Did you know in addition to kale, avocado, wild berries and all the other buzz worthy healthy foods of the moment, there is a whole food group that you should be eating more of? Veggies of course would be one, but what about bitter foods? How often do you consume the foods that activate all those taste buds on your tongue? Bitter foods are seriously great for your gut – there’s a reason why most digestives have a bitterness to them. Bitter foods increase saliva and stomach acid production, they may help stimulate the digestive system and increase nutrient absorption. New evidence even suggests that bitter foods may boost our healthy bacteria balance. For those reasons, I’ve been exploring bitter foods a little more frequently and I’m finding the flavor to be very satisfying.
When you pair bites of bittery caramelized endive with subtly sweet green apple and honey dressing, you get a perfectly balanced dish. Serve this as an appetizer course or as a warm salad or side dish.
Caramelized Endive with Apply Honey Dressing
Serves 4
Ingredients 2 T. grass-fed butter (Kerry Gold is a good one) 2 T. organic extra-virgin olive oil 8 medium-size heads white endive sea salt fresh ground pepper Dressing: 1 green apple, peeled and cored (1/2 finely diced and 1/2 whole) 1 T. organic honey 1 small garlic clove, whole 1 T. Bragg’s apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil pinch sea salt & pepper Toppings: Pecans or Walnuts (your choice), diced 2 T. Kite Hill Almond Cheese, crumbled
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