Deborah Gray (or perhaps her editor) the first thing I’ll do is invite her round and bribe her to sort out my filing (with an option on my wardrobe, cupboards and life). Each chapter is based on a master recipe with variations. It’s a simple way of working but means that there are indeed 1000 ideas for assorted drinks.
What’s in the book?
Before you dive into the profusion of juicing ideas, the useful chapter on equipment, fruit and ingredients is well worth a read. It describes major fruit, vegetables and other additions such as natural sweeteners, dairy substitutes and flavourings. It gives the best way to prepare the fruit or veg and extract the juice, the calories contained and how much juice to expect per fruit plus the health benefits. It’s packed full of information, for instance did you know that the levulose sugar in pears is better tolerated by diabetics than most fruit sugars? A single carrot contains sufficient beta-carotene to supply a day’s worth of Vitamin A, promoting good eyesight and skin (read on to see why this is important).
Recipes and chapters
The chapters give more evidence that this is worth its shelf space: Breakfast Blends, Cleansing Drinks, Restorative Drinks, Super Energy Boosters, Thirst Quenchers, Milkshakes and Frozen Drinks, Perfect for Parties and Mocktails. It’s not all about abstemious self-denial and some recipes include frozen yoghurt, ice cream, coffee, sparkling water and even soda (boo) plus, in the party section, alcohol, but the main thrust of the book is on healthy drinks. Many are just ideas for fruit combinations especially in the juicing section.
When preparing a smoothie, I usually just make it up as I go along using what I have on hand. The ideas in this book too me way outside my usual repertoire. I’d never thought of blitzing lemon and garlic into a shot, or adding nuts to bananas, or using stewed fruit from the freezer. And lentils in a smoothie or rosewater with lychees? So much inspiration.
Green stuff
Green juices are my challenge. They are often too foamy or too thickly, greenly, off putting to be palatable. I would never have thought of putting broccoli with pear to balance the earthiness, or using fennel as a base (how good does fennel and lime sound?). The big green chiller is described ‘this wonderful concoction is a farmers’ market stall in a glass and contains cucumber, celery, courgettes, kale, spinach, coriander, lime and ginger. My local farmers’ market starts for the season on 28th November and I’ll be bringing armfuls of ingredients back with a few to gulping down some in a glass.
The downside
I asked veggie teen what she thought about the book and she was very impressed. However, she said ‘Mum, you must have a job reading this, the type is SO small.” And indeed she is right. The ingredients list in the lead recipe is 8 point at the most (if not 7 or even teeny weeny 6) and I peer at it even when wearing my glasses. The cost of cramming all this information into one book.
Staying on my shelf?
Absolutely. Font size aside, this is beautifully produced with lovely images and absolutely packed full of ideas which are organised within an inch of their lives. This is probably the only juices, smoothies and drinks book you’ll ever need it is so extensive. This means more room for other cookbooks right?
The best tools for juicing and smoothie-ing?
Could you eat 4 apples in one go? I know I couldn’t, but drinking the juice of four is easy. This is good and bad. Eating whole fruit is healthier for you than juicing because you get the fibre. While sugar in fruits and vegetables is not a bad thing in normal quantities, it’s easy to ingest far greater quantities if juiced than in a smoothie or eaten raw. Juices and smoothies are a great way to make sure you get your five (or seven a day) but like all things, best in moderation.
Therefore I do not own a juicer. I’ve tested them and owned one for a while, but the washing up is just too arduous. You can juice effectively in a power blender (I have a Vitamix). Cut the fruit up into small pieces, add some water (water is good for you too) and blend until smooth. You can drink it as it is or strain through muslin or a fine mesh sieve. The washing up is done in a trice and you get more fibre. I’ve never tried this with wheatgrass!
