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Antipasto Salad Recipe - Simple Antipasto Recipes
When most people think of Italian food, their minds immediately leap to dishes which are overwhelmingly carbohydrate –- pasta, pizza, and bread. But lots of Italian dishes are great choices for people who must watch their carbs. Finding them is easier if you start to “think like an Italian” when eating at Italian restaurants. Follow this same frame of mind when eating at home and you will be pleasantly surprised at how really healthy Italian cooking actually is.
Italian food often has olive oil drizzled over it, and sometimes there is olive oil on the table for this purpose. Take advantage of it. The type of fat as well as the antioxidants in olive oil are part of the reason for the healthfulness of the “Mediterranean Diet.”
Here are just a few of the Health benefits of the ingredients used in Italian Antipasto Recipes:
Olives are a good source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant. It goes after and directly neutralizes free radicals in all the fat-rich areas of the body. In combination, stable monounsaturated fats and vitamin E add a significant safety factor to cellular processes like energy production, a process that generates free radicals even when things are running smoothly.
Aside from being rich in vitamins C, A and K, tomatoes contain lycopene, a carotenoid with potent antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. Lycopene protects cells from oxygen damage, fights colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers, and reduces your risk of heart disease.
Red peppers are a good source of the carotenoid called lycopene, which is earning a reputation for helping to prevent prostate cancer as well as cancer of the bladder, cervix, and pancreas. Beta-cryptoxanthin, another carotenoid in red peppers, is holding promise for helping to prevent lung cancer related to smoking and secondhand smoke.
ZUCCHINI AL POMODORO E BASILICO
Zucchini with Tomatoes and Basil
The long green zucchini are a pure symbol of Mediterranean cuisine. They are used in a vey wide variety of dishes. They can be served warm or cold in an Antipasto. Zucchini are enjoyed as a very tasty snack or side dish to accompany any main course.
Ingredients
2 lbs/1 kg. Ripe Tomatoes
2 lb/1 kg. Zucchini
3 Cloves of Garlic, crushed with the flat side of a knife, left whole
6 to 12 leaves fresh basil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt (preferrably Sea Salt)
Wash and cut the tomatoes in half, remove the seeds and then dice.
Wash and dice the zucchini.
Chop the Basil leaves.
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a 12 “ skillet. Add the garlic and lightly saute for about 20 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, basil, and zucchini.
Cook over a low heat until the zucchini is cooked but still firm to the bite. About 5 minutes.
Season with salt to taste.
This may be served hot, or cooled. This is a very aromatic dish which invites the palate to enjoy any of the Italian delights that would follow or be accompanied by this dish.
Serve with Bruschetta Classica or crusty Italian bread.
Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
about the author: Rosemary Gullo
Rosemary Gullo is the author of Healthy Italian Cooking.
Healthy Italian Cooking is packed with dozens of tasty recipes and is Easy to Use. Each section takes you step by step through a new meal for your family. It is full of tips, tricks and secrets that will not only show you how to cook healthy Italian food, but will also cut down on cooking time and make dinner preparation simple.
http://www.HealthyItalianCooking.com
Antipasto Salad Recipe - Authentic Italian Antipasto
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