The other day I gave you my recipe for Creole Pasta with Chicken.  One of the ingredients for that spicy dish was Shallots.  So, today I thought I would tell you a little about shallots.  Shallots are in the same vegetable family as onions.  However, they remind me a little of garlic.  Each bulb divides into cloves similar to the way garlic does.  Shallots taste great and are a key ingredient in many dishes, including salads.

Shallots are high in Vitamin C, Potassium, fiber, folic acid, calcium, iron, and protein.  Studies have shown that shallots are especially good at helping the liver eliminate toxins from the body.  Shallots also help prevent cancer, especially liver and stomach cancer.  They are also good in helping to prevent heart disease and stroke, as they contain blood thinning properties, and are very good in helping to lower blood pressure.  Additionally, shallots can help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, and have been shown to aid brain function and are effective against Alzheimer’s disease.

So there you have it.  Shallots – a vegetable that not only tastes great, but is great for you.  Try adding some to your favorite dishes.