Mediterranean Vegetable Stew
contributed by the AICR
Put this one on your summer-stew-to-do list.
It's loaded with taste and nutritional benefits.
When we received the recipe for this Mediterranean Vegetable Stew we thought, good, another Mediterranean recipe. After all, the Mediterranean diet is touted as being a very effective diet, especially for heart health. This stew recipe is no exception. It is healthy and, most of all, delicious!
Starting with the ground clove – its uniquely warm, sweet
and aromatic quality complements the chili powder's heat – the mixture
of spices create a distinctly Mediterranean flavor.
Cloves are dried flower buds from an evergreen with red and while
blossoms. It actually takes four to seven thousand buds to make one
pound of cloves. The name is derived from the Latin word clavus, which
means nail – not surprising given their shape. Though they are often
associated with ginger bread and pumpkin pie, cloves also make a
wonderful addition to soups and stews.
The cardamom, another ancient herb, popular from India to Scandinavia,
provides a pungent and aromatic quality. Combine this with sweet
raisins, the nutty flavor of the butternut squash and garbanzo beans,
and garden vegetable favorites for a rich, satisfying dish that fits
the season.
It's makes great leftovers too.
Serve it with hearty brown rice or
whole-wheat couscous for the energy you need without a lot of extra
calories and fat.
Mediterranean Vegetable Stew
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 tsp. chili powder, or to taste
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground paprika
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom (or substitute 1 1/2 Tbsp. curry powder for spices from chili powder through cardamom)
1 lb. (2 cups diced) small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2" cubes
1/4 cup raisins
2 carrots, cut into 1/4 inch slices
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large zucchini, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/4" slices
1 (15-oz) can garbanzos, drained
1/4 cup pitted black olives, halved
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white or black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1-2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 cups cooked brown rice (whole-wheat couscous may be substituted)
How we make it
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook until
translucent, about 2 minutes.
Add broth. Reduce heat to medium-low and
simmer, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
While broth is simmering, combine spices in a mixing bowl then stir them
into pot. Add butternut squash, raisins, carrots and garlic. Cover and
continue simmering until vegetables are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Add in zucchini, garbanzos, olives, salt and pepper. Re-cover and
continue to simmer until zucchini is tender, an additional 10 to 12
minutes.
Stir in 2 tablespoons parsley and lemon juice.
Place warm rice uniformly on large serving platter (or individual
plates). Spoon the stew over bed of rice. Garnish with remaining parsley
and serve.
Makes 6 servings (about 1 cup stew per serving).
Per serving: 300 calories, 6g total fat (1g saturated fat), 54g carbohydrate,
11g protein, 9g dietary fiber, 464mg sodium.
or
The opinions expressed in this website are strictly those of the authors.
Always consult your nutritionist or healthcare provider before beginning a new diet regimen.
© 2011-2012 - all-veg.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any material without express written permission is strictly prohibited by law.
