#MondayMeals: A Berry Healthy Dish!
Happy June! We at Seven Valleys Health Coalition are celebrating summer with a healthy and delicious snack that can be made with some fantastic locally-sourced ingredients. Read on for more information on Strawberry-Shallot Salsa, and let's welcome summer together with some berry healthy eating habits!
Strawberries are filled with nutrients that reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases by improving heart health, blood sugar regulation, and vascular function.
Shallots contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, and heart disease. The high amounts of vitamin C found in onions also promote healthy skin and hair.
Honey is rich in antioxidants and organic acids that can reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke, lower blood pressure and triglycerides, and improve cholesterol. Honey is a better sweetener than sugar for diabetics and can also promote eye health.
Red wine vinegar is great for healthy digestion, helps to lower cholesterol, improves blood circulation, and is good for healthy skin. It is also diabetes-friendly and can help to avoid blood sugar spikes
Olive oil contains healthy fats and antioxidants which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, fight inflammation, and lower the risk of heart disease. Olive oil might also lower the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Food produced locally is more nutritious. This is because food contains the most nutrients around the time it is harvested. The longer food spends traveling, the less nutrition it contains. Less time traveling also means less exposure to harmful chemicals and less production of greenhouse gasses. What a tasteful way to decrease our carbon footprint!
Find ingredients for Strawberry-Shallot Salsa and more at Anderson’s Farm Market, The Local Food Market, or through a CSA share at Main Street Farms. Also be sure to stop by the Cortland and Homer Farmers Markets and Shared Roots Farm to see what nutritious and delicious foods are available this season. Check out the healthy and delicious recipe for Strawberry-Shallot Salsa below.
Strawberry-Shallot Salsa
Ingredients
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 cups finely chopped strawberries
How to Make It
Combine minced shallot, fresh lime juice, honey, olive oil, and red wine vinegar in a medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in ground coriander, kosher salt, and chopped fresh mint. Add finely chopped strawberries; gently toss to combine.
