February 14, 2019
Health & Wellbeing
By Fix Events
The nutritious benefits of pumpkin include…it is a rich source of beta-carotene which is the plant form of vitamin A, this plays an important role in keeping the immune system in good shape as well as helping the skin and eyes to be healthy. Also a good source of fibre which is important for digestive health and removing toxins from the body. As a bonus the pumpkin seeds are packed full of essential fatty acids, zinc and protein.
Here are a few recipe suggestions for you:
Roasted pumpkin and goats cheese salad – cut the pumpkin into slices, leaving the skin on. Place on baking tray and coat with coconut oil, sea salt, pepper and ground cumin. Roast in the oven for 30 mins or until soft. Assemble your salad with a mix of spinach & rocket leaves, sliced cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, the pumpkin slices and crumbled goats cheese. For the salad dressing combine olive oil, lemon juice and tahini.
Pumpkin, sweet potato and red lentil soup – sautée 1 large red onion, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 fresh red chilli in coconut oil until soft, add 2 chopped carrots and 1 chopped sweet potato, cook for 5 mins. Then add one cup of red lentils, teaspoon of ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, veg stock (enough to cover the veg), season with salt and pepper and cook until soft. Meanwhile roast the pumpkin slices (same as above recipe). Once the pumpkin is cooked remove the skin and add to the soup mix (4-6) big slices. Finally blend the soup and enjoy!
Green Pumpkin seeds – cheap to buy and fantastic ingredient to add to both sweet and savoury dishes. Toast the seeds in a hot frying pan, no need to add oil, when the seeds are lightly toasted turn off heat and add flavour or your choice for example – balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, maca, tamari or sweet chilli. Store in a jar and sprinkle on soups, salads or stirfrys for added boost of essential fatty acids.