Here is a new Zone™ authentic Italian recipe that’s easy to prepare and is Zone-balanced to help keep you in the Zone. Made with the sharp, distinctive flavor of feta cheese to provide you with a healthy source of low-fat protein. The fennel in this recipe is a very nutritious vegetable; it is an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. Sesame seeds contain polyphenols that act as anti-inflammatory agents.

This and all of our Italian recipes are from Dr. Daniela Morandi author of Il Bello Della ZONA, a Zone Italian cookbook.

6 Block Meal

Ingredients:
7 oz. feta cheese (reduced fat)*
4 bulbs fennel
1½ cups pears
2 Tbsp. raisins (soaked)
2½ lemons
2 Tsp. Zone Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1¼ cups white wine
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
salt
pepper

Instructions:
Slice the fennel. Cut the ends off of the lemons, and then cut them into thin slices. Put the olive oil into a saucepan, add the fennel and lemons and cook for about five minutes. Pour the white wine into the saucepan and reduce by half. Cover the fennel and lemons with water, adding salt, pepper and sesame seeds. Cook for about 20 minutes or until fennel is al dente, then turn off heat, add the pear cut into small cubes and let sit, covered, until cooled. Before serving, complete with the raisins softened in cold water and the feta cut into small cubes.
* Substitute 1½ cups feta – reduced fat crumbled