Afke’s Gluten-Free Pesto with a Difference

Afke Zonderland, Okanagan Rawsome

Okanagan Rawsome’s mission is to awaken our taste buds to delicious raw, gluten-free goodness! Afke Zonderland, Chef & CEO shares how easy it is to live a whole-food, vegan, sprouted philosophy and make the healthiest choices for yourself and your family.

Ask anyone on the street what their favorite herb is and 9 out of 10 times the clear winner is Basil.

While we are wilting a little in this never ending heat, all varieties of basil are thriving as long as they get plenty to drink.  I learned how to harvest basil correctly from Heino who grows plenty of it at Roots and Greens.

BasilCutting the basil off just above a leaf pair will assure you of another harvest in three weeks.   You should also cut blossoms off a at least 4 inches below the last flower above a leaf pair to encourage new growth. Be sure to use a knife or scissors as basil like anyone else I know, does not like to be pinched.

Wild Flight Farm in Mara celebrated 25 years under the sun with (to my taste) a gourmet pot luck supper, music, a treasure hunt and a tour off row after row of beautiful vegetables and fruit. The tomatoes and cucumbers in the green houses were trimmed and manipulated to hoist themselves up to the sprinkler heads with the aid of baler twine. How did Herman and Louise Bruns know in 1992 that the need for beautiful organic food would be increasing to the point where not enough is available to meet the demand?  He is no longer the lone wolf of certified organic. There are 5 more awesome growers right around Grindrod.

I seeded my basil in the middle of the garden this year and am now looking at a couple of ice cube trays full of basil-parsley bombs ready to flavour soups, sauces and pasta dishes. Simply chop both herbs in a food processor with olive or avocado oil. You can add fresh garlic of course and be one step closer to a lovely pesto. There’s nothing quite like a tomato sandwich with pesto, roasted garlic a slice of Gouda cheese and an avocado.

photo credit, Veggie & the Beast

Afke’s Pesto with a Difference

  • 4 cups basil,
  • 1 cup parsley
  • 1 cup spinach or cilantro
  • 2 – 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 avocado (or ½ avocado and oil)
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 TBSP nutritional yeast
  • ½ TSP sea salt

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and dress up a fat slice of a sun-kissed tomato.

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Okanagan Rawsome Banner x 5

100% Non-GMO • Soaked & Sprouted Seeds • Dehydrated at Low Temperatures • No Refined Sugars • Low-Glycemic

Okanagan Rawsome’s mission is to awaken your taste buds with delicious raw, sprouted, gluten free, vegan crisps – now in six fabulous flavours! 

A source of pure plant energy, these living whole food snacks are low-glycemic, promote weight loss, reduce inflammation. Loaded with organic ingredients and local produce, Okanagan Rawsome is real food that nourishes your body – and soul! 

  • Find Okanagan Rawsome at retailers in Victoria and across Vancouver Island!
  • Purchase Okanagan Rawsome online and save! Free shipping within Canada for orders over $80. Free Shipping in the US for orders over $160.

 Supergreens Garden Crisps

It doesn’t get any greener than this combination of spinach, kale and parsley made with local grown apples and zucchini. BC grown all the way!

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Top these Garden Crisps with your favourite cheese and some sliced cucumber to create a perfect pairing.

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples,*spinach,*kale,*parsley,*zucchini,*flax seeds,*coconut,*dates,*lemon juice,*sprouted pumpkin seeds,*chlorella, ginger powder, garlic powder, pure ocean aquifer sea salt. (*organic)

Okanagan Rawsome Beet Crisps

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps • See how they are made!

Onion-Herb BEET CRISPS are packed with local organic beets, carrots and onions combined with sprouted seeds and a yummy blend of spices.

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps are delicious with your favourite cheese, hummus, or pesto. Make an open-faced sandwich using a Beet Crisp as a base!

  • INGREDIENTS: *ground flaxseeds, *carrots, *sprouted buckwheat, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *beets *zucchini, *sprouted lentils, *onions, onion powder, oregano, garlic powder, *sea salt, cumin (*organic)

carrot-crisps

Spicy Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps

Spicy Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps • See how they are made!

Spicy Chia-Hemp CARROT CRISPS are spicy snacks made with locally grown carrots & zucchini, chia, hemp, and sprouted lentils to enhance nutrient bioavailability. The carrots provide a high-source of Vitamin A.

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 96% ORGANIC Ingredients

Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps are delicious with your favorite cheese, hummus, and/or a slice of avocado. Make an open faced sandwich using a Carrot Crisp as a base!

  • INGREDIENTS: *carrots, *ground flax seeds, *sprouted buckwheat, *zucchini, *sprouted lentils, hemp hearts, *chia seeds, *sea salt, cumin, cayenne, onion powder, oregano, garlic powder (*organic)

How Carrot Crisps are Made


Orange Sesame Apple Crisps

Orange Sesame Apple Crisps

Orange Sesame APPLE CRISPS  light, flavour-packed zesty treat made with oranges and lemons. We grind whole flax seeds to preserve valuable Omega-3 fats. Dehydration happens at low temperatures, protecting valuable living enzymes!

  • LOCAL Organic Apples
  • 96% ORGANIC Ingredients

Delicious with a seed or nut butter. Visit the recipe section of our website for other suggested pairings and rawsome recipes!

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *coconut, *ground flax seeds, *sesame seeds, *dates, hemp hearts, *oranges, *lemon juice, cinnamon, ground ginger, *sea salt (*organic)

How Apple Crisps Are Made


 Cran Raisin Apple CrispsCranberry Raisin Apple Crisps

Cran-Raisin APPLE CRISPS combine sprouted buckwheat with delicious organic cranberries, raisins, and organic Okanagan apples to create a naturally sweet and filling snack. 

  • LOCAL Organic Apples
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Crumble a few pieces of Cran-Raisin Apple Crisps onto plain yogurt or sprinkle some on top of your morning cereal to add live enzymes and easy to digest protein to kick start your day!

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *sprouted buckwheat, *ground flax, *dates, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *sprouted pumpkin seeds, *raisins, *cranberries, cinnamon, ground ginger, *orange zest, *sea salt (*organic)

Available in convenient single-sized portions.


 Okanagan Rawsome Choc-Ginger

Chocolate Ginger Apple Crisps

Chocolate Ginger Apple Crisps

*Starting September 2017, only available online in Single / Bulk 

Chocolate Ginger APPLE CRISPS offer dark chocolate-coconut decadence in a delicious mixture of organic Okanagan apples, ginger, sprouted seeds, sprouted buckwheat, and dates. 

  • LOCAL Organic Produce
  • 90% ORGANIC Ingredients

Choc-Ginger Apple Crisps are delicious on their own or with a serving of ice cream made with frozen bananas & vegan chocolate pudding.

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *sprouted buckwheat, *ground flax, *dates, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *sprouted pumpkin seeds, ginger slices, dark chocolate (cocao, sugar, non-GMO soya lecithin, vanilla flavour), *coconut, ground ginger, *lemon juice, cinnamon, *sea salt (*organic)
  • Available in convenient single-sized portions.

Meet the Okanagan Rawsome Farmers

Farming runs in the family at Okanagan Rawsome

Meet Afke Zonderland, Founder Okanagan Rawsome


Serving Suggestions!Okanaga Rawsome Collage 9Okanagan Rawsome Nutrition


Okanagan Rawsome CCA ReviewOkanagan Rawsome is a proud Sponsor of the Canadian Celiac Association’s Classes for the Newly Diagnosed. Details here!

Find Okanagan Rawsome at retailers in Victoria and across Vancouver Island!

Purchase Okanagan Rawsome online and save! Free shipping within Canada for orders over $80. Free Shipping in the US for orders over $160.