I was recently asked if I addressed healthy foods on my blog and it took me a minute to think about it. As it turns out, of course there are more than the fair share of recipes here loaded with cheese, butter, cream, or other less than figure flattering ingredients, but the more waistline friendly meals do make their appearances. Now it becomes my job to point them out to you to make sure they are more easily identifiable. One small step in this direction is that I have created a “healthy” label that I will try to append to the posts as I see fit. This recipe is a prime example of a delicious AND good-for-your-body dish. It’s a simple warm salad that hits multiple areas of your palate with notes of sweetness, bitterness, nuttiness, acidity, and more. This salad is great on it’s own, or you can pair it with your choice of protein for a heartier meal.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup white wine (Chardonnay)
- 1 star anise
- 1 head of radicchio, sliced
- 1 lb. green beans, trimmed
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- 1/8 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/8 cup sesame oil
- black sesame seeds, for garnish
Procedure:
- Bring wine and star anise to a boil. Pour over raisins and let soak for at least 15 minutes. Drain and remove star anise.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté green beans in oil until they begin to soften. Add radicchio and season with salt and pepper. Cook until radicchio begins to wilt and beans are still slightly firm.
- In a bowl, whisk vinegar and sesame oil to make a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss radicchio, green beans, and raisins together in the dressing. Garnish with sesame seeds.
- Here I chose to serve this salad with a sautéed pork chop seasoned with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
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