CookSmart (20th Issue) Page3

Summer words

How do you combat the scorching heat of summer? Apart from drinking as much water as possible to replenish fluids, you can also eat gourds at mealtime. Summer is the season where the yield and supply of gourds (e.g. cucumber, eggplant, zucchini, white gourd (a.k.a. winter melon), bitter gourd etc.) are massive. Not only are they delicious, they are also good for health for their disease prevention properties and as a rich source of essential nutrients like vitamins and dietary fibre; of are beyond doubt. Whether cooked into Chinese or Western delicacies, steamed, stir-fried, grilled, stewed or made into cold dishes, gourds are just perfect. They allow a vastness of space for their cooks' creativity.

Also in this issue of CookSmart is a dietitian's analysis of the nutrients of gourds and their importance to the human body. How much of them should you eat? What are the tips when cooking them? How do you serve them as a wholesome dish? Don't miss out on this issue!