Green Tambourine Sesame and Pea Spread

[Guest guest]

Donna,

 

Looks like another great recipe. I'm sure the Lemon Pipers would love this

Spread. Black Sesame seeds are a reknown remedy for the kidneys. In India,

they use it for bedwetting by giving 1 tsp. of seeds before the person retires

at night.

GB

Foods in Black for Better Nutrition

Black may be way “out” in fashion but it’s definitely “in” for functional

foods. They are everywhere, black soybeans, black vinegar, black sesame seeds,

black rice and black tea just to name a few.

Black is Better

According to Kikuchi, a science professor at the Foods Laboratory in Tukuba,

black foods often contain more anthocyanin, isoflavones and minerals than their

counterparts and have more health benefits such as antioxidants and

anticoagulation to prevent blood clots.

Black Soybeans

Kobe-based food manufacturer Fujicco and the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

at University of Shizuoka have published a series of studies about the health

benefits of black soybeans in Soy Daily and other journals between 1999 and

2002. (thesoydailyclub.com/thesoydailybackissues/fujiccoblksoy.asp). In these

studies, they claimed that isoflavones from black soybeans are helpful for

improving skin and ease menopause related conditions, as well as helping to

prevent high blood pressure by accelerating nitric oxide production. The study

also showed black soybeans may prevent fat buildup and lower blood cholesterol

levels.

Fujicco is currently developing an isolate of the black soybean and expects to

produce an ingredient for various applications such as bakery products. Based on

its study, Fujicco introduced a RTD tea product called Black Bean Tea that

contains 40 mg of soy isoflavones and was granted FOSHU (Foods for Specified

Health Use) status for bone health.

A successful black soybean beverage has been developed by House Foods called

Black Bean Cocoa. Not surprisingly, it is a blend of black soybean juice and

cocoa. The idea behind this product is to promote isoflavones from black

soybeans and the benefit of polyphenols from cacao. The product contains 20 mg

of soy isoflavones and 140mg of polyphenols (as anthocyanins) per serving. House

Foods said that it is targeting middle-aged women for antioxidants and

menopause. It has sold over $ 50 million in the first year of its introduction.

Other black soybean products on the market are black soybean milk from Kibun

Food Chemiha (kibunfc.co.jp) and black soybean coffee from Cigario

(cigario.co.jp).

Black Vinegar Drinks

Known as Kurosu in Japan, black vinegar is aged vinegar made from rice, barley

and sometimes brown rice. The vinegar is kept in a ceramic pot for 3 to 6

months; some for as long as a year. When it ages, it becomes a brownish, darker

colored liquid, hence the name “black vinegar.” It is rich in citric acid,

vitamins and minerals. Some of the known health benefits of black vinegar

include blood thinning, lowered blood pressure, improved blood circulation,

lowered cholesterol and improved energy levels. Women drink it as a

cosmeceutical product. Several scientific studies have been published in Japan

about health benefits of black vinegars in the past few years. According to HIN,

the kurosu market is about $227 million.

There are hundreds of other kurosu manufacturers, mostly in the southern part

of Japan in Kagoshima. Sakamoto Jozo (kurozu.co.jp) has 70 percent of the kurosu

market. Another kurosu manufacturer, Marushige’s Kurosu (marushigeueda.co.jp) is

fortified with oligosacchrides to regulate gastrointestinal conditions and it

has been granted FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Use) status. (See 5/27/05

insertion of Japan’s Nutraceuticals Update, “It’s a Six Hundred Million Dollar

Market –“)

Black Sesame Seeds

Black sesame seeds are known for health benefits especially for the kidney and

liver, and are a good source of calcium; one gram of seeds contains

approximately 85 milligrams of calcium, (twice as much as white sesame seeds).

Black sesame seeds also have high amounts of protein, iron, magnesium and are

also a good source of essential fatty acids (EFA).

Black Rice

Asians have been eating black rice for over 3000 years, particularly in China.

Black rice was rare and high in nutrition; only people in the Imperial family

were allowed to eat it. (History of kurokome/black rice). Black rice is rich in

anthocyanin which are important to suppresses oxidation in the body, and these

benefits are not found in white rice. Black rice also contains more vitamin B,

niacin, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc than white rice. Today,

black rice is widely available and you don’t have to be an Imperial family

member to enjoy it.

Chinese Black Tea (Puaru tea)

The black tea I’m referring to is different from Ceylon tea or English teas.

Chinese black tea is in the green tea family. Instead of undergoing a steaming

and drying process, black tea is kept wet and is molded into a disk shape and is

fermented for several years. Three to five years of aging is common; some are

aged as long as ten to twenty years. As a result, the tea becomes milder,

develops a richer aroma and is much more flavorful than other teas. Known health

benefits from black tea are to regulate intestinal conditions, detoxification,

antibacterial properties and reduction of body fat. In a small study, research

revealed that drinking black tea helped a body’s blood flow fairly quickly. In

this study, men who drank black tea experienced improved blood flow in their

coronary arteries only a few hours after drinking the tea. (“Black tea increases

coronary flow velocity reserve in healthy male subjects.” Am J Cardiol, 2004)

Recently, more studies of black tea were

published; lowering cholesterol is one of them. But the most extensive study of

black tea has been done by Y. Wu, H Wang, C. Han and J Li from Chinese

University. Among the studies, the most significant finding was that “Chinese

black tea destroys cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.” In the study, they also

found the black tea suppress cancer.

(Foodstyle 21 Vol7, No 1).

Black Foods Market Worth Over $500 million

From antioxidants to menopause and cancer suppression, black foods offer a wide

range of health benefits which some white foods lack. The success of black

soybean and black vinegar products have put the spotlight on other black foods.

While there are no market figures for black foods, we estimate that it is over

$500 million in Japan. The two largest categories, black soybeans and black

vinegar, alone reached $430 million in 2004.

Nutritionists often advise us eat darker colored vegetables and other foods

because they say it’s better for us. Well, there is no color darker than black.

So, if you have a choice, choose black foods, they might be healthier than

their counterparts, but keep in mind, that black coffee just keeps you awake all

night.

 

Green Tambourine Sesame and Pea Spread

 

This is an old favorite that I never tire of.

Try making it with the black sesame seeds, they have more flavor.

 

 

Green Tambourine Sesame and Pea Spread

 

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2 tbls. butter or margarine

1 large onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced (I use 2)

1 (10-oz.) pkg. of frozen petite peas, thawed

1/4 cup dry sherry

1 tsp. salt

1 tbl. nutritional yeast (optional) I use it

2 tsps. lemon juice

 

In a dry skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium high heat,

stirring until toasted and they start to pop, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer to a plate.

In a med. saucepan over med. heat melt the butter and saute the onion

and garlic until softened, 3 to 4 mins.

Add peas, sherry and salt, cover and reduce heat to low, and cook

until peas are soft, 4 to 5 mins.

Stir in nutritional yeast and lemon juice. Let cool for 5 minutes.

In a blender or food processor, puree pea mixture. Add the sesame

seeds and process until well

blended. Serve chilled with crackers, pita chips, spread on bread

or use as a vegetable dip.

Makes 2 cups. Prep time: 5 minutes. Cook time: 10 to 13 mins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gurubandhu

 

If you cannot see God in all,

You cannot see God at all.

 

Yogi Bhajan

 

 

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