It's a habit for many families to serve a refreshing cold dish with meals, yet many also complain that such dishes are too bland and lack aroma. Adding oil, however, unknowingly increases fat intake, which is not good for your health. So, is there a better solution?
In this case, consider adding some nuts to your cold dishes. This not only enhances the flavor but also offers some surprising health benefits. Firstly, nuts are not only rich in essential unsaturated fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, but they also contain high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. This combination of various nutrients is something that plain oil cannot compare to.
Secondly, the oils in nuts can help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins from vegetables, such as vitamins A, D, and K. At the same time, because nuts are rich in various oils, a cold salad with nuts is not only fragrant but also more filling. Lastly, eating nuts by themselves can easily lead to "internal heat" (a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine), but when mixed into a cold dish, you don't have to worry about this issue.
What are the best pairings? For vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, Napa cabbage hearts, and spinach, you can add peanuts, which is especially suitable for the elderly. For pea shoots, tossing in some walnuts is very beneficial for students and office workers who use their brains frequently. Pistachios are rich in potassium, which is crucial for regulating blood pressure, so people with high blood pressure might want to try a pistachio and celery salad.