{"id":140,"date":"2012-03-03T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-03T17:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/?p=140"},"modified":"2017-02-19T15:18:31","modified_gmt":"2017-02-19T15:18:31","slug":"broccoli-tahini-salad-with-almonds-and-sesame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/03\/broccoli-tahini-salad-with-almonds-and-sesame\/","title":{"rendered":"Broccoli Tahini Salad with Almonds and Sesame"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"For the past week or so I have been obsessed with anti-inflammatory foods. It was all triggered by this blog post<\/a> <\/strong>of fellow Dubai food blogger Ruth about an anti-inflammatory diet.<\/div>\n

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation. The usual signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, pain) occur when we hurt ourselves or have some kind of infection. Eating the wrong foods can cause and\/or aggravate inflammation within our bodies.<\/p>\n

While short-lived acute inflammation is crucial to keep us alive (e.g. after a bruise or cut), chronic inflammation<\/b> that persists for a long period can kill us slowly over time. When low doses of pro-inflammatory substances continue to be released into the body for an extended period, they attack healthy cells, blood vessels and tissues instead of protecting them. These attacks may not always trigger pain and are nowhere to be seen, unlike a bruise or a cut sustained to the skin.<\/p>\n

Chronic inflammation is being regarded as one of the underlying causes for diseases like Diabetes Type 2, heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer, dementia, inflammatory bowel diseases and diseases with unknown causes such as allergies or migraines.<\/b><\/p>\n

Now what can cause chronic inflammation? Apart from mental stress, lack of sleep, environmental toxins and microorganisms (e.g. viruses and bacteria) it is food and food allergies.
\nIn imbalance of intake of Omega 3 (the good ones) and Omega 6 (the bad ones) fatty acids, a diet high in insulin-spiking foods (such as refined flours and sugars) cause the body to react with the production of pro-inflammatory hormones.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, foods that are otherwise considered very healthy are on the inflammatory side of the scale, especially grains (including whole grains), but also beans and lentils, and probably more obvious due to their sugar content, most fruits.<\/p>\n

With regards to the grains, I agree with it. I enjoy a mostly gluten free diet, but I actually try and avoid most grains if possible or have very little, as they leave me sluggish, full and bloated. I am still researching this issue. A very good book to read is The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan<\/i> by Monica Reinagel.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

\"\"
\nFor the first time in my life, I kept a food journal for three days. I wanted to know if my diet is actually inflammatory or not. I figured out quite quickly, which foods will get me onto the positive side of the scale. And a few of the foods that I considered healthy brought the sum down by quite a bit.
\nThis salad definitely helped me to keep the sum on the upper side. It’s not only the broccoli, but also the almonds (more than other nuts), the olive oil and the garlic that make this salad an anti-inflammatory delicious lunch or side dish.<\/p>\n

I hope I got you interested in this topic. I am all over it as it makes sense in so many ways. Will keep on researching and hopefully will be able to tell you more about it very soon.
\n——————————————————————– <\/b><\/p>\n

BROCCOLI TAHINI SALAD WITH ALMONDS AND SESAME<\/b><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n
Print Recipe<\/a>
\n<\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1lb broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1\/4 cup tahini<\/div>\n
2 tablespoons olive oil<\/div>\n
1\/2 teaspoon salt<\/div>\n
1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)<\/div>\n
hot water<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1\/4 cup whole almonds<\/div>\n
2 tablespoons black and\/or white sesame seeds<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Serves 2-4<\/div>\n

——————————————————————-
\nIn a dry skillet over medium low heat, toast the almonds until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Shake the pan regularly while toasting to avoid burning on one side. Take off the heat and let cool. Chop and set aside.<\/p>\n

Steam the broccoli florets for a few minutes, until barely tender. Turn them into a bowl of ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.<\/p>\n

In a small pan, whisk together tahini, olive oil, salt and garlic (if chosen). Whisk in hot water little by little to reach the desired consistency. I like mine similar to the consistency of mayonnaise.<\/p>\n

Transfer broccoli to serving bowl. Gently stir in the tahini dressing. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped almonds. Best served at room temperature or cold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the past week or so I have been obsessed with anti-inflammatory foods. It was all triggered by this blog post of fellow Dubai food blogger Ruth about an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation isRead More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,2,7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-Anja","post-140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gluten-free","category-grain-free","category-salad","category-vegan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8TjFz-2g","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/05\/spicy-roasted-cauliflower-tomato-salad-with-raisins\/","url_meta":{"origin":140,"position":0},"title":"Spicy Roasted Cauliflower Tomato Salad with Raisins","author":"Anja","date":"May 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"If I could only pick one \"health food\" to have available for the rest of my life, it would be turmeric. Turmeric is the most powerful spice to me. I'll try and sprinkle it into anything I can. 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Instead I am cooking the same dishes over and over again and couldn't be happier. Reliable dishes that deliver all the flavor and feel-good factor that you have experienced before and that you expect yet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "favorites"","block_context":{"text":"favorites","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/favorites\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Spring-2012.jpg?fit=680%2C850&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Spring-2012.jpg?fit=680%2C850&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Spring-2012.jpg?fit=680%2C850&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":85,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/11\/asian-broccoli-salad\/","url_meta":{"origin":140,"position":2},"title":"Asian Broccoli Salad","author":"Anja","date":"November 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Bad news today ! Be prepared for a big whine.\u00a0 I've got my first ever running injury. After last week's 25k long run (which was part of my marathon training), I realized that I was limping and that I had pains in my left thigh that were beyond the usual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "gluten-free"","block_context":{"text":"gluten-free","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/gluten-free\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Asianbroccolisalad10-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Asianbroccolisalad10-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Asianbroccolisalad10-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2260,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/07\/green-avocado-smoothie\/","url_meta":{"origin":140,"position":3},"title":"Green Avocado Smoothie","author":"Anja","date":"July 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I can imagine what you are thinking: she must be living under a rock. The world has been drinking green smoothies for about a decade, and now she's coming up with a recipe...yawn!!! I won't blame you. I do live under a rock in many respects. Although I was aware\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "beverages"","block_context":{"text":"beverages","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/beverages\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/GreenSmoothie4-s.jpg?fit=440%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/06\/moroccan-quinoa-salad\/","url_meta":{"origin":140,"position":4},"title":"Moroccan Quinoa Salad","author":"Anja","date":"June 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"How many and what kind of childhood injuries did you have? I am talking about stitched-up lacerations, arms or legs in casts, scars, etc? 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I had a 10k race last Friday, next Friday I will run another Half Marathon, and a week after the final 10k race of the season. And then it's over until Sept\/Oct or so. 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