Heart Healthy Cooking Recipes for a Delicious Meal

Are you looking for heart healthy cooking recipes?

Here is a delicious and easy side dish that serves up beneficial nutrition for your cardiovascular system right along with satisfying taste.

It’s another taste-testing experiment for me—a recipe from The Rave Diet and Lifestyle book. I enjoyed this recipe very much and was delighted--but not terribly surprised--that it is high in nutrition that is good for your heart, as well.

Collards or Kale—Braised

• 1 bunch collard greens or kale (6 to 8 cups chopped) (I used kale.)
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tsp vegetable broth
• 2 tsp Tamari (soy sauce)
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions: Wash the greens, remove the stems if you like, then chop the leaves into 1/2-inch wide strips. Combine the broth, Tamari, vinegar, garlic, and water in a large pot or skillet. Cook over high heat for about 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium-high, add chopped greens, and toss to mix. Cover and cook, stirring often, until the greens are tender, about 5 minutes. (I cooked it for about 10 minutes. It depends on your greens.)

• Braised Kale (see recipe above)
• Cornbread (from the book)
• Black Beans and Tomatoes (from the book)

You can be assured that all of the recipes in the suggested menu are heart healthy cooking recipes.

Here's another menu suggestion for a simple and delicious meal (exactly what I prepared last night):

• Brown Rice - Let each person season to taste with tamari
• Spinach - Braised quickly and seasoned with good sea salt and pepper
• Hummus - A dollop on the side

This is a very tasty combination!

What is it about kale that is good for your cardiovascular system?

1. It’s a good source of fiber which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol, thus helping to prevent atherosclerosis.
2. Kale is a very good source of calcium without the saturated fat found in dairy products. And it’s low in calories.
3. There’s a substance in cruciferous vegetables (such as kale) that helps contribute to a lowering in the creation of lipids (fats), including triglycerides and cholesterol.

Consider including more recipes that are beneficial for your health in your diet. This is a terrific dish!

Return to The Rave Diet from Heart Healthy Cooking Recipes.