For small quantities of citrus fruit you can’t beat an old-fashioned lemon squeezer. The lime squeezer is quick, easy and lovely to look at. I wouldn’t save it in a flood but like owning it (thank to Sarah). For larger quantities of citrus, this Cuisinart press is the best I’ve found. Many are absolutely huge (you need it on the counter) with lots of working parts, not this one. The lid, strainer and press part simply lift off and you can wash in the top section of the dishwasher. The spout can be lifted up and down to stop the juice flow and means you can juice directly into a jug or glass. By putting the lid on and pressing down you can extract more juice and pulp.
Thanks to the Quarto group who published this book and sent me a review copy. All views my own.
Would you find room on your shelf for a book about juices, smoothies and drinks? What do you use for juicing (ingredients or equipment)?
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My Custard Pie 
I finally up-graded my juicer and this looks like a juice book I might like to own. Although I have been juicing for sometime (not with lentils), I wanted to incorporate more leafy greens and the old juicer did not cope very well. Now I own a Hurom slow juicer and the taste and flavors of the juices are amazingly clean and fresh. I know what you mean about all the washing of parts but that has never bothered me. Thank you Sally, must look out for this juice book. 🙂
There’s always room for another cookbook! And fashions change: a lot of my old books I don’t use but still like to keep. This juice book sounds excellent with a lot of useful info as well as recipes. I own a Magimix Le Duo which is good, cleans well, but I have to confess I go through only short phases of using it.
I have a fabulous Philips juicer (my kitchen appliance habit is huge) but I have to admit I don’t use it as much as I should. All juicers are a pain to clean I am afraid. Nice review but I can’t be bothered with tiny print.
I’ve never really got into juices, but some of the ideas in this book sound great! Not sure about garlic though…!
I’d definitely find room for this, I’m in to my second week of starting with a green juice and new options are always welcome especially when they are as inventive as this sounds. I use a Nutribullet. You put all the ingredients into the plastic cup (you drink from) screw the blade mechanism on the top. Upend it into the machine and press. The blade unscrews and is replaced by a screw on cup ring to make drinking comfortable. All you wash up is the cup and blade, both go in the dish washer. Easy. GG
I could definitely find room for this one… it’s so pretty. But lately, I have been studying a bit on juicing and have started to feel that all that’s juicy and green or fruity might not be the right thing to do… all that in a different chat session. I use a simple blender – find it very easy to operate and to clean than the huge food processor or the refined juicer!
ah now this is good timing for us; my husband is recently making liberal use of his nutribullet; everything goes into it from berries, vegetables to nuts and whole spices. I have to say that I slowed down on juices because I could not have them without fruits and with all the information on sugars I grew worried. This book seems to have a lot more ideas on the less sugary stuff.
I like this post, thank you custard girl 🙂
I have a juicer but I really like your idea about using a power-blender and sieve to make juice. Much easier with the cleaning up and possibly you end up with a bit more fiber than using a regular juicer.
I have a Champion Juicer, purchased years ago when I was having health issues and fresh fruit and veg juices were the best way for me to give my immune system a super nutrition boost. I need to give my juicer a place on the kitchen bench so I use it! I found melon, beetroots, tomatoes and carrots were fantastic for adding volume
It does seem to be the year of juicing these last several months… Io make fruit smoothies now and again but seldom green juices… Perhaps I should try more…
This looks like the perfect book for my husband’s Christmas stocking… am adding it straight to his list as he’s notoriously difficult to buy for. He adores making shakes and smoothies in our Vitamix, and this tome of ideas looks like it would keep him busy for the rest of his life!
I do like juicing – especially when I have a glut of fruit or veg. It’s so much better than seeing it go to waste. 🙂
I used to own a juicer, but for the reasons you have mentioned, it got the bullet. I tend to stick to smoothies because I can blend everything together, or if push comes to shove I will buy some good quality organic apple juice from the shop. I have contemplated blending everything and then passing it through a strainer . . .
This book sounds great. I only have one book that relates to drinks completely. I think it is an overlooked area and we can all use some inspiration . . .