When the weather cools down, my oven fires up. There is nothing like warm, roasted fruits and vegetables to help your body find warmth and balance in the wintertime. Even better than tea and coffee to help keep you warm, warm foods can help you stay full and satisfied longer, as well as help you use a few healthy ingredients in new ways, such as tomatoes and garlic.
When cooked, tomatoes release extra nutrients and enzymes that are extremely beneficial to your health. Roasting garlic makes it creamy and easy to use, without the harsh bite of raw garlic or the lingering garlic smell on your hands.
Plus, they are super simple to roast.
If you are thinking about giving it a try, here are a few more reasons why tomatoes and garlic are so wonderful for your health, plus a recipe to help you get started:
Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are known for their bright red color, which is high in lycopene, an anti-oxidant that is said to help prevent cancers and support heart health. Lycopene is released and easier to absorb from cooked tomatoes, rather than raw. Tomatoes also contain high levels of vitamins an minerals, such as vitamin C, which support overall health and immunity.
Garlic:
Garlic has a wide range of health benefits, which is why you see it in so many health food stores, supplements, and natural remedies. It is known to be anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial (to the bad kind), making it good for fighting off colds and other daily illnesses, but also great for inflammatory diseases. Garlic is also said to be great for cardiovascular health, as it is anti-inflammatory and helps protect the heart.
Luckily, you can get all of this goodness with a super simple but absolutely fragrant and delicious recipe that is perfect for use in soups, sauces, or just spread onto a piece of bread.
This simple recipe tastes and smells like a difficult, gourmet dish. The truth is, it cooks up with minimal work and can be used in a variety of ways.
1 lb tomatoes
1 large head of garlic (all the cloves)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 pinch sea salt
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Slice tomatoes in half and set on a cookie sheet. Slice the top off of your garlic cloves and set on a pan. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes.
The tomatoes will be ready to go. To use the garlic, squeeze it out of the cloves.
Blend into soup or sauces, or spread garlic and tomatoes onto a piece of crusty baguette or freshly baked bread. Perhaps with some fresh basil or pesto. I add mine to organic, jarred pasta sauce for a quick, but more fresh, pasta dish. The possibilities and flavor combinations are endless!
Enjoy!
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**This is not intended as medical advice.
