Exotic Foods - part 2

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me”-C.S. Lewis

Today’s post continues the MensHealth.com article on The Best Foods You’ve Never Heard Of.

• Kamut – the ancient wheat of the pharaohs. Kamut has higher levels of vitamin E and heart-healthy fatty acids than most grains. You can use Kamut in bread or substitute it for brown rice by boiling it in water for an hour or until the grains are tender.
  
• Kefir – similar to yogurt, this tasty beverage is made by fermenting dairy with Kefir grains. Because kefir contains gut-friendly bacteria, it’s been shown to lower cholesterol, improve lactose digestion, enhance the immune system, and satisfy hunger.
  
• Lemongrass - loaded with antioxidants. I wouldn’t eat this tough, fibrous grass. Instead pound it, break it, so the juices can leak out and add it to a soup or stir fry for flavoring. Sort of like a bay leaf.
  
• Mung Beans – these sprouts are high in potassium, iron, fiber, and protein. When bought dried, boil them until tender add to salads.
  
• Nori - nori also contains a triple dose of cancer fighters, including phytonutrients called lignans, which have been shown to help prevent tumor growth. This is the seaweed used to wrap sushi rolls and added to miso soup. You can also add it chopped in salads.
  
• Peppadew Peppers - packs heart-protecting vitamin B6, cancer-fighting lycopene, and vitamin C. This sweet-and-spicy fruit looks like a cross between a cherry tomato and a red –pepper and is great in salads and pasta or eaten plain with some cheese.
  
• Rooibos Tea – the new alternative to herbal teas. This African red leaf tea is caffeine-free and naturally sweet. My family loves it.
  
• Sardines – this is new (or exotic?) My wife lived on sardines and cheese in college. This oily fish is a top source of omega-3 fats. And while I’ve avoided eating the tiny fish in a can, I was pleasantly surprised by giant sardines (6 inches long) served at a Portuguese festival.
  
• Sunchokes – also called Jerusalem artichokes but they are not chokes at all. Instead they look and cook like potatoes with a nutty taste.
  
• Sunflower Greens – actually the young sprouts of sunflowers. Eat straight or in salads or on sandwiches.
  
• Sweet-Potato Leaves – one of the world’s richest sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. Cook them like spinach or any other leafy green.
  
• Watercress – looks like a two-leaf clover but really a member of the cabbage family. It has a light, peppery flavor and is great in salads and sandwiches
  
• Yerba Mate – this tea has half the caffeine of coffee with more health punch than green tea. Not for the herbal drinkers.

Bottom Line

I’m pleased to note that I’ve tried most of the items on the list today. Rooibos tea is great and a new flavor for anyone bored of the generic herbal teas. When we visit a teashop and say we want a non-caffeinated mix, the salesperson will often push Yerba Mate or similar as low in caffeine. But ½ strength is not really so low so you have to stay alert and know your teas. We recently enjoyed a chocolate-Rooibos mix and a peach-Rooibos mix.