Risotto with Radicchio and Pears 🍐

Let’s put a bit of bittersweet into your life, shall we?

Nutrition:

Radicchio is a chicory that comes from Italy and it has a bitter taste. It can be used in salads but also in risotto. A popular Italian dish is risotto with radicchio and pears, as the sweetness of the pears perfectly matches the bitter taste of the chicory. This vegetable is known to be cholesterol free and low in calories. It is an excellent source of vitamin K and B vitamins. Vitamin K helps to prevent arteries calcification, which is one of the major causes of heart attack. It also maintains blood pressure, reducing the risk of having a cardiac arrest. Vitamin K also improves the use of calcium that is needed to form strong bones. Studies have shown that this vitamin can reduce the chance of hip fracture by 65%. B vitamins like folic acid, thiamine and niacin are essential for fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Radicchio contains an important compound called lactucopicrin that is responsible for the bitter taste of the vegetable. This compound is a potent anti-malarial agent and it also has a sedative and analgesic (painkiller) effect. Furthermore, its leaves are excellent sources of zeaxanthin and lutein. Zeaxanthin is a flavonoid found in the central part of the retina in humans. Together with lutein, it protects the eyes against age-related macular diseases. Finally, radicchio contains inulin, which is a phytochemical that acts as prebiotic and represents an optimal replacement to sugar, thereby helping diabetic patients.

What You Need:

70 g of risotto

1 tablespoon of olive oil

20 g of onions

1 pear

40 g of radicchio

½ a stock cube

200ml of water

30 g of coconut milk

Allergens: gluten, celery

1 serving

Method:

1. Chop onions, pears and radicchio

2. Boil water with vegetable stock

3. In another pan, pour olive oil and add onions. Fry for a few minutes.

4. Then add your risotto rice and fry for two minutes

5. Add your broth bit by bit, letting the rice slowly cook

6. Then add your pears

7. As your rice starts to soften, add your radicchio

8. Slowly continue to add your broth until everything is cooked

9. Pour one table spoons of coconut milk and mix

10. Serve warm