Wine Down Wednesday

•  It's that time of the week again! Time to wind down with wine and a delicious shrimp pasta recipe.  Naturally low fat in and high in protein, shrimp pack a ton of nutritional value for very few calories.  They are also a great source of selenium, Vitamin D and B12. Vitamin B12 is key in reducing homocystiene, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

• While we're on the subject, it turns out that what you've heard right about wine being cardio-protective is true! In addition to the compounds found in alcohol that help protect against heart disease, wine has the added benefits of phenolic compounds which protect against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (1).

 

So tonight, enjoy this heart healthy recipe with a glass of wine! Suggested pairing?  Sauvignon Blanc- which pairs well with any seafood or shellfish dish.

 

Linguine with Shrimp and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, without oil (about 20)
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 5 ounces uncooked linguine
• Cooking spray
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled &deveined
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 16 small pitted black olives
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

 

Preparation

• Combine sun-dried tomatoes and boiling water in a bowl; let stand 30 minutes, and drain well. Slice thinly, and set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; set aside.
• Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add shrimp and green onions; sautée 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Add sun-dried tomatoes, wine, and next 7 ingredients (wine through garlic); cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove shrimp mixture from heat, and add cooked pasta; toss well. Serve with cheese.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups pasta mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese)

Nutritional Information

Calories: 376 , Fat: 11.9g , Saturated fat: 3.9g , Monounsaturated fat: 5.4g , Polyunsaturated fat: 1.6g Protein: 30g , Carbohydrate: 37.9g , Fiber: 1.8g

*Recipe taken from Cooking Light

1) Schaeffer, J. (2011). To good wine...and better health-the case for moderate wine consumption. Today's Dietitian, 13(8),32.