Sunday, 24 February 2008

Smoked sausage jambalya

Serves 4
Per serving 377 calories, 11g fat
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking Time 25 mins

Ingredients:
2 Medium red onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 celery sticks, chopped
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 x 227g pack Mattessons smoked pork sausage, sliced
1 red chilli, sliced
225g (8oz) brown basmati rice
2 tsps vegetable stock powder
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
salt and black pepper


Method:
1. Preheat a non-stick frying pan, add the onion and dry-fry until lightly browned. Add the garlic, celery, mustard seeds and sausage, then stir in the chilli, rice, stock powder and tomatoes.
2. Add sufficient water to cover the rice, approximately 600ml (1 pint), and bring to the boil.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked.
4. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

Cauliflower and stilton soup

Serves 4
1 Serving has 216 kCal/12g Fat
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:
1 large cauliflower
2 medium onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
1/2 tsp English mustard powder
2 bay leaves
300ml (1/2 pint) skimmed milk
115g (4oz) Stilton cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsps chopped fresh flat leaf parsley to garnish

Preparation:
1. Remove and discard the outer leaves from the cauliflower and coarsely chop the rest, including the stalk. Place in a large saucepan. Add the onions, garlic vegetable stock, mustard powder, and bay leaves.
2. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Allow to cool slightly, then liquidise in batches in a liquidiser or food processor, adding a little of the milk and Stilton to each batch until smooth and lump free.
3. Return the soup to the pan and season with salt and black pepper. Adjust the consistency with a little extra milk if required. Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately.

Pasta with spinach sauce

Serves 2
Approximately 250 calories per serving

Vegetarians can use this recipe and omit the anchovies.

Ingredients:
50g (2oz) [dry weight] wholewheat fusilli pasta
300g (12oz) fresh spinach or
150g (6oz) frozen spinach
115g (4oz) quark
salt and black pepper
a little low-fat fromage frais or skimmed milk
50g (2oz) can fillets of anchovies

Method:
1. Cook the pasta as directed and drain well.
2. Wash the fresh spinach (if using) and cook in 1 tablespoon of water. Drain well and chop finely in a food processor or with a knife. If using frozen spinach, cook as directed.
3. Mix the quark with the spinach, and add salt and pepper to taste. If the mixture is too stiff, add a little low-fat fromage frais or skimmed milk.
4. Drain the anchovies and wash well to remove the oil from the surface. Pat dry on kitchen paper, then chop.
5. Heat the spinach sauce, add the cooked pasta and pile onto serving plates. Top with the anchovies and serve with a green salad and crusty French bread (50g/2oz per person).

Creamy curried quorn

Serves 2
Contains approximately 250 calories per serving

Ingredients:
1 vegetable stock cube
225g (8oz) Quorn chunks
3 tablespoons Kraft Fat Free Yoghurt and Chive Dressing
1 teaspoon curry powder
50g (2oz) [dry weight] brown rice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Method:
1. Dissolve the stock cube in boiling water. Simmer the Quorn in vegetable stock for 15-20 minutes. Drain and allow to cool.
2. Mix together the dressing and curry powder and add to the Quorn. Leave overnight in the refrigerator for the flavours to develop.
3. Cook the rice according to the instructions. Drain well and leave to cool.
4. Garnish the Quorn with the chopped parsley and serve chilled on a bed of rice. Serve with a mixed salad.

Lentil and potato pie

Serves 3
Contains approximately 350 calories per serving

Ingredients:
175g (6oz) red lentils
1 large onion, chopped
350g (12oz) potatoes
2 tablespoons pickle
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
salt and pepper
paprika

Method:
1. Rinse the lentils. Place the lentils and onion in a pan, cover with water and cook slowly for about 20 minutes until the lentils are tender and all water is absorbed.
2. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water. Drain well and mash. Beat the mashed potato into the lentils. Add the pickle, herbs and plenty of salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Place the mixture in a shallow ovenproof dish. Fork the top and sprinkle a little paprika over the top. Bake in a preheated oven at 200C, 400F or Gas Mark 6 for 20 minutes until crisp and brown.

Indian pork burgers

Makes 8
1 Serving 202 kCal / 8g Fat
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1kg (2lb) lean minced pork
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsps ground coriander
2 tsps ground cumin
8 cardamom pods, crushed and seeds removed
Pinch of dried chilli flakes
1 tbsp mango chutney
2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp tomato puree

Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F, Gas Mark 5.
2. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Mould the mixture into 8 burgers, and place on a non-stick baking tray.
3. Cover with food wrap and refrigerate until ready to cook.
4. Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes. Alternatively, cook on a hot barbecue or under a preheated grill for the same time.
5. Serve hot.

Spanish red pepper soup

Serves 4
Per serving 74 calories, 1g of fat

4 long shallots, sliced
1 tsp paprika
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 red peppers, seeded and diced
1 x 175g can sweetcorn, drained
pinch of dried chilli flakes
600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
115g (4oz) new potatoes, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley to garnish


1. Preheat a large non-stick pan, add the shallots, paprika and garlic and dry-fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the peppers, sweetcorn and chilli flakes and stir in the stock and tomatoes.
2. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the potatoes and simmer until cooked.
3. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with chopped parsley.

Zesty prawns

Serves 4
Per serving 136 calories, 1.4g fat
Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins

Ingredients
1 small white onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
225g chestnut mushrooms
175g uncooked prawns
1 x 500g packet tomato passata
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
1. Heat a non-stick wok or frying pan. Dry-fry the onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes or until soft and without colour, then add the mushrooms and prawns.
2. As the prawns start to colour, pour in the tomato passata and add the lemon zest and juice and chopped chives.
3. Bring the sauce to the boil, check if the prawns are cooked (cook for just a little longer if required) and then season with salt and black pepper.
4. Serve with boiled basmati rice (50g uncooked weight per person) plus steamed green vegetables.

Here’s a tip:
Prawns need very little cooking as they will become tough if overcooked. Season with black pepper before cooking to add a little spice to the dish.

Sticky onion chicken

Serves 4
Per serving 260 calories, 8g fat

Ingredients:
4 skinless chicken breasts
salt and freshly ground black pepper
for the marinade
2 tbsps sweet chilli sauce
2 tbsps runny honey
1 x 2.5cm (1in) piece ginger, peeled and chopped
1 red onion, finely chopped
juice of 1 lime


Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6.
2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper and place in the bottom of an ovenproof dish.
3. Combine the marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour.
4. Place the chicken