Three Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes

Curried Shrimp & Peppers

Serves 4

• 2 medium red bell peppers, cut into large pieces

• 1/2 pound unpeeled sweet potatoes, quartered

• 1/2 cup canned chicken broth diluted with 1/4 cup water, or 3/4 cup homemade chicken broth

• 4 (not oil-packed) sun-dried tomato halves

• 2 tsp Whole Foods Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 TB curry powder

• 1/2 tsp sugar

• 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

• 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1″ squares

• 1 cup sliced celery

• 3 TB chopped cilantro

• 2 TB nonfat sour cream

Prep Time: 40 minutes

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, diluted chicken broth and sun-dried tomatoes to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and cover and simmer until sweet potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, and brown it, stirring, until lightly browned, for about two minutes. Add curry powder and continue, stirring, until curry is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the skillet from heat.

3. Reserving broth, transfer cooked sweet potatoes and red bell peppers to a food processor. Add sauteed onion mixture and process it until smooth. Add reserved broth and sugar, and process sauce until smooth.

4. Return sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, green bell pepper and celery, and cook, stirring, until shrimp are cooked through, for about four to six minutes.

5. Stir the cilantro into the curry. Serve curry dolloped with sour cream.

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Escarole and Bean Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 pound escarole, chopped

Salt

4 cups low-salt chicken broth

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 (1-ounce) piece Parmesan

Freshly ground black pepper

6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until it is fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the escarole and saute it until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt. Add the chicken broth, beans, and Parmesan cheese, then cover and simmer until the beans are heated through, about 5 minutes. Season this with salt and pepper, to taste.

Ladle the soup into 6 bowls. Drizzle 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil over each, and serve with crusty bread.

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Sensational Black Bean Soup

1/2 cup chopped onion

12 cloves garlic, minced (2 tablespoons minced)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

8 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 15- to 16-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 lemon, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1/2 cup snipped dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar or balsamic vinegar

1. In a 4-quart Dutch oven, cook onion and garlic in hot oil over medium heat until it is tender, stirring occasionally. Add cumin and cook and stir for 1 minute more. Add broth, beans, lemon slices, tomatoes, and oregano. Bring to boiling and reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Discard the lemon slices. Remove 3 cups of the soup mixture to a large heatproof bowl. Use an immersion blender or a potato masher to coarsely puree or mash the mixture in the bowl. Return to Dutch oven and bring it to a boil; reduce heat. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in vinegar and fresh oregano.

...enjoy,