This is just heaven on a plate. I just love the Mediterranean influence in my diet, not only for the health benefits, but for the simple freshness of the flavours.
½ red pepper, sliced lengthways
½ courgette, sliced lengthways
1 red onion, halved and sliced lengthways
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 can of cannellini beans, drained
sprig of fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
- Add the sliced vegetables to a roasting tin, and drizzle a little olive oil, plus the balsamic vinegar over them. Add a pinch of salt and mix well. Place in a hot oven and roast for about 25 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Add the drained beans to a bowl, and mash with the back of a fork. Add a little olive oil to help you make a creamy texture. Add a pinch of salt, and the chopped rosemary, and mix well to form a creamy mash.
- Once the vegetables are almost cooked, sprinkle the chopped garlic over them and return to the oven for 2 minutes.
- Remove and serve the vegetables over the mash.
Medicinal Properties
Cannelini Beans
These gorgeous beans are a very rich source of the all-important B vitamins. These commonly deficient nutrients are involved in regulating so many processes within the skin. They help to regulate microcirculation to the upper middle layers of the skin, which evens out skin tone considerably. They help to regulate the turnover of skin cells, plus they are vital components in the correct metabolism of essential fatty acids into their metabolic end products that deliver so many benefits.
Red Pepper
Red peppers are incredibly rich in the fat-soluble antioxidant, beta carotene. They are also very rich in a group of compounds called flavonoids. These are the chemicals responsible for the deep red colour. Flavonoids are by their very nature wonderful anti-inflammatories, so can be of great use in conditions such as acne and eczema. Both of these conditions feature characteristic lesions that involve a great deal of redness. This redness is a sign that there is active inflammation. With these conditions it is therefore worthwhile to consume as many naturally anti-inflammatory compounds as possible to support healing.
Red Onions
Like red peppers, red onions are very rich in flavonoids which are responsible for that rich red/purple colour. Onions, like all of the alliums, are also very rich in organic sulphur which helps to support the manufacture and maintenance of the extracellular matrix.
