Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, are incredibly nutritious. In South Africa, they’re usually only found dried, which is still delicious and nutritious. But, growing your own fresh berries is a real treat and makes the most of all the health benefits. Find out how to grow them here.
Goji berries are high in calcium, copper, potassium, protein, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (vitamin B1), selenium, amino acids, and vitamins A and C. They’re an excellent source of antioxidants (which help to fight cancer and evidence of ageing, amongst many other things), boost energy levels, can help in weight loss, and improve levels of blood sugar.
How to Use Goji Berries – Our Favourite Antioxidant Recipes
Being healthy is a breeze with delicious goji berries. Here are some of our favourite sweet and savoury dishes that make the most of these nutritious treats:
Goji Berry Iced Tea
Rinse a heaped teaspoon of dried goji berries in cold water. Then, add it to a cup of hot water. Allow them to soak and steep for at least an hour, until their flavour has infused the water. You can strain them out or enjoy the hydrated berries at the end of your comforting cup of tea. Add mint or lemon too for a different flavour dimension.
Stir-fry
Pork and goji berries work really well together. So, stir-fry pork loin with these berries, mushrooms, onions, celery, ginger, garlic, and soya sauce. If you’re using dried berries, rehydrate them in a little cold water for an hour or two before cooking with them.
Overnight Oats and Chia Pudding Bowl
This is a fantastic way to start the day or to finish off a workout. Use a 500 millilitre jar with a lid. In the jar, add a cup of plant milk, two tablespoons of chia seeds, four tablespoons of rolled oats, a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey, and a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Blitz four tablespoons of fresh or rehydrated goji berries with two tablespoons of raspberries and two teaspoons of lemon juice together.
Leave the jar of oats to soften and combine overnight. In the morning, drizzle the oats and chia pudding with the goji berry sauce and enjoy.
Smoothies
There are so many options when it comes to choosing smoothie ingredients that nourish and nurture your body. Either use fresh berries or rehydrated ones. Some lovely combinations include:
- Goji berries, strawberries, almond or coconut milk, and honey.
- Banana, spinach, coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk, goji berries, and mixed frozen or fresh berries.
- Goji berries, banana, peaches, and plant milk.
Chocolate Bark
Melt dark chocolate in a bowl over a pot of boiling water, add a little coconut oil, and mix well. Spread the melted chocolate out on wax paper or a silicon sheet. Sprinkle dried goji berries, nuts, seeds and dried fruit onto the warm chocolate. Leave it to cool and set. Then, snap the chocolate sheet into delicious shards of chocolate and berry goodness. Add this to ice-cream or push the shards into cakes or bakes.
Homemade Muesli
You can really combine so many different ingredients to make delectable homemade muesli. The general rule of proportions is:
- 4 cups of grains (oats, wheat bran, quinoa flakes, puffed millet, whole rye, etc.)
- 5 cups of nuts and seeds
- 5 cup of dried fruit (goji berries, pineapple, apricots, apples, bananas, and so on)
Get Your Goji Berry Tree
At Just Berry Plants, we have healthy, beautiful goji berry trees that are ready to flourish in your garden. Visit our website to order yours or contact us on 074 144 5536 / 082 307 8241 or info@justberryplants.co.za