Local optician and chef join forces with ‘Eye-Healthy’ recipes
West Yorkshire based opticians the Valli Group has teamed up with a Huddersfield chef to create a range of ‘eye-healthy’ recipes, the first of which is launched today to mark National Eye Health Week (16-22 September).
The Valli Group, which runs six opticians practices in Huddersfield and Calderdale, has been working with award winning chef Ashley Coley, who runs the Huddersfield VegMan business, to put together a range of delicious dishes. The first recipe is Pan seared Salmon Fillet, Sweet Potato Rosti, Roast Pepper and Lime Sauce.
Moin Valli, Managing Director of the Valli Group, said: “Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss yet over half of these cases can be avoided so it is vital that you take care of your eyes. A lot of people don’t realise that specific ingredients can be extremely beneficial in maintaining good eye health.
“Food containing vitamins A, C and E; antioxidants and Omega 3 are essential for good eye health and can help protect against eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration. Kale, spinach, blueberries, oily fish, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, broccoli and of course carrots, are all excellent eye healthy produce.
“We’re delighted to have teamed up with Ashley for our range of eye healthy recipes. We’ll be handing out recipes cards to our patients and Ashley will be including them in the veg boxes that he delivers throughout the district.”
The number of people in the UK with sight loss is set to increase dramatically. It is predicted that by 2050 the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to nearly four million. (1).
Moin added: “Sight is the sense people fear losing the most, yet many of us don’t know the best way to look after our eyes. This is why it is so important to get your eyes tested every two years even if you think your vision is fine as some eye conditions may not show symptoms.”
The Valli Group is an award winning, independent company run by Moin and his wife Rachel. They have six opticians’ practices in Honley, Lockwood, Almondbury, Meltham, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, Valli Corporate Eye Care and Valli Home Eye Care, which specialises in providing domiciliary eye care services. For further information about the Valli Group please visit www.valliopticians.co.uk
Pan Seared Salmon Fillet, Sweet Potato Rosti, Roast Pepper and Lime Sauce.
Ingredients:
- 230g fresh salmon fillet
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 red pepper
- 1 red onion
- 1 chopped spring onion
- 1 fresh lime to squeeze
- 1 clove of fresh garlic
- 1 sprig of thyme
- 50g butter
- 3 tbsp of olive oil.
Sauce;
1. Heat oven 220c, cut the peppers and the onions into chunks, toss in the olive oil, garlic and thyme, then roast for 25 minutes until soft and slightly blackened.
Add the freshly squeezed lime and zest.
2. Cool then blend or process until just chunky (if you like it a little smother just add the desired amount of water).
Sweet potato rosti;
1.Grate sweet potato on the coarse side of the grater, place in clean towel and squeeze excess water out.
2. Heat the 50g of butter in a frying pan, add the potato and the chopped spring onion and cook on a low heat for five minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Place the potato into a pastry cutter and press into shape, cook in oven for 20 minutes until golden crispy.
While the sauce and the rosti is cooking.
Fry the salmon fillet on each side for 2 minutes, season with salt and pepper and place on a baking try and cook for 15 minutes.
Chef Coley’s tip:
Place a damp cloth under your chopping board to keep in place while chopping your ingredients.
Download the Recipe Card
(Right click, save link as…)
References:
- [1] UK Vision Strategy website – Access Economics (2009) – http://www.vision2020uk.org.uk/ukvisionstrategy/page.asp?section=0001000100090006&search=future+sight+loss+report
