WORKOUT RECOVERY/ELECTROLYTES:
Thai Watermelon, Tart Cherry, Coconut Risotto
Skip the sports drinks, this risotto packs a wallop of water, antioxidants, and electrolytes,
as well as carbs to replenish glycogen stores. Serve as a side dish for dinner then reheat
leftovers for an after-workout snack or breakfast (heat and sprinkle with a little sugar). If
your workout was outdoors, it’s a nice extra that the lycopene from the watermelon also
may protect the skin from sun damage.
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 Tablespoons lemon grass paste
2 cups uncooked Arborio rice
8 to 9 cups liquified watermelon (watermelon whipped to a liquid in a blender)
Juice of 1 lemon (approximately 2 Tbsp)
2 cups dried tart cherries
Salt, to taste
1/3 cup grated coconut
1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Directions:
1. Place butter in a large, nonstick skillet and heat over medium heat until melted. Add
ginger, lemon peel, and lemon grass paste and blend. Add rice and toss until fully mixed
and heated through, approximately 3 minutes.
2. Add watermelon juice one cup at a time, stirring frequently, until fully cooked. Add
more juice if necessary. Add juice of 1 lemon (approximately 2 Tbsp), dried tart cherries
and salt to taste.
3. Garnish with coconut and/or nuts as desired. Makes 8 servings.
Nutritional Analysis per serving (without nuts): 424 Calories; 13 percent fat (5.9 grams);
3.3 grams saturated fat; 6 percent protein; 81 percent carbohydrate; 28 milligrams
vitamin C; 57 milligrams calcium; 3.4 milligrams iron; 57 milligrams magnesium; 691
milligrams potassium; milligrams sodium; 4.3 grams fiber.
Nutritional Analysis per serving (with nuts): 455 Calories; 17 percent fat ( grams); 3.6
grams saturated fat; 7 percent protein; 76 percent carbohydrate; 28 milligrams vitamin
C; 1 milligram vitamin E; 71 milligrams calcium; 3.6 milligrams iron; 73 milligrams
magnesium; 730 milligrams potassium; 53 milligrams sodium; 5 grams fiber.