Month: August 2013

Kale, Quinoa, and Avocado Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette

PREP- 25 mins
COOK -15 mins
READY IN- 40 mins

Ingredients          Makes 1 large salad

Salad

  •     2/3 cup quinoa
  •     1 1/3 cups water
  •     1 bunch kale, torn into bite-sized pieces
  •     1/2 avocado – peeled, pitted, and diced
  •     1/2 cup chopped cucumber
  •     1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
  •     2 tablespoons chopped red onion
  •     1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese

Dressing

  •     1/4 cup olive oil
  •     2 tablespoons lemon juice
  •     1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  •     3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  •     1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1.     Bring the quinoa and 1 1/3 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  2.     Place kale in a steamer basket over 1 inch of boiling water in a saucepan. Cover saucepan with a lid and steam kale until hot, about 45 seconds; transfer to a large plate. Top kale with quinoa, avocado, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and feta cheese.
  3.     Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until the oil emulsifies into the dressing; pour over the salad.

Superfood: Pomegranate

PomegranateAbout Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a super food known for its excellent antioxidant properties. Pomegranate is one of the oldest foods known to humans. The name of this fruit has been derived from the Latin words “pomum” meaning apple and “granatus” meaning seeded. In Britain, pomegranate was called the “apple of Grenada”.

History of Pomegranate
Historians believe that the pomegranate fruit is native to Persia or modern day Iran. Pomegranate was brought to Italy from Carthage in Northern Africa, and so, the Romans referred to it as the “Punic Apple”. Pomegranate made its debut in Britain when a tree of this fruit was planted in the royal garden of King Henry VIII.  The French called this fruit “pomme grenade”, which is a reference to the word ‘grenade’ owing to the seed scattering feature of this fruit.

Pomegranate was once considered to be a royal fruit and has found several mentions in the works of Homer, Shakespeare, and Chaucer. The Spanish traders brought pomegranate to America in the middle ages, but the fruit is yet to enjoy immense popularity in the USA.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate

  •     Pomegranate is one of the best known antioxidant sources and flushes out harmful toxins from the body, resulting in a slimmer body and shiny skin.
  •     The juice of this fruit prevents the formation of skin, breast, and prostate cancer.
  •     Drinking pomegranate juice is vital for the prevention of dental plaque.
  •     People who drink 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily experience lower levels of LDL and are able to regulate their blood pressure levels.
  •     Pomegranate prevents the onset of Alzheimer diseases and osteoarthritis.