Moroccan Zucchini & Chick Pea Salad

This Moroccan inspired salad is hearty and satisfying. A fantastic side to any meal or even eaten alone, this recipe is sure to become one of your favourites!

Zucchini's are certainly the highlight of this dish, offering a hearty and wholesome texture. Zucchini's are often used as a meat alternative that delivers protein, folate, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin C, plus many more! The addition of chick peas to the following dish ensures satiety, while alike other legumes and pulses acts to assist cardiovascular and digestive health.

Serves 4 - 6

Preparation & cook time  ~ 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 zucchini's
2 - 3 tbls extra virgin olive oil
400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Bunch fresh coriander, roughly chopped
1 red onion, finely chopped

1tsp paprika

1tsp ground cumin

1tsp organic local honey

Juice of 1 fresh lemon

4 tbls extra virgin olive oil

Method

1. Slice each zucchini length ways into thick slices, and arrange over a grill pan on medium heat. Lightly brush either side of the zucchinis slices with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of pink himalayan sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook until tender for around 8-10 minutes. When cooked, remove from the grill pan and cut each slice into quarters.

2. Place grilled zucchini quarters and can of drained and rinsed chickpeas into a bowl. Add fresh coriander and red onion.

3. To make the dressing add paprika, cumin, honey, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil into a clean jar, place on the lid and shake well. Once combined, pour over zucchini and chickpea mix, and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy

5 Easy Ways To Increase Your Protein

You’ve heard it many times before that you need to eat more protein but how do you get it in you increase it in your everyday foods? Here are 5 simple ways how:

1. LSA = Linseed, sunflower seeds, and almonds all ground up. It contains protein (2g per tbls), fibre, magnesium, omega-3 ‘s vitamins E, D, B’s, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and more.  Add it to oats, muesli, sprinkle it on toast or pop it into a smoothie.

2. Eggs = high in protein & essential nutrients  a large whole egg contains roughly 6g of protein, and contains choline, zeaxanthin lutein , as well as just about every vitamin and most minerals (except vitamin C). Have a boiled egg as  snack, add it raw to your smoothie, and add boiled egg to your salads.

3. Whey protein powder: a good quality whey protein powder is easy to add to your diet by: adding it to porridge, smoothies, baking (basically your imagination is your limitation especially when it is unflavoured) Boomers is my favourite & you can find it here :http://bit.ly/1d4Mdh2 

4. Nuts/Seeds: adding nuts/seeds to every day snacks is easy ie: apple & almonds, yoghurt with chia seeds, garden salad & pine nuts, Greek salad with sunflower seeds (again your imagination is your limitation)

5. Beans (edamame beans, pinto, kidney, black, garbanzo, navy – just to name a few,): packed full of dietary fibre & about 40g protein per cup adding beans into your daily intake is simple. They are high in thiamine, folate, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and manganese. Add them to salads (ie: chickpea, edemame, capcscium corn, onion quinoa), add them to mince dishes, casseroles and stir fry’s.


For more information on increasing your protein in your diet simply email naednutrition@gmail.com