Welcome to Mazza Salad! I am from a small town in Italy called Siena, and this blog is my way of introducing you to the wonders of Italy.
I’ll be sharing recipes, stories about my experiences, things to do if you visit Siena, and so on. Take a look around the site and enjoy your stay!
Thank you for visiting! A look at one example of what “Mazza Salad” could potentially have on an introduction page.
What is Mazza Salad?
Mazza Salad is a term used to describe a typical salad in Italy. It’s like an antipasto with salad ingredients mixed in. Something you might have with your gelato on an Italian piazza, for example.
How to make Mazza Salad
Ingredients:
- Roughly 1 package of fresh spinach
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 3-4 grape tomatoes, chopped
- A handful of olives, sliced in half
- 1/4 red onion, finely sliced
- 1 lemon wedge for the dressing.
Preparation:
1. Wash the spinach and remove the stems. Chop the leaves into 2cm wide strips.
2. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste-making sure it is lightly seasoned.
3. Mix well so that everything is covered in dressing and serve immediately wrapped in plastic wrap or serve cold from the fridge!
4. Try to use different seasonings to vary from one time to another since Lemon, Olive Oil, and Basil are the three main key flavorings.
Nutrition facts of Mazza Salad
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Portion | 35 |
| Calories | 106 |
| Fat | 7.2g |
| Sat fat | 1g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 401mg |
| Potassium | 204mg |
| Carbohydrates | 4.8g |
| which sugars | 0.4g |
| Fiber | 1g |
Health Benefits of Mazza Salad
The health benefits that I and many in Italy find to be true are listed below:
• Helps keep you feeling full.
• Helps aid digestion.
• Very high in Vitamins A & C. It Makes the immune system strong.
• Improves eyesight by helping maintain moisture in the eyes. Also allows the liver to remove toxins from the body and keep a healthy liver for your general health.
• Improves digestion and helps relieve constipation.
• Helps with the maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and nails.
• Helps lower blood pressure and reduces your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Lowers bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels.
History of Mazza Salad
I went through some old photos from Italy and came across one of two old ladies eating Mazza Salad at the Piazza del Campo in Siena. I wonder where the photo was taken by…?
Here is a little history about the origin of this type of salad. From what I have heard, it has been around a while (as most dishes are). However, the term “Mazza Salad” is more recent, coined in the 1970s to describe this specific salad with mixed ingredients.
Price In Mazza Salad
Mazza Salad is a very typical and popular dish in Tuscany; hence, it is widely available in supermarkets and restaurants at all times of the year.
In terms of cost, it’s usually around €3-4 for a good-sized portion.
Can I Freeze It?
I have never personally tried freezing Mazza Salad. However, I do not think it would be a good idea because the main ingredients in this salad are fresh, meaning they need to be consumed and eaten up within a couple of days.
However, you could freeze some of the ingredients separately beforehand and then mix them when you need to eat them, thus limiting the overall time your salad will be in the freezer.
Is It Healthy?
Since Mazza Salad contains mainly fresh ingredients, I can only imagine a healthy dish.
However, since there are many different combinations of fresh ingredients, it may not be easy to make a truly healthy Mazza Salad.
I would suggest asking your doctor or nutritionist first if it were a good idea for you to eat this particular dish.
If you want to read more about the health benefits of various vegetables and fruits, visit my article: Nutrition Facts of Various Vegetables and Fruits in Italy.
Conclusion
So that pretty much sums up Mazza Salad, something we eat in Italy regularly. I hope you enjoyed this article!
Welcome to Mazza Salad! I am from a small town in Italy called Siena, and this blog is my way of introducing you to the wonders of Italy. I’ll be sharing recipes, stories about my experiences, things to do if you visit Siena, and so on.
