As the summer finally made its entrance in our neighborhood, so has barbecue season. I literally smell it in the air every week-end. Last year we invested in our garden to spend more corona-proof time outdoors, including the purchase of a great electric barbecue. I am looking forward to spending nice times with (more) family and friends around us. And to bake small pizza’s, grill zucchinis (courgettes), mushrooms, corn, eggplants (aubergines), peppers, tomatoes, etc.
About Nightshades
Did you know that eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes (the traditional white kind, not the sweet ones) are part of the nightshade family?
We were recently made aware of this group of veggies by one of our children. He was complaining about digestive issues and was diagnosed by a dietician with a low digestive energy. To give his gut a rest the recommendation was, among other things, to remove dairy products and nightshades from his diet. At least for a couple of months.
Ocean Robbins wrote a good piece about nightshades so I am happy to refer you to it: Are Nightshades Safe? Are They Healthy? The bottom-line is that these vegetables are very healthy. They provide fiber, potassium, folic acid, various vitamins and antioxidants… all sorts of good stuff that feed and protect you. See also Ocean Robbins’ piece about the benefits of tomatoes.
Nightshades can, however, be harmful to some people. They contain stuff like solanine and tomatine which – in large quantity – can induce an inflammatory reaction in your bowls.
All About Balance
When he stopped with dairy, nightshades, soy products and also stopped drinking before and during meals our son experienced the disappearance of his issues within a couple of weeks. He is eating nightshades again, but in reasonable amounts.
This experience and reading about these vegetables remind me of two things:
- Everybody is different. Listen to yours to identify what best works for you and what doesn’t. In other words: “Become the Boss of Your Body”.
- Vary and balance your diet, avoid eating the same things ever day.
Barbecue Tips
Having said all this, I am now pleased to share my nightshade barbecue tips.
Smoky Eggplants
Eggplants are great to prepare for guests, even meat lovers because of their meaty texture. They are low in protein so they’re not a true replacement. Here’s a simple and quick way to prepare them:
- Slice your eggplants in have a centimeter thick discs
- Cover them slightly with oil, with a brush or your fingers
- Sprinkle your preferred mix of spices, smoked paprika and cumin for instance, on both sides of the eggplant slices
- Grill them on a medium heat, turning the eggplant slices every three minutes or so until they are soft.
Serve them with a tahini-based vinaigrette and fresh herbs like coriander or parsley.
Grilled Tomatoes
For this use firm tomatoes that are not overly ripe. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds and watery fluid. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper and drizzle them with oil.
Grill the tomatoes with the open, cut side down. Leave them on the grill for about 3 to 4 minutes. Service them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and basil leaves.
Sweet Bell Peppers
Peppers are full of vitamin C and I find they are easier to digest and sweeter when warm. To best grill them, first cut them in quarters or thick strips. Do the same with red onions to add sweetness. Mix the peppers and onions with olive oil, salt and pepper. Variation: marinate the peppers and onions with (balsamic) vinegar for at least fifteen minutes.
Grill them for about 10 to 15 minutes, turning them a few times during the process.
Enjoy the summer! And please share your own tips.