From the heart

As this coming week is all about affairs of the heart, it’s probably a good time to think about the health of the heart.

I do not like being told what I should and should not eat by the food police, who were once described in an old American food magazine as a group of vigilantes bent on removing the pleasure of eating by reminding everyone that everything that tasted good would kill them. Not a bad definition but, in fairness, this was 20-odd years ago, when we were being warned constantly about the dangers of eating red meat, butter, cream, eggs, shellfish – you know, all the stuff we like.

Fortunately, however, over the years common sense has prevailed. Although we know that too much saturated fat is not good for our cholesterol levels and our hearts, we also know that moderation and a well-balanced diet should be the important factors, with less emphasis on red meat and dairy products and more on fish, white meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and whole-grains.

So on this Valentine’s Day treat your significant other to some (fairly) health-conscious food. Start off by sharing a seafood platter of prawns and mussels with a few vegetable crudités and a light mayo or yoghurt dip. Prawns used to be on the hit list, but it’s now considered that, like eggs, the dietary cholesterol they contain is not harmful to those with normal levels of blood cholesterol.

The Mediterranean diet based on vegetables, fruit, fish and olive oil with just a little meat, has always been considered to be a healthy one, and I think the recipe for dentiċi fillet with cherry tomatoes meets that criterion. As does salmon, with its Omega-3 oils, so beloved of nutritionists. Try it steamed Oriental-style with a topping of ginger, peppers and spring onions, served with steamed snow peas and baby sweet corn.

Being picky about fish and loathing fish bones, I always go for fillets, but both these recipes will work perfectly well with ċerna or salmon steaks, or even small whole fish. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Pork is sometimes called “the other white meat” in the US, and a well-trimmed pork fillet is lean and delicious. Serve it with a cherry sauce for an extra special meal. If fresh cherries are not available, deseeded red grapes make a good substitute.

And for dessert, some feather-light meringues filled with sweetened ricotta and cream cheese, topped with sliced strawberries. Serve them with crunchy biscotti or amaretti. Maybe not quite what the nutritionists would have chosen – but it is Valentine’s Day after all.