Winter fruits and vegetables

The arrival of the cold season puts a strain on our immune defenses. Winter brings with it problems related to cold and temperature changes like cold and sore throats, so we must protect our body and, as always, attention begins at the table!

Fruit and vegetables, as we know, are an excellent source of vitamins, fiber and mineral salts, but to benefit from them to the maximum we must choose seasonal products. There are many reasons why to prefer seasonal vegetables or to keep an eye on the seasonal nature of fruit before going to the market: after harvesting, the vitamin and vegetable content of fruit tends to drop, for this reason fresh products must be chosen.

In addition, many products that we find out of season are simply swollen with water and grown in greenhouses, with no taste and little nutrients.

So, at the table, lots of vegetables, but for our recipes we use genuine winter vegetables that take away ills and delight the palate!

Winter: seasonal fruit and vegetables

The products that nature offers us are precious to keep us in shape. While eating only seasonal products our diet can still be varied and tasty because the fruits and vegetables in the cold season are really many and the winter recipes are just as many! Let's find out how to enrich our winter diet and regain wellness.

Fruit

- Oranges : Tarocco, Sanguinella, Navel ... whatever the variety you prefer, these fruits are a reserve of vitamin C (very useful to combat winter disorders such as the cold) as well as powerful antioxidants. Excellent for juices, perfect for dessert recipes and to accompany meat dishes .

- Kiwi : rich in vitamin C, they are very important for strengthening the immune system and acting against free radicals. They promote the transformation of food into energy and the absorption of iron . Perfect for fruit salads and juices, they can also be enjoyed directly by cutting the fruit in half and eating the pulp with a teaspoon.

- Grapefruits : citrus fruits with disinfectant and stimulating properties for the digestive system, therefore recommended at the end of a meal. Rich in fiber, vitamins (A, B, and C) and flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease.

vegetable

- Cabbages : rich in vitamins (A, B1, B2, B9 and C) and precious minerals, such as phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. Excellent for combating different forms of anemia thanks to the high percentage of chlorophyll they contain.

- Artichokes : they promote diuresis, digestion and bile secretion, have digestive properties and lower cholesterol levels. A real cure-all for our body, the artichoke is a great ally in the prevention of numerous diseases.

- Fennel : the digestive and diuretic properties of these vegetables are well known, fennel is in fact the prince of herbal teas: excellent for those suffering from irritable bowel, to facilitate digestion and to eliminate swelling . In winter, then, it is truly a natural medicine: it has expectorant properties and can be used against sore throats.

Winter: the seasonal recipe

Here is a perfect recipe to warm up and enjoy an unusual combination of seasonal fruit and vegetable flavors: artichokes with oranges .

Ingredients:

> 8 artichokes,

> 5 oranges (possibly organic),

> shallots,

> garlic,

> olive oil,

> the juice of half a lemon,

> salt and pepper.

Preparation : p artite the artichokes and divide them into 4 wedges. Sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent them from turning black. Squeeze an orange and set the juice aside, divide the other four fruits into segments. In a saucepan heat the oil with chopped garlic and shallots, add the artichokes, half of the cut segments, the orange juice and part of the rind cut into strips.

Add salt and pepper and cook over low heat for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. At the end of cooking, just before removing the saucepan from the heat, add the remaining slices.

A dish with a bittersweet taste to serve warm to amaze even the most curious palates!