Almonds are one of the healthiest nuts. They are also categorised as a superfood as they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They can be eaten as a healthy snack or mixed with other ingredients to prepare delicious sweet or savoury dishes. Almonds are believed to help in weight loss as they have nutrient dense, thus making one feel full and reducing the craving to eat more. The nuts are rich in minerals which aid energy production. They also contain brain-boosting chemicals. The fibre in almonds has a detoxifying effect and cleanses the digestive system. Almonds do not contain cholesterol. Regular consumption increases the HDL (good) cholesterol in the body, while reducing the LDL (bad) cholesterol. They help regulate blood pressure. Almonds have a stabilising effect on sugar and insulin thus providing protection against diabetes.
Now, for a recipe.
Wasabi, Almond and Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For Wasabi Almonds
Shelled almonds: 60 gm
Wasabi powder: 10 gm
Light soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
For the salad
Iceberg lettuce (torn into small pieces): 100 gm
Red cabbage (finely shredded): 30 gm
Cucumber (cut into matchstick-sized pieces): 30 gm
Orange segments: 30 gm
Coriander leaves (whole, plucked off the stem): 15 gm
Chicken breast meat (cut into flat and thin slices): 200 gm
Cooking oil: 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
For the marinade
Olive oil: 1 tbsp
Dry sherry: 1 tbsp
Dark soy sauce: 1 tbsp
Vinegar: 1 tsp
Ginger (finely chopped): 1 inch cube
Garlic cloves (finely chopped): 4 numbers
Sugar: 1 tsp
Hot chilli flakes: half tsp
Crushed black pepper: half tsp
Salt to taste
Method: Mix all the ingredients of the marinade, toss in the raw chicken pieces and keep in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes. Heat a pan; add the cooking oil and sauté the marinated chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, keep aside for 10 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the Wasabi almonds — melt the butter, add light soy sauce and half wasabi powder. Toss the almonds in then roast in a medium hot oven for 5 – 7 minutes stirring occasionally. Take it out of the oven and sprinkle the rest of the wasabi powder tossing gently. Take a mixing bowl and toss together the crunchy lettuce, red cabbage, cucumber, orange segments, coriander leaves and wasabi almonds along with the sautéed chicken. The coating sauce of the chicken will also act as a dressing for the salad.
Executive Chef, Taj Coromandel
