Diet Detective’s Spring Fruit and Vegetable: Artichoke and Pineapple

by Charles Platkin, PhD

Diet Detective’s and Vegetable: Artichoke and  Pineapple

Artichokes

Nutrient Information for 1 large globe: 81calories; 4.36 g protein; 0.52 g fat; 18 g carbs; 13.1 g of fiber

Health Perks: Wow – they’re loaded with fiber. Artichokes are also an excellent source of vitamin C, and a good source of magnesium and folate (which helps with the production and maintenance of cell function). Artichokes are actually a super food. According to the Antioxidant Food Database created by the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo in Norway, they are among the highest of all in antioxidants.

To boost their antioxidant capacity even further, cook your artichokes, although eating a raw one would be virtually impossible. According to research published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, “The antioxidant capacity of artichokes, measured by three different assays, enormously increased after cooking, particularly after steaming (up to 15-fold) and boiling (up to 8-fold).” Additionally, artichokes are packed with vitamin K. The majority of the population fails to get enough K, which is required to make at least three proteins essential for bone formation. Studies have also linked diets adequate in vitamin K with a reduced risk of hip fracture in the elderly.

Selection: The Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Fruits & Veggies ­ More Matters suggests that “High-quality artichokes are usually compact and heavy for their size. Squeezed, a fresh artichoke will make a squeak. The thickness of each stalk should correspond to the size of the artichoke. Thin stalks signal dehydration, so look for stalks that are firm without ‘give.’”

Storage: “Artichokes remain fairly constant in appearance for weeks, but flavor is adversely affected from the moment they are cut from the stalk. For maximum taste and tenderness, cook as soon as possible. Do not stock up on artichokes. Refrigerate unwashed, in a plastic bag, for up to one week,” says the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Fruits & Veggies ­ More Matters.
: Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Stuffed Artichokes

Recipe by Editors at EatingWell magazine and The Eating Well Test Kitchen (Eatingwell.com).

Flavorful sun-dried tomatoes and tangy feta add depth to the stuffing for these artichokes.

4 servings | Active Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

Stuffing
2 1/4 cups coarse dry whole-wheat bread crumbs
1 cup finely crumbled feta cheese
2/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed and finely chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Artichokes
4 large artichokes, (2 1/2-3 1/2 pounds total)
6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F.

To prepare stuffing: Combine bread crumbs, feta, tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt, pepper and oil in a medium bowl.

To prepare artichokes: Cut off the top 1 inch of leaves from an artichoke. Remove the outer layer of small, tough leaves from the stem end. Snip all remaining spiky tips from the outer leaves. Cut off the stem to make a flat bottom. (Discard the stem.) Starting at the outer layers and progressing inward, pull the leaves apart to loosen. Pull open the leaves at the center until you see the spiky, lighter leaves around the heart. Pull out those lighter leaves to expose the fuzzy choke. Scoop out the choke with a melon baller or grapefruit spoon and discard. Repeat this step with the remaining artichokes.

Spoon 1/2 cup stuffing into the center of an artichoke. Stuff an additional 1/2 cup stuffing between the outer leaves, toward the base, using a small spoon. Repeat with the remaining artichokes and stuffing. Divide any remaining stuffing among the artichokes.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth and lemon juice; bring to a simmer. Carefully stand the artichokes upright in the pan. Drizzle each artichoke with 1 teaspoon oil.

Cover, transfer the pot to the oven and bake until tender when pierced down through the center with a knife, about 50 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the stuffing is slightly browned, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the braising liquid and serve. Use the braising liquid for dipping if desired.

Nutrition per serving: 412 calories; 18 g fat (6 g saturated and 9 g mono); 28 mg cholesterol; 50 g carbohydrates; 16 g protein; 12 g fiber; 709 mg sodium; 757 mg potassium

Pineapples
Nutrient Information for 1 slice (4 2/3″ diameter x 3/4″ thick): 83 calories; 0.2 g fat; 0.9 g protein; 22 g carbs; 2.3 g fiber

Health Perks:  Pineapples are loaded with manganese, which is a trace mineral that helps to catalyze enzymes required for various bodily functions. They are also high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that counteracts damage to cells from smoking and pollution and helps protect against cancer. It helps the body absorb iron, strengthens blood vessels and maintains healthy gums. Vitamin C is required for synthesizing important body compounds and chemicals such as collagen (a structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and bone), norepinephrine (a brain chemical) and carnitine (assists in transporting fat).   In addition, pineapples are a good source of much-needed potassium and contain fiber, thiamin and vitamin B6.

Pineapples also contain bromelain, an enzyme that aids in the digestion of protein. Bromelain is also said to reduce inflammation, which is helpful for arthritis and joint pain, although there have not been any specific studies demonstrating this.
Select: According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Fruits & Veggies ­ More Matters ( www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org), you should choose pineapples that have dark green leaves and are heavy for their size. Avoid those with soft or dark spots and dry-looking leaves.

Store: Try to eat your pineapple as soon as you can. However, you can refrigerate cut pineapple for a few days. According to Dole Pineapples (www.Dole.com), they are picked when ripe and don’t ripen any more after harvesting.

Recipe: Jamaican Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Salad

Healthy Recipe by Editors at EatingWell magazine and The Eating Well Test Kitchen (Eatingwell.com).

4 servings | Active Time: 45 minutes | Total Time: 1 3/4 hours (includes marinating time)

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons Jamaican jerk sauce, (see Note)
20 large shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled and deveined
3 cups cooked white rice
1 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cups fresh pineapple chunks, (about 1/2 pineapple)
6 thick scallions, trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths
1 head Boston lettuce, washed, dried and torn
Lime slices for garnish

Preparation

Bring pineapple juice to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in lime zest and juice, oil, garlic, thyme, oregano, cinnamon and allspice. Let cool to room temperature.

Whisk together jerk sauce and 1/4 cup of the pineapple-juice marinade in a shallow dish just large enough to hold the shrimp. Add shrimp and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Toss rice and black beans in a large bowl with the remaining marinade. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Preheat grill. Remove the shrimp from the marinade. (Discard the marinade.) Thread 4 long or 8 short skewers with the shrimp, pineapple and scallions. Grill, turning once or twice, until the shrimp are cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes.

Arrange a bed of lettuce on a large platter. Spoon the rice-and-bean salad on top. Slide the shrimp, pineapple and scallions from the skewers onto the rice; garnish with lime slices.

Nutrition per serving: 477 calories; 6 g fat (1 g saturated and 2 g mono); 172 mg cholesterol; 73 g carbohydrates; 32 g protein; 7 g fiber; 387 mg sodium; 645 mg potassium

Note: Prepared jerk sauce is a hot and spicy sauce used to marinate meat before grilling or roasting. It can be found in the gourmet section or with barbecue sauces in most supermarkets.

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