Tag Archives: mediterranean

Spinach Orzo

Sometimes nothing will do but pasta ! And orzo is one of my favorites ! This recipe is great served next to a lighter fish or chicken dish and you get in lots of veggies along with the pasta. Sometimes I leave out the parmesan if it will not match well with the flavors of the other dinner components – and it tastes just as great without it.

Spinach Orzo
Spinach Orzo

8 servings
160 calories per serving

2 t margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ c coarsely shredded carrot
4 c fat free chicken broth
2 c orzo
3 c thinly sliced fresh spinach
3 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt margarine and cook garlic and carrot 2 minutes then stir in broth, pasta and spinach. Heat to boiling and then reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Stir in the rest of the ingredients just before serving.

Pork Souvlaki

‘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 !

Pork Souvlaki
Pork Souvlaki

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.

Black Bean Hummus

This is exactly what is says – the flavor of black bean dip mixed with the flavor of hummus and it was quite good ! Serve with Triscuits or homemade pita chips for a great appetizer or snack !

Black Bean Hummus
Black Bean Hummus

1 ½ cups
43 calories per serving (1 serving = 2 T)

15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 T tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 T low fat sour cream
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 T minced tomato
1 T lime juice
1 t cumin
Pepper to taste

In a food processor mix all ingredients and process until smooth.

Greek Bruschetta

Bruschetta is simply a dish that has some short of chopped tomatoes served on top of some type of bread product. There are a million variations – this one is Greek and oh so good ! Cut into wedges, these make a great appetizer. Served whole, they make an awesome lunch ! 1 whole pita is only 180 calories so there’s still room for some soup or salad on the side 🙂

Greek Bruschetta
Greek Bruschetta

6 servings
60 calories per serving

2 7 inch whole wheat pitas
1 T fat free balsamic vinaigrette
1 T chopped basil
1 large plum tomato, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 c fat free plain hummus
1 T shredded parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pitas on a cookie sheet and bake 6 minutes or until a bit crisp. Mix vinaigrette, basil, tomato and garlic. Spread the hummus evenly on the 2 pitas and then spoon over the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake 5-6 minutes or until hot. Cut each pita into 6 wedges.

Hummus and Veggies

Hummus is simply a dip made from chickpeas. Many hummus recipes also use tahini, which is just a paste of oil and ground up sesame seeds. Many of the store-bought hummus dips are downright delicious – all the different brands have different consistencies so sample a few and find the one you like. Some are creamier, some are grittier, and some are more spicy than others– and if you can’t find one you like, make your own !

Hummus and Veggies
Hummus and Veggies

1 serving
130 calories per serving

½ cucumber, sliced into spears
1 stalk celery, sliced into spears
4 T hummus (roasted red pepper flavor is my favorite)

Eastern Fried Rice

This version of fried rice is not your typical Chinese food fare. This is more of a Middle Eastern recipe and there are a wide range of BIG flavors in the recipe. But they mix well and become amazingly mellow.

Eastern Fried Rice
Eastern Fried Rice

6 servings
350 calories per serving

3 T oil
1 large onion, diced
6 oz. Canadian bacon, diced
1 lb. bok choy stems and leaves, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 t finely chopped fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¾ c Egg Beaters
3 t curry powder
4 c cold cooked brown rice
3 T soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Heat 2 t oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and add onion and bacon. Cook 4 minutes and add bok choy and continue cooking another 2 minutes. Add pepper, ginger, garlic and cook until veggies are getting soft, about 5 minutes. Remove contents and set aside. Add 1 T oil of skillet and then cook chicken 5 minutes or until done. Set chicken aside. Spray skillet with Pam and when hot, add eggs and scramble. Add eggs to bowl with chicken. Add 1 T oil to skillet and cook curry powder 30 seconds and then add rice and cook without stirring until slightly crispy, about 4 minutes. Return all the other ingredients to the pan, add soy sauce, salt and pepper and heat 3 minutes.

Greek Orzo

Orzo is one of my favorite pastas – I have to be careful because when it’s around, I have a hard time keeping to my serving size ! This recipe is especially good and incorporates 2 strong flavors that go well together, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. Next time I might add some fresh basil just before serving.

Greek Orzo
Greek Orzo

2 servings
293 calories per serving

1 ½ c chicken broth
½ c orzo
2 T minced sun dried tomatoes
2 T crumbled feta cheese
1/8 t kosher salt
1/8 t pepper

Bring broth to a boil and stir in orzo and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in tomatoes and feta. Stir until feta melts a bit. Season with salt and pepper.

Couscous with Carrots

The carrots and fresh parsley really freshen up an otherwise boring carb. Feel free to add more or alternate fresh herbs for a new flavor.

Couscous with Carrots
Couscous with Carrots

4 servings
175 calories per serving

1 c couscous
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 c parsley, chopped
1 t oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring 1 1/2 c water and the oil to boil. Add couscous and carrot. Shut off heat, stir well, cover pan and set aside for 5 minutes. Stir in parsley. Season with salt and pepper.

Greek BLT

Look at all that cheese, and bacon ! This is great as a breakfast or lunch. There’s lots of strong flavors here but they combine well together.

Greek BLT
Greek BLT

1 serving
340 calories per serving

1 whole wheat English muffin
2 T black olive spread (tapenade) – or just chopped black olives
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light cheese, regular flavor
1/4 c sliced cucumber
3 sundried tomatoes diced up
3 large romaine leaves
2 slices cooked turkey bacon

Toast muffin. Spread cheese on both sides. Spread olive tapendade on one half. Pile up the rest of the stuff and dig in 🙂

Mediterranean Muffin

This makes a great breakfast, brunch or lunch. Try changing it up a little by switching green olives for black, fresh tomato for sundried, etc.

Mediterranean Muffin
Mediterranean Muffin

1 serving
360 calories per serving

1 light whole wheat English muffin
1 Babybel cheese, sliced into thin rounds
2 slices turkey bacon
5 sundried tomato strips
2 T chopped black olives
4 very thin slices cucumber
1 Romaine lettuce leaf

Cook bacon according to package instructions. Toast muffin. While still hot, place cheese slices on bottom half. Then add bacon, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, lettuce and top with the other half of the muffin.

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