Heart-healthy dinner for your sweetheart

Who doesn’t love Italian cuisine? This Valentine’s Day make an easy and delicious recipe that will not only satisfy the taste buds of your loved one, but will be healthy for his (or her) heart too! Starting with the organic grape tomatoes, which provide lycopene, an antioxidant that may help prevent heart disease as well as certain forms of cancer. Cooking the tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil enhances the power of the tomato’s lycopene and also delivers essential omega-3 fatty acids. Another powerhouse antioxidant, garlic, hosts an amazing compound called allicin, which may help to reduce cholesterol levels. Lastly, adding the red wine shares flavonoids, known to help prevent blood clots and plaque from building up in the arteries, and resveratrol, a compound shown to increase “good” cholesterol, which also thwarts blood clots. Enjoy with a glass of red wine and feel good knowing that this mouthwatering meal cares for your sweet’s heart too!*

serves 2

Tomato and red wine sauce with spaghetti

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 pint organic, grape tomatoes (quartered, length wise)

2 -3 garlic cloves, pealed and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup dry red wine (I used cabernet sauvignon) 

sea salt to taste

1/2 pound whole wheat organic spaghetti, cooked al dente

chopped flat leaf, Italian parsley (optional)

shaved parmesan cheese (optional)

In a large skillet or saute pan, cook extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until sizzling. Gently add quartered grape tomatoes and cook until the skin begins to puckered (about 10 minutes). Add dried oregano, sea salt and thinly sliced garlic combining with a light stir. Cook 5 minutes more, or until the garlic appears soft and translucent. Lastly, add the red wine and simmer, lowering the heat, for 10 to 15 minutes. Spoon sauce upon the whole wheat, al dente, spaghetti and garnish with chopped flat leaf, Italian parsley and parmesan cheese shavings. 

©2010 Tricia Barry Biagi

*Information on this blog is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this blog for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment.