Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Eat Smart - Tasty Bean Salad with Canola Oil Vinaigrete

It's not necessary to sacrifice great taste to become good for your heart. There are plenty of flavorful, nutritious foods-fresh vegetables, beans plus some tasty oils-that offer a satisfyingly natural way to boost heart health.

A healthier diet doesn't require that you simply quit fats entirely. You need to simply limit a few of the "bad" fats, particularly saturated and trans fats. Trans fats, found in most commercial baked goods and fast food, raise cholesterol levels, while other kinds of fat might actually be great for your heart simply because they raise "good" cholesterol.

A good example is canola oil, that is filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 fats protect against cardiac arrest and stroke. Canola oil contains the least cholesterol-raising saturated fats of all the culinary oils-canola oil has half the saturated fats of essential olive oil.

Canola oil contains zero trans fats and it is full of vitamin E. Its low smoke point makes it a smart option for sautéing and its mild flavor allows the flavour of other ingredients to shine through. The oil also works well in marinades, keeping food moist and juicy, and it is great in vinaigrettes.

Beanorama

1 can green beans

1 can yellow beans

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 white onion, sliced into rings

1 green pepper, seeded and sliced into rings

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

One teaspoon dried mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

One teaspoon dried tarragon

1 tsp dried basil, crumbled

Strain and rinse green beans, yellow beans, black beans and corn. Add a sizable bowl.

To organize vinaigrette, whisk together canola oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard, garlic, tarragon and basil. Pour onto bean mixture just before serving. Garnish with onion and green pepper rings.

No comments:

Post a Comment