Apricots - the benefits and recipe

From the Zone Diet

The sweet, slightly nutty tasting apricot is a delicacy in Asia, where both dried and fresh varieties are used in desserts and entrées. Apricots are a great way to up your favorable carb count, although the fresh version is preferred over dried because you can eat more of it and still remain in the Zone. Both types, though, deliver vitamin C, fiber, and disease-fighting antioxidants.

Here are tips on buying and enjoying apricots:

When buying fresh, look for smooth, unblemished flesh with an overall peachy-gold hue. Fruit that yields just a little to the touch is ripe. As with peaches, fruit that is rock-hard may never ripen evenly.

Dried apricots are easily portable and keep indefinitely, so they are good to have on hand for snacks. Combine three of them with an ounce of reduced-fat cheese and three almonds for a balanced, satisfying snack.

When cooking Asian-accented meals, substitute chopped dried apricots for another carb source (beans or chickpeas, for example) for a new taste. To get you started, try this delicious recipe:

Curry Chicken Salad

Ingredients
3 ounces skinless chicken breast, cooked and cubed
1 cup finely diced celery
3/4 cup finely diced tomato
1/4 cup defrosted frozen peas
2 tablespoons finely minced onion
1 clove garlic, pressed
3 dried apricots, finely diced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon mayonnaise or 1 tablespoon light mayo
Salt and pepper, to taste
Turmeric, to taste
Paprika, to taste
Chili powder or curry powder blend of choice, to taste

Instructions

Whisk together lemon, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and other seasonings in serving bowl. Add "salad" ingredients, toss to coat. Serve immediately, or chill until served.

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