Source: renalizie.it

Presentation

A single dish, excellent if accompanied by croutons (without salt), prepared with broccoli, leek, beans, soy “milk”, garlic, thyme, lemon, vegetable broth, salt and pepper

Ingredients

for 4 people

Broccoli – 1 large (≈ 500 g / 1.1 lb / ≈ 4 cups florets)

Leek – 1 medium (≈ 150 g / 5.3 oz)

Boiled white Spanish beans – 230 g (8.1 oz / ≈ 1¼ cups cooked)

Unsweetened soy milk or vegetable broth – 150 ml (5 fl oz / ≈ ⅔ cup)

Garlic – 1 clove, minced

Thyme – to taste (≈ 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh)

Lemon zest – from 1 lemon (≈ 1 tablespoon / 2–3 g)

Vegetable broth (additional, if needed) – as needed

Salt – to taste (≈ ½ teaspoon)

Black pepper – to taste

Method

Wash and slice the leek

Fry it lightly in a large pot with a drizzle of oil, thyme and garlic clove.

In the meantime, clean the broccoli, divide the top into florets and dice the stem.

Boil it, until half cooked, in boiling unsalted.

Drain it and add it to the leek together with the beans

Add salt and pepper and leave to flavor for a few minutes.

At this point, remove the garlic clove and pour in enough soy “milk” and vegetable broth (or just vegetable broth) to cover the vegetables.

Let it simmer for 10 minutes until the broccoli is soft.

With the hand blender, reduce everything to a smooth and homogeneous cream.

If it is too thick, you can dilute the cream with a little vegetable broth or unsweetened soy “milk”.

Put the cream back on the heat long enough for it to boil again,

Serve it ending each portion with a pinch of grated lemon zest.

Allergens

Garlic: very rare cases of garlic reactivity reported

Broccoli: possible individual intolerance

Vegetable broth: check the composition for celery or other allergenic ingredients

Beans: possible cross-reaction in case of allergy to parietaria

“Soy milk”: soy is included among the allergens in EU Regulation 1169/2011, which can generate cross-reaction even in cases of allergy to Gramineae, Birch and Parietaria.

Lemon: Lemon intolerance or possible cross-reaction in case of grass pollen allergy

Pepper: possible cross-reactivity in case of intolerance to spices

Leek: cases of individual reactivity reported, possible cross-reaction in case of birch allergy

Thyme: possible reactivity in case of sensitivity to spices

Notes

To be prepared and handled under strict hygienic conditions.

“Milk” is a very common term but by law it can only be used for the mammary secretion of animals. In fact, in 2017 the Court of Justice of the European Union prohibited the use of the term “milk” for plant products.

It is therefore correct to speak of a drink

The ingredients of the dish bring the following benefits:

Garlic: has immune-stimulating properties, promotes liver function and the elimination of waste metabolites. It also has hypocholesterolemic, lipid-lowering, antiplatelet, hypotensive and hypoglycemic properties that promote cardiac function.

Broccoli: rich in mineral salts, vitamins C, B1, B2 and carotenoids that support the immune system and act to protect the cardiovascular system. Suitable in cases of chronic constipation due to the richness of vegetable fibers. A species that provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Vegetable broth: provides minerals, especially sodium and potassium, useful for regulating heart function and water retention.

Beans: A source of zinc and factors favourable to the proper functioning of the immune system and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants, it acts to protect the cardiovascular system. Also suitable for nephropathics. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants, Especially if consumed with the peel they provide folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Soy “milk”: provides isoflavones, phytoestrogens useful for improving the functionality of the cardiovascular system and reducing cholesterol levels, and potassium useful for regulating blood pressure.

Pepper: contains piperine, a powerful antioxidant; improves insulin sensitivity by reducing cholesterol levels and activating metabolism. Recommended for people with cardiovascular problems.

Leek: contains ingredients favorable to diuresis and antioxidants favorable to the functioning of the cardiovascular system and immune system

Salt: essential for the balance of body fluids and for the transmission of nerve impulses, it is however to be consumed respecting the limit of 5 g per day according to the indications of the WHO so as not to promote arterial hypertension and consequent increase in the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases starting from myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke; to be limited as much as possible in the case of nephropathy.

Thymus: has a favorable action on liver function (cholagogue or choleretic) and diuretic due to the action of chlorogenic and caffeic acids

Safety / Intended use

Can be administered in case of:

• Transplantation
• Renal impairment

Can also be administered in case of:

• Constipation
• Mucositis
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)
• Dysphagia (Problems chewing – swallowing)

Not to be administered in case of

• Diarrhea