Italian Crostini with Honey Tomato Sauce & Saffron Prawns

This recipe has been a unique favorite since the day I created it in high school! It has a fabulous combination of flavors - toasty fresh bread, subtly sweet and cumin-scented tomato sauce, and intensely saffron-flavored prawns. The colors of this dish are beautiful as well- the saffron tints the prawns a brilliant yellow against the scarlet sauce.

The longer you simmer the tomatoes the better - the liquid will reduce and the flavors will mellow and richen. Leftover sauce and prawns are easily frozen, and very handy to have in the freezer for a 5-minute dinner. The French or sourdough bread provides a safe soluble fiber foundation for this recipe. Cooking the tomatoes, onions, and garlic breaks down their insoluble fiber, and also off gasses sulfur from the onions and garlic. This recipe gives a great example of why, when it comes to IBS, HOW you cook can matter just as much as WHAT you cook!

Makes 3-4 Servings

For Prawns:

1 cup water
6 large garlic cloves, minced
dash salt
1/8 teaspoon saffron threads
1 lb. medium prawns, shelled and deveined

Bring water to boil in small saucepan with garlic, salt, and saffron. Add prawns and simmer just until pink and curled. Reserve 1/4 c. cooking liquid and drain prawns. Slice each prawn in half lengthwise.

For Sauce:

3 large ripe tomatoes, diced
3 teaspoons Tummy Fiber Acacia (optional, but very helpful)
1 small onion, diced
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup reserved prawn cooking liquid

Combine all sauce ingredients in medium saucepan and stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 45 minutes, until thickened. Puree the sauce in a blender.

For Crostini:

French or Sourdough bread baguette, sliced into 1 inch slices
2 tablespoons soy Parmesan cheese

Place bread slices on cookie sheet and broil until golden. Turn slices over and broil other side. Top with the saffron sauce, prawn halves, and a light sprinkle of soy Parmesan. Return to broiler until cheese slightly melts. Serve immediately.

All recipes included in Eating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome have a nutritional analysis per serving of calories, protein, percentage of calories from protein, carbohydrates, percentage of calories from carbohydrates, total fat, percentage of calories from fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and total dietary fiber. (Analysis provided by NutriBase Nutrition Manager software.)

All content is copyrighted by Heather Van Vorous and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission.