Orzo is just one of my most favorite side dishes. It has to come in smaller portions nowadays, but it still fit into the meal plan, especially when served simply with lemon and cut up herbs.
4 servings
170 calories per serving
1 c dry orzo
3 T chopped fresh herbs (one or a mix – parsley, basil, cilantro, etc.)
2 t lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and mix with the remaining ingredients.
This was great served warm and equally as good chilled. The lemon and cilantro flavorings are what make this a really tasty side salad.
4 servings
69 calories per serving
1 ½ lb. zucchini (about 3), cubed
1T oil
Coarse salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 T fresh cilantro, chopped
Heat oil in a large skillet and add the zucchini and toss then season with salt and pepper and cook about 5 minutes letting cubes brown a bit. Add lemon juice and cilantro and mix well. Season with more salt and pepper and serve.
‘Souvlaki’ is a Greek preparation of meat, usually skewered, and marinated in a lemon based sauce. Rather than the traditional side of tzatziki, this one has a side of a yogurt / tahini mix that ends up tasting like a cross between tzatziki and hummus. It was all quite delicious !
4 servings
279 calories per serving
1 lb. pork shoulder cut into ¾ inch cubes
3 T oil
¼ c plus 2 T fresh lemon juice
Lemon wedges for serving
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 T chopped fresh oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T plain Greek yogurt
¼ c tahini
1-2 T water
Combine pork, oil and 2 T lemon juice with garlic and oregano then season with salt and pepper. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator 1-8 hours. Whisk yogurt, ¼ c lemon juice, tahini and 1-2 T water – enough to make the consistency like that of heavy cream. Heat a pan to high heat and cook pork until brown on all sides, about 12 minutes. If the pork releases too much moisture, make sure to dry out the pan a little by blotting with a couple of paper towels – if you don’t the meat won’t brown up and get all the tasty bits on the edges. Serve with yogurt sauce and lemon wedges.
The lemony piccata sauce is just made for pork ! And this couldn’t be easier to put together – – yet you get a fancy, restaurant quality meal.
4 servings
216 calories per serving
1 lb. pork loin in 8 thin slices
2 T flour
1 T oil
1 t cornstarch
½ c chicken broth
3 T lemon juice
3 T chopped parsley
½ t salt
Heat oil in skillet. Dredge pork in flour and add to skillet browning each side. Stir together cornstarch, broth, juice, parsley and salt and add to pan along with pork and simmer 1 minute.
This is so lemony and refreshing and is easy, easy to prepare. It’s a great addition to a lunch time wrap or sandwich.
2 servings
37 calories per serving
2 c chicken broth
3 t lemon juice
¼ t thyme
1/8 t salt
4 leaves spinach, torn
1 green onion (green part only) thinly sliced
Lemon slices for garnish
Combine all except spinach and onions and bring to a boil on high heat. Place spinach in bowls. Spoon soup over spinach and top with sliced green onions.
This lunch is really quick and a great one to pack in a lunch bag and bring to work. Serve over lettuce if you wish, but I prefer to eat it next to a salad with a zesty low fat dressing.
1 serving
60 calories per serving
1/2 can white albacore tuna, drained well and flaked
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Put tuna on a plate and squeeze juice over it. Season with salt and pepper.
These have a great fresh flavor and are very different from your typical potato recipes – the lemon really gives them a blast of unexpected flavor. If you’re pressed for time, try microwaving the potato cubes for 6 minutes or so – that will cut down the boiling time by half.
6 servings
103 calories per serving
1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cubed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Black pepper to taste
In a pot over medium heat, combine the potatoes and with enough water to cover them by 1″. Add salt. Cook 20-25 minutes, or until tender. Drain and return to the pan and add lemon juice, oil, garlic, and pepper to taste. Saute for 2 minutes to allow the garlic to cook some.
Way better than the standard green bean and Durkee onion casserole ! So much fresher and oodles more flavor !!
4 servings
49 calories per serving
1 pound green beans in 1 inch pieces
2 teaspoons butter sprinkles (I Use Molly McButter)
2 teaspoons finely chopped basil
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon oil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
In a large pan, bring 1 inch water to a boil and place the beans on a steaming rack inside the pan. Cover and steam for 5 – 7 minutes. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with the butter, basil, zest, oil and pepper. Mix well and serve immediately.
Super savory and very easy to make. The topping has such a burst of lemony flavor that you don’t want to stop eating !
4 servings
208 calories per serving
1 T oil
Pam
4 boneless pork chops (3 ounces each)
1/2 onion, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c hot water
4 T parsley, chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of one half lemon
Heat oil and Pam in skillet on medium high heat. Saute the onion for 3-4 minutes. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and then add to pan. Cook 3 minutes. Turn meat over and add garlic and continue cooking another 3 minutes. Add water. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook 10 minutes.
Uncover and cook 5 more minutes. Remove chops to a plate and keep warm. Add parsley and lemon zest to pan. Cook down for about 2 minutes on high. Squeeze in lemon juice and cook down 30 seconds more. Spoon this mix over the chops and serve immediately.
So buttery, so lemony, so good ! These are like lemon shortbread and they just melt in your mouth. A little high on the calorie count, but sooooo worth it. And 3 cookies really is enough for a snack – these are so rich !
30 cookies
328 calories for 3 cookies
2 c flour
1 c confectioner’s sugar
1 t Kosher salt
1 T plus 1 t lemon zest
1 t lemon juice
1 c sweet butter cut into pieces
2 large egg yolks
1/4 c granulated sugar
Pulse flour, confectioner’s sugar, salt and lemon zest. Add butter and process until coarse like breadcrumbs. Add yolks and lemon juice and process until dough comes together. Divide dough in half and form each into a log. Wrap in plastic and freeze until firm, about 3 hours. If you freeze any longer than 3 hours, these will be too hard to slice and you’ll need to let defrost a bit or microwave for 30 seconds or so.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread sugar on a piece of foil and roll logs in the sugar. Cut into 1/4 thick slices and place on baking sheets 1 inch apart as they will spread as they cook. Bake 15 minutes or until edges are browned.
