We the Italians November 21, 2016 - 85 | Page 56

st st # 85 NOVEMBER 21 , 2016 white meat, suitable for many delicious recipes. Another typical Italian recipe that I am going to post in the future is cod fish Vicentina style served with white polenta, a comfort food on a cold winter's day. Cod is low in fat, most of which is polyunsaturated fatty acids - omega 3, which reduces bad cholesterol and increases the good one; cod is also rich in protein and B vitamins. Most importantly is its high mineral content – consisting of phosphorus, iodine, iron and calcium. Eating fish is very important because it lowers the risk of heart diseases and heart attack. In particular, cod is a good ally of your health because it's a good source of omega 3 anticoagulants, as well as an excellent source of vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, both necessary to maintain low homocysteine levels, a dangerous molecule that acts on the walls of blood vessels. Recently homocysteine was also associated another condition: osteoporosis. Try to eat fish at least once or twice a week. If you like eating healthy food, also check out my book Love is Eating http://www. passionandcooking.com/book/ . It's full of recipes like this one and you can order it it online directly from my blog. It's a great gift for anyone who loves the Italian culinary culture, and of course, I will very happy to sign your copy! MERLUZZO ALLA ROMANA (ROMAN STYLE CODFISH) Preparation time : 25 minutes # 85 November 21 2016 Cooking time: 20 minutes Servings: 3-4 INGREDIENTS 600 g codfish fillets 1 medium onion, finely sliced 3 tablespoons olive olive (Extra Virgin) + some for frying 500 ml (about 2 cups) tomato sauce 3 tablespoons raisins 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts Sea salt and freshly ground pepper All-purpose flour DIRECTIONS 1. Wash and, using kitchen paper, pat the fish fillets dry 2. In a large non-stick pan heat the olive oil and saute the onion on medium-low. Add the tomato sauce and cook on medium-low for about 10 minutes. If the tomato sauce dries out, add some water 3. Add the raisins and the pine nuts. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste. Set aside 4. Flour the fillets with some flour 5. In non-stick pan heat some olive oil and fry the fillets on both sides, just for a few minutes. They should not absorb too much oil 6. Add the cod fillets to the sauce and heat for 2-3 minutes just to make it warm and blend the flavors together. Serve warm. 56 | WE THE ITALIANS WE THE ITALIANS | 57 www.wetheitalians.com www.wetheitalians.com