Share your Mediterranean recipes during Mediterranean Diet Month!

Image by Jim Bathie

Just last month the Howell Foundation hosted an expert that gave us an overview of the benefits of managing pain through nutrition. 

 

Advocacy for nutrition and women’s health has resulted in many coincidences between the Anti-inflammatory diet and the Mediterranean diet, anywhere from the health values of the ingredients we use and the way the food is prepared to the meaning of going back to basics in choosing the best foods for our health.   

To celebrate health through nutrition, this recipe from Health Magazine looks like the perfect way to start the month of May: Mediterranean Seafood Grill with Skordalia.  If you are under strict dietary supervision please talk to your physician or nutritionist before preparing any food. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound russet or Yukon gold potatoes
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 slice sourdough bread, crust removed
• 1/4 cup plain Greek low-fat yogurt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 pound halibut fillets, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 red bell peppers, quartered
• 1 pound small zucchini, diagonally cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 red onion, sliced

 Preparation: 

1. Peel potatoes, and chop into 1-inch pieces. Place in a large saucepan, and cover with cold water. Add garlic, and cook over high heat about 15 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.

2. While potatoes cook, tear bread into 3 or 4 pieces and place in a large bowl. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons cooking liquid from potatoes over bread. Stir with a fork until smooth. Add yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and zest and juice of 1 lemon; stir until a smooth paste forms.

3. When the potatoes are done, place a large bowl in the sink and set a colander on top. Drain potatoes and garlic, reserving cooking liquid. Transfer potatoes to bread mixture and mash until smooth (a potato ricer works well for this task). Add reserved cooking liquid 2 tablespoons at a time until mixture takes on the consistency of loose mashed potatoes. Stir in 1½ teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

4. Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle fish with � teaspoon olive oil and season with remaining � teaspoon salt and thyme. Cook fish 2 to 3 minutes on each side until fish flakes when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Transfer to a plate; cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

5. Place bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion in a large bowl. Drizzle with remaining 1½ teaspoon olive oil; toss to coat. Arrange bell pepper in grill pan and cook 5 minutes over medium heat. Add zucchini and onion; cook 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning as necessary to ensure even cooking.

Nutritional Information: 

• Calories per serving:390
• Fat per serving:14g
• Saturated fat per serving:2g
• Monounsaturated fat per serving:8g
• Polyunsaturated fat per serving:2g
• Protein per serving:31g
• Carbohydrates per serving:37g
• Fiber per serving:5g
• Cholesterol per serving: 35mg
• Sodium per serving: 280mg
• Resistant starch per serving:1.7g