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  • Serves 2
  • Makes 2
  • 30 minutes
  • Difficulty Easy
  • 8 Ingredients

Did you know that blueberries can increase brain activity and improve working memory? I love to eat these sweet berries plain from the punnet, but they work great in so many sweet baking recipes, and in a few savoury recipes like this one!

A study from the Food & Function journal found that blueberries “show that there is a beneficial cognitive effect of consuming fruits and vegetables, tea, coffee and even dark chocolate”. So what’s the secret? All of these foods contain a metabolite called a flavonoid, that is a plant pigment. If you’ve ever eaten frozen blueberries from the packet you’ll know how strongly the colour from these little fruits can stain your fingers! I’ve even tried putting 1 singular blueberry into a creamy-white banana smoothie, and it lightens the shade to pink all by itself! By the time I’ve added the rest of the punnet the smoothie is a deep purple. These flavonoids in blueberries serve important anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic functions for our bodies when eaten. The Linus Paling Institute says that various foods contain these helpful flavonoids. Some of these are tea, citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices, berries, red wine, apples, and legumes. Flavonoids also help out our circulatory system by reducing blood pressure, improving the flexibility of our blood vessels, and slow down the depositing of cholesterol in the walls of our blood vessels.

Improve short term memory with these simple tips for including blueberries:

  • Add fresh Australian blueberries to your morning smoothie or cereal
  • Snack on a punnet during the day or for dessert
  • Create a blueberry, banana & cacao breakfast bowl

First on the list and one of the easiest things to do is to add fresh Australian blueberries to your diet as it’s one of the ultimate brain foods. Fresh blueberries also remain one of the most nutritious, antioxidant-rich fruits in the world.


Ingredients (serves 2 | makes 2 )

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt flakes
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 cup (250ml) balsamic vinegar Dash of cinnamon
  • 1 cup (155g) blueberries
  • 2 large handfuls mixed salad leaves
  • 10 snowpeas, cut diagonally Additional blueberries for garnish

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 200°C. Dice sweet potato into 1.5cm chunks. Place into a medium sized bowl and toss with cinnamon, salt and coconut oil. Lay out onto a baking tray and roast for 25 – 30 minutes.
  2. For the dressing: add balsamic vinegar, cinnamon and blueberries into a small saucepan over a high heat. Bring to the boil and immediately reduce to a simmer for 20-25 minutes or until a thick reduction forms. Remove sweet potatoes from oven and allow to cool before gently tossing with mixed salad leaves and snowpeas.
  3. Serve onto plates and drizzle with balsamic reduction and additional blueberries.

  • I always forget to consider fruit or berries in salads. Love the idea of adding blueberries

    Reply

  • Never seen blueberries in a salad other a fruit salad.

    Reply

  • Oh wow! That looks delicious. I often use fruit in salad but I’ve never thought to use blueberries.

    Reply

  • What a terrific salad idea! I love trying something different out! Thanks.

    Reply

  • Wow, that’s certainly a more appetising salad!

    Reply

  • A great tasting salad and so different!

    Reply

  • Yum I love fruit in salads!

    Reply

  • Blueberries are such a great versatile superfood. Interesting salad combination.

    Reply

  • These look good

    Reply

  • A new family favourite. Thank you.

    Reply

  • I love blueberries. This recipe looks amazing. Thank you.

    Reply

  • Love the combination of ingredients here. It’s a nice change from other salads that are often contain tomatoes and cucumbers.

    Reply

  • A very fascinating recipe, looks amazing.

    Reply

  • This is great. I haven’t tried adding blueberries to a salad before – love it

    Reply

  • Thanks for sharing. I would be happy to eat this without the balsamic dressing.

    Reply

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