The seasoning here is JUST PERFECT. Not overpowering, but definitely not bland. It was one of those meals that was JUST RIGHT.
Cayenne Shrimp
4 servings
220 calories per serving
2 c cooked instant rice
1 lb. shelled, cleaned, raw, medium sized shrimp
2 T buttery spread
1 t paprika
½ t salt
1/2 t cayenne pepper
2 T lemon juice
Pam
Cook rice according to package directions. Heat skillet over medium high heat and spray with Pam. Add shrimp and cook 5-6 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Reduce heat to medium low and add spread, paprika, salt and cayenne and stir well to coat shrimp. Add lemon juice and mix well. Place rice on dishes and spoon shrimp over to serve.
When I first had this in a Brazilian restaurant I came home and scoured the net to find a recipe that was similar to what I had just tasted. After much trial and error, this is the recipe that grew out of many test batches.
When this is paired with meats and fishes, it makes the meal super refreshing and turns the simplest of grilled meats into a flavor sensation – it is soooo good ! But beware – this does leave you with some pretty heavy duty garlic breath – this is not a good recipe for date nite !
Just a tablespoon or 2 served with grilled beef, chicken or fish is a taste treat you won’t soon forget !
My Salsa Verde
15 servings
39 calories per serving
(1 serving=1T)
7 cloves garlic
2 c fresh parsley
2 c fresh cilantro
10-12 T fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
¼ c olive oil
¼ – ½ c vinegar
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Place garlic in a good processor and mince finely. Add parsley and cilantro and mince finely – so fine that the mixture is more of a paste than chopped herbs. Place in a bowl and mix with all the other ingredients. Refrigerate 1 hour to overnight to let the flavors mingle.
Though the Morningstar Farms black bean patties are MIGHTY GOOD, these were also good and if you’re just in the mood to do it from scratch, this is a great recipe !
Black Bean Pies
4 servings
194 calories per serving
Pam
3 t oil
½ onion, chopped finely
½ green pepper, chopped finely
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 T honey
1 T cider vinegar
½ t chili powder
½ t cumin
¼ t red pepper flakes
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ c breadcrumbs
2 T flour
4 T low fat sour cream
2 T cilantro, chopped
Spray skillet with Pam. Heat 2 t oil on medium high and sauté onion, pepper and garlic 4 minutes or until golden then add honey, cider, chili, cumin and red pepper and mix well. Add beans and breadcrumbs to the pan and reduce the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and mash bean mixture with a potato masher until it is the consistency of a thick puree, and then shape mix into 4 patties (like a hamburger). Spread flour on a platter and coat patties on both sides. Spray same skillet with Pam and ad 1 t oil. Saute patties until light browned turning once. Serve each with sour cream and cilantro.
Peppersteak is great no matter how you slice it 🙂 But this recipe really is a winner – the sauce made with coffee and balsamic turned an already savory dish into something just exquisite.
Texas Peppersteak
4 servings
226 calories per serving
½ t ground cumin
½ t ground coriander
½ t chili powder
¼ t salt
¾ t pepper
1 lb. boneless top sirloin steak, trimmed
1 clove garlic, halved
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T oil
2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 t brown sugar
½ c brewed strong coffee
¼ c balsamic vinegar
Combine first five ingredients. Rub steak with cut garlic and then rub the spice mix into the steak. Heat 2 t of oil into a skillet and cook the steak 6-8 minutes per side or to desired doneness. Get a nice sear on the outside for extra flavor ! Remove steak from pan and tent with foil to keep warm. Add 1 t oil to the skillet and stir in the pepper and onions and cook 4 minutes then add the minced garlic and brown sugar and heat a minute before stirring in the coffee and vinegar. Heat 3-4 minutes. Slice steak into thin pieces and plate with pepper mix on top. Pour any sauce from pan over platter.
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
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)
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
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.
The hummus spread inside the pita before inserting the other ingredients makes every bite full of flavor. And when you eat something with lots of flavor, you are apt to feel more satisfied !
Greek Chicken Pitas
4 servings
280 calories per serving
2 c chopped romaine lettuce
1 c chopped roasted chicken breast
2/3 c diced English cucumber
½ c red bell pepper, chopped very small
1/4 c crumbled feta cheese
2 T lemon juice
2 T oil
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
6 T roasted red bell pepper hummus (in the refrigerator section at the food market)
2 6 inch whole wheat pitas slit at the top so you can fill it
Combine lettuce, chicken, cucumber and feta. Add lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Spread hummus inside pitas and then add the chicken mix.
Lotsa different toppings can go on here to change it up. Anything that goes on a real pizza tastes good here. Extra veggies really don’t push up the calorie count much…mushrooms, peppers, onions, broccoli, etc.
Mushroom and Pepper Pizza
4 servings
235 calories per serving
4 6-inch whole wheat pitas (Arnold’s Sahara are a good low cal choice)
3/4 cup marinara sauce
1/4 t crushed red pepper
1/4 t garlic powder
1/2 t oregano flakes
1 c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
½ green bell pepper in thin slices
½ c mushroom slices
1/2 T olive oil mixed with 1 t water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush oil on the pitas. Spread with sauce and sprinkle with oregano, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle cheese over the tops. Add mushrooms and peppers. Cook for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
I like it extra spicy, so I also add some red pepper flakes right on top of the sauce.
Don’t tell Julia child that we are not using her recipe ! This is a time consuming recipe, but it is great for special occasions – it’s not just everyday that you get Beef Bourguignon 🙂
Beef Bourguignon
6 servings
344 calories per serving
2 1/2 t oil, divided
1 1/2 lb. lean beef stew meat
2 c sliced onions
2 c sliced carrots
1 c diced green bell pepper
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
12 oz whole mushrooms, quartered
1 14 oz. can beef broth
1 1/2 c red wine (a Burgundy or Beaujolais is recommended)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
3 T flour
2 T butter, softened
To caramelize onions, heat a skillet on medium high heat and add 1 t oil than add onion slices and cook on medium high heat for 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a bit if salt and pepper and then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes, again, stirring frequently. You want the onions to become a nice golden color, but remain very moist. If they start to dry out in the first 7 minutes, reduce the heat a little. If they start to dry out during the covered cooking period, add a tablespoon or more of hot water and mix well.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven* to medium high heat. Blot meat on paper towels – it will brown much better the drier it is. Add beef and cook until brown. Remove from pot and set aside. Add carrot, mushrooms and green pepper to pot. Cook 4 minutes then add onions and cook another 2 minutes and then return beef to pot. Add tomatoes, broth, wine, garlic, tomato paste, bay, salt and pepper to pot. Mix well and cover and bring to a simmer and cook on low for 2 hours. Discard bay leaf. Combine flour and butter and mix well until it becomes all incorporated into a paste. Spoon 1/2 c of pan juices into the flour and whisk until very smooth. Then add back to pan and stir. Serve immediately.
*Dutch Oven – every kitchen needs a Dutch oven – some recipes just do not come out the same without one. It is a very heavy duty pot that allows you to cook things slowly for hours without burning the contents. From soups to stews to sauces, this is a kitchen must have. I don’t think you need a really pricey one (some come in at over $330 ! yeeks !) as I have an $80 version that has been treating me good for years and years.
