Source: nephrocare.it

Presentation

A nutritious recipe, consisting of a vegetarian side dish of Turkish origin prepared with bulgur, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, chicory, curly salad, white grapes, parsley, mint, lemon, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper

Ingredients

Serves 4

100 g (3.5 oz) medium-grain bulgur
120 g (4.2 oz) yellow bell pepper
120 g (4.2 oz) red bell pepper
200 g (7 oz) tomatoes
150 g (5.3 oz) cucumber
80 g (2.8 oz) onion
1 head red chicory (radicchio)
¼ head curly endive (frisée)
100 g (3.5 oz) seedless white grapes
½ bunch fresh parsley
½ bunch fresh mint
½ teaspoon lemon juice
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (60 ml / ¼ cup)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method

Salad: Bring 250 ml of water to a boil.

Pour in the bulgur, stir and leave it in water for 10 minutes.

Wash the peppers and tomatoes and cut them into cubes.

Clean the cucumber, peel it into strips and cut it into thin slices.

Peel the onions and cut them into rings.

Wash and peel the red chicory and curly salad.

Dry it and cut it into small pieces.

Clean the grapes and cut them in half.

Wash the herbs, dry them and chop them finely.

Mix the oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper

Add the chopped herbs.

Mix the bulgur with the peppers, tomatoes and onions.

Add half of the salad dressing to the mixture.

Arrange the chicory, curly salad and cucumber on plates.

Add the bulgur salad and grapes and sprinkle with the rest of the dressing.

Allergens

Bulgur (broken wheat): presence of gluten from cereals included in EU Regulation 1169/2011

Cucumber: cases of individual intolerance described

Chicory: allergy to Artemisia and Composites

Onion: possible reactivity in case of nickel allergy due to the vegetable’s ability to concentrate it

Salad: possible cases of individual reactivity

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

Mint: possible cross-reactivity in case of spice allergy

Extra virgin olive oil: unusual allergy; intolerance not described

Pepper (green, pink, black, grey, white): possible cross-reactivity in case of spice intolerance

Peppers: possible individual intolerance or cross-reactivity in case of allergy to grasses

Tomatoes: possible cross-reaction in case of sensitivity to grasses

Parsley: possible cross-reaction in case of allergy to spices, mugwort, composites

Grapes: possible cross-reaction in case of birch allergy

Notes

To be prepared and handled under strict hygienic conditions.

The ingredients of the dish bring the following benefits:

Bulgur (broken wheat): rich in vitamins, minerals including iron and other constituents favorable to the proper functioning of the heart and the containment of blood sugar. Cereals stimulate the synthesis of serotonin which counteracts depression and promotes good mood

Cucumber: Favorable to kidney function and stone prevention; also favorable to liver function. Especially if consumed with the peel, it provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Chicory: rich in carotenoids that support the immune system and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants, it acts to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients and useful for the functioning of the liver for the contribution of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants. It provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Onion: it is rich in selenium which supports the immune system and with the ability to stabilize blood glucose at normal values; it provides quercetin, a flavonoid that helps contain cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, parameters related to cardiovascular risk, which also supports liver function by promoting the purification of the body. Also indicated for nephropathic patients, it is a good diuretic that prevents kidney stones. It provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Curly or Frisée Salad: salad source of carotenoids, chlorophyll and Vitamin E that protect the immune system from harmful fatty acids and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients. A species that provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Lemon: Rich in substances with antioxidant action: vitamin C, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote the regeneration of liver cells, the functionality of the immune system and which act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients and useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants. A species that provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Extra virgin olive oil: source of Vitamin E that protects the immune system from harmful fatty acids

Pepper (green, pink, black, gray, white): contains piperine, a powerful antioxidant; it improves insulin sensitivity by reducing cholesterol levels and activating metabolism. Recommended for people with cardiovascular problems.

Bell pepper: rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, antioxidant par excellence that fight free radicals and support the immune system, and mineral salts; also suitable for nephropathics, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants. It provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Tomato: rich in vitamin C, the antioxidant par excellence that fights free radicals and supports the immune system, and provides mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants. Especially if consumed with the peel, it provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Parsley: rich in carotenoids that support the immune system and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients and useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants

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.

Grape: Fruit with a high capacity to promote the purification of the liver and regularization of the intestine. Especially if consumed with the peel, it provides folic acid linked to the production of serotonin and therefore favorable to good mood and counteract depression

Safety / Intended use

Product also intended for subjects with:

• Anorexia – Weight Loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mucositis (inflammation and injury of the oral cavity)

Not recommended in case of:

• Dysphagia (problems chewing and swallowing)