Tag Archives: parsley

Grilled Scallops with Balsamic

July 26, 2010 admin 2 Comments

The combination of herbs along with the balsamic glaze was just fantastic. Scallops are such a sweet shellfish and this is a great recipe to showcase their great flavor.

4 servings
244 calories per serving

1 lb. sea scallops
¼ c oil
2 T fresh mint
2 T flat leaf parsley
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T parmesan cheese
1 t shredded lemon zest
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 c baby arugula
Pam

Rinse scallops and pat dry. Mix oil, mint, parsley, 2 T vinegar, cheese, lemon peel and garlic. Place scallops in a Ziploc bag and pour in the oil mix and marinate the scallops 2-4 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat broiler. Drain scallops. Spray a baking sheet with Pam and broil scallops 4 minutes each side or until done. In a saucepan bring 2 T vinegar to a boil and simmer 4-5 minutes. Serve scallops over arugula and drizzled with the reduced vinegar.

Alternately grill the scallops in a grill basket until done.

Dinner, Italian, Pasta, Sides

Tortellini and Veggies

July 24, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Tortellini are so versatile. And this is a great recipe to show off their cheesy goodness 🙂 The sauce is light and packed with healthy veggies.

4 servings
182 calories per serving

1 9 oz. package of refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 T oil
2 medium shallots, minced
1 medium bell pepper in 1 inch pieces
2 c chopped plum tomatoes (about 6 tomatoes)
1 medium zucchini cut in half lengthwise and then sliced into half moons
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t basil flakes
½ t oregano flakes

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat oil in pan and cook bell pepper and shallots in oil 4-5 minutes then add tomatoes, zucchini and seasonings and cover and cook 5 minutes. Finally add in tortellini and cook 3 minutes or until hot.

Top off the dish with some fresh herbs of your choice (basil and parsley do quite well).

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Fish, Italian, Pasta

Pasta with Clam Sauce

July 23, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is just a perfect clam sauce – not too many clams, just the right thickness, just enough spice. Because FiberGourmet makes the calorie count so much lower, you have room for a salad and some garlic toast next to this meal !

4 servings
265 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet fettuccine noodles (without FiberGourmet pasta, you have to add another 80 calories per serving to this)
2 6.5 oz. cans chopped clams
1 T oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T anchovy paste or minced anchovies
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1/3 c tomato paste
¼ c chopped parsley
¼ t pepper
¼ t salt
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
2 t lemon juice

Cook pasta until tender, but still somewhat firm. Drain the clams keeping the juice from one can. Heat oil in a pan and cook garlic one minute then mix in anchovies, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, parsley, pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and clam juice. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add the clams and lemon juice and heat 2 minutes making sure not to come to a boil. Serve sauce over pasta.

Chicken, Dinner, Mexican

Chimichurri Chicken and Green Beans

July 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Chimichurri sauce just makes everything better ! It’s a great mix of parsley, vinegar, garlic and lemon and is much like the Italian gremolata. Serve with some coucous for a great complete meal !

4 servings
280 calories per serving

3 T oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.25 lb.)
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
12 oz. fresh green beans
1 T water
¾ c parsley
1 T cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, halved
¼ t red pepper flakes
Zest of 1 lemon

Brush chicken with 1 T oil and sprinkle with half the salt and pepper. Heat grill and cook chicken 12-15 minutes or until done. While the chicken is cooking place beans and water in a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave 3 minutes. In a food processor combine 2 T oil, the rest of the salt and pepper, parsley, vinegar, garlic and red pepper and process until almost smooth. Place chicken on bed of beans, with sauce and lemon zest on top. Squeeze extra lemon juice over top and user lemon slices as garnish.

Fish, Lunch

Shrimp and Rice Salad

July 13, 2010 admin Leave a comment

What a great lunch this makes ! Add a cup of fruit or veggies on the side and you have a great balanced meal that will keep you feeling full all afternoon.

4 servings
301 calories per serving

1 cup white rice
2 T oil
1 garlic clove, minced
½ pound medium shrimp, peeled and cleaned
1 c packed parsley leaves
3 T lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook rice according to package instructions. Heat skillet and oil and cook shrimp 4 minutes or until done. Add in the garlic during the last 45 seconds of cooking. Add shrimp to rice along with parsley, lemon, salt and pepper. Chill well before serving.

Contests, Lunch, Mediterranean, Salads

Chickpea Salad with Feta Cheese

June 30, 2010 admin 5 Comments

I’m not a huge fan of plain salads. But when you add lots of fiber (chickpeas) and cheese, then they become special and they do fill you up. This one has both and has a great citrus dressing. Add a few squirts of fresh lime of orange juice to give it even more citrusy taste.

4 servings
178 calories per serving

1 15oz. can chickpeas, drained
2 scallions, sliced
1/2 c grape tomatoes, halved
3 T fresh parsley, chopped
3 C bagged salad mix (I like to use a mix of organic greens or mesclun mix)
2 oz. low fat feta cheese
1 t lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
1 t oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 t salt

Mix zest, juice, oil, garlic and salt. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, scallions, parsley and salad and toss well to coat. Sprinkle with feta and serve.

Dinner, Fish

Lemon and Herb Cod

June 27, 2010 admin 1 Comment

This is a great quick recipe that produces a really moist and flavorful fish fillet. And you even get enough cod broiled to use it in a great chowder recipe that I’ll post in the next day or two 🙂 If you are not going to make the chowder, just reduce the cod to 1 ½ pounds and proceed accordingly.

4 servings (plus leftovers for chowder)
255 calories per serving

1 garlic clove, peeled
2 slices whole wheat bread torn into pieces
2 T parsley leaves
1/2 t lemon zest
2 t oil
2 T plain fat free yogurt
2 t lemon juice
1 3 lb. cod fillet cut into 8 pieces
16 oz. package frozen stir fry vegetables
Pam

Mince garlic in food processor. Add bread and parsley and pulse until crumbs form. Add lemon zest, 1 t oil and 1/8 t salt and pulse to mix. Place in a bowl. Combine yogurt, lemon juice and 1/8 t salt. Preheat broiler and spray the rack of a broiler pan with Pam. Place fish on rack and broil 4 minutes. Turn and broil another 4 minutes or until fish is done.

Take 4 pieces and refrigerate up to 2 days for the New England Chowder recipe. Spread yogurt mix on the other 4 pieces and then sprinkle with the bread crumb mix and press so that the crumbs stick. Spray with Pam and broil 1 minute to brown crumbs. Remove to a plate and keep warm. Heat 1 t oil and add vegetables and stir fry 4-5 minutes. Serve with the fish.

Beef, Dinner

Salisbury Steak

June 24, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a favorite of frozen dinner makers and I still remember the taste of good old Swanson TV Dinner Salisbury Steak. This one is much better ! The recipe is easy to make and gives you a great result time in and time out. Try serving with 1/2 c mashed potatoes and some Roasted Grape Tomatoes and you meal comes in under 400 calories !

4 servings
266 calories per serving

½ c skim milk
14 fat free saltines, crushed
2 T dried minced onions
2 t parsley flakes
1 lb. lean ground beef
12 oz. fat free beef gravy
2 T ketchup
2 t Worcestershire sauce
¼ t pepper
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix milk, crackers, onion, and parsley and then add the meat and make into 4 oval patties and place in a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Whisk gravy, ketchup , Worcestershire and pepper and pour over the meat and cook 55 minutes or until meat is done.

Dinner, Fish, Italian, Summer

Tuna with Gremolata

June 16, 2010 admin 1 Comment

Gremolata is a just a mixture of parsley, lemon, garlic and oil. It is a wonderful condiment that is packed with flavor. Serve with some Roasted Grape Tomatoes for a great meal.

4 servings
170 calories per serving

¼ c chopped parsley
2 T grated lemon zest
1 t oil
1 garlic clove, minced
4 4 oz. tuna steaks
¼ t salt
1/8 t pepper
Pam

Combine parsley, lemon, oil and garlic and set aside. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with Pam. Place tuna on sheet and sprinkle with salt. Broil 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Alternately spray fish with Pam and grill to desired doneness. Top fish with gremolata during the last minute of broiling.

Leftover tuna makes a GREAT tuna fish salad. Just mix it with mayo and some diced pickles – it is sooo much fresher than the canned stuff and you can really taste the difference.

Snacks

Parmesan Pretzels and Popcorn

June 10, 2010 admin Leave a comment

The flavor here was subtle, but definitely enough to make it a nice change up from eating just plain pretzels or popcorn. I like it best when it was fresh out of the oven and still warm 🙂

6 servings
170 calories per serving

2 T grated parmesan cheese
½ t basil flakes
½ t parsley flakes
3 c mini pretzel twists
3 c air popped popcorn
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine spices and mix well. Mix pretzels and popcorn and spread in an ungreased 15×10 baking sheet. Spray mix with Pam (pretty heavily) and sprinkle with cheese mix. Do not stir and bake 6 minutes or until hot.