Recovery bowl (dinner)
- MEAL:
- Dinner
- BENEFITS:
- Gluten free, Gut health, Hormonal health, Vegan-friendly
- DURATION:
- 20-30 min
When & How
I studied this recipe for a restorative dinner. The ingredient combo will help with sleep while maximizing energy levels for the next day.
Ingredients
(1 serving)
- 70-90g chickpea pasta
- 3 small zucchinis
- 1 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 large garlic clove
- 5-6 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (vegan version) or grated parmesan cheese (vegetarian version)
- Olive oil, black pepper & salt
Method
- Dry roast pine nuts in a small pan until golden. Set aside.
- Cut zucchini into thin slices. Heat some olive oil into a skillet with garlic. Sauté zucchini on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until well cooked.
- Place in a blender half of the cooked zucchini, pine nuts, lemon zest, lemon juice, basil, and nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese. Process until smooth.
- Cook pasta following the instructions on the package. Save 1 cup of water before draining.
- Combine the zucchini sauce with the pasta in the pan. You can adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding a few spoons of boiling water (from step 4). Keep stirring until well combined.
- Transfer to a bowl adding the remaining zucchini slices. Enjoy!
Benefits
ZUCCHINI
Rich in potassium. Together with basil, they have sedative and myorelaxant properties; thus, they enhance muscle relaxation and promote a good night’s sleep.
PINE NUTS
Pine nuts contain potassium and magnesium, two minerals that help optimize the relaxing properties of this bowl. Pine nuts are also a good source of healthy fats, necessary to provide a good balance between all the macronutrients (carbs, fat and protein)
CHICKPEA PASTA
Chickpeas are a complete food as they are a good source of veg proteins and carbohydrates. They have a low glycemic index which makes them ideal for keeping the blood sugar down and stable throughout the night. This type of legume is rich in fiber e minerals, including calcium, iron, and phosphorous.
BASIL
It’s an adaptogen and so helps regulate the body’s response to stress. This plant has relaxing properties and helps with water retention.
