Chef tips on how to cook superfoods

Categories : Wellness

Chef Shalu of the vegetarian restaurant Little Green Café shares her favorite superfoods and how she likes to prepare them. Healthy — and delicious!

ACAI BERRY

This Brazilian berry with a chocolatey taste is often touted as the number one super food in the world, with 10 times more anti-ageing antioxidants than red grapes! It also boasts of amino acids, Omega fats, and is chockfull of vitamins and minerals. It grows on the Acai Palm Tree, which is only found in the Amazon Rainforest. But fret not, freeze dried Acai pulp (which is just as nutritious) is found in health-food stores.

How to eat: Best blended into a juice or smoothie or frozen and eaten as sorbet!

BROCCOLI

Often overlooked or considered a side dish, this humble veggie packs more punch than you think. It’s a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and bone-building vitamin K, and has plenty of fibre to fill you up and help control your weight. It’s also an excellent source of beta-carotene which is usually only found in orange and yellow vegetables.
How to eat: Lightly steam with a bit of garlic, toss into grains or pasta. But whatever you do, please do not overcook this amazing source of vitamins

 

 

MACA ROOT

Maca is a root from Peru that offers an amazing energy boost. It contains high amounts of minerals, vitamins (including B-12), and all the essential amino acids and has a rich, malty taste (think Horlicks).

How to eat: Instead of your morning caffeine fix, add some maca powder into a smoothie with fresh fruit and almond milk. It can also be used in baking and desserts to give great flavour.

 QUINOA

Considered the “gold of the Incas” because they believed it increased the stamina of their warriors, quinoa today is becoming increasingly well-known as a powerhouse ingredient, containing so many health benefits it’s hard to keep track. Just to name a few – it’s a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, twice the fibre of most other grains and is high in iron, essential minerals and anti-oxidants.

 

How to eat:

My top three ways of eating quinoa:
1. Substitute it for your daily rice intake. It’s soft and fluffy with a nutty texture and goes really well with most curries and stir-fries.
2. Make an easy quinoa salad with cooked quinoa, roast vegetables, chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, and your favourite herbs. Make more than enough so you can enjoy yummy leftovers the next day!
3. Quinoa-sweet potato burgers: to learn this recipe, attend a De-tox class at Little Green Café cooking studio.

Healthy DietABOUT THE WRITER:
Chef Shalu runs Little Green Café, a cooking studio in the East Coast offering innovative vegetarian cooking classes, food consulting, and private chef services. Visit www.littlegreencafe.com.sg for more information.