05 Longevity Lunch Order
This Spanish special concentrates the life-extending might of the Med diet into one cultured comfort food THE MEATBALLS
MEATBALLS IN ROMESCO SAUCE INGREDIENTS SERVES 2 THE ROMESCO SAUCE • A DRIED SPANISH CHILLI • DRIED CHORICEROS, 2 • TOMATOES, 4 • A GARLIC BULB • ALMONDS, 80G • WHOLEMEAL BREAD, 2CM THICK SLICE • SHERRY VINEGAR, 20ML • MINCED STEAK, 200G • GROUND CUMIN, 1TSP • CAYENNE, ½TSP • SMOKED SWEET PAPRIKA, ½TSP • WHITE PEPPER, ½TSP • A GARLIC CLOVE • PARSLEY, 1TSP • THYME LEAVES, PINCH • AN EGG, WHISKED • WHOLEMEAL BREADCRUMBS, 45G • ARBEQUINA OIL, 60ML Wholemeal bread is on double duty here, thickening the sauce and binding the meatballs, while providing energy to power your immune system – without adding dough to your gut. Better still, tomatoes, garlic and chillies are all stalwarts of the Mediterranean diet, which research posits as the pinnacle of nutritional excellence, slashing your risk of heart disease and dementia immeasurably. “All three not only pack flavour, but also boast potent anti-inflammatory properties,” Lambert says. Be liberal with the paprika: its carotenoids protect your eyesight into old age. Which, if you follow these recipes, will be very old indeed. 01 To prep the sauce, soak the diabetesbeating chillies in warm water for 20 minutes. “The chillies contain capsaicin and vit C, both of which improve insulin regulation,” says Lambert. “Even if you avoid sugar, this is something you need to keep an eye on.”
02 While that’s soaking, heat the oven to 180°C then roast the tomatoes for 20 minutes. Add the garlic for 15 minutes, then squeeze the cloves out. Finally, add the almonds (rich in cancer-fighting vit E) for three more minutes. Now blitz the lot with the bread and sherry vinegar. 03 As always, choose quality steak for your meatballs. Yes, red meat may be getting the chop by health professionals concerned about its carcinogenic potential, but it’s the processed variety you really need to worry about. To forgo steak is to miss out on its zinc content, proven to protect brain health into old age. Mix the ingredients by hand, then roll into balls and shallow fry for eight minutes. Warm the sauce in a pan and serve over your meatballs for an all-round boost to your lifespan. Pass the napkins, please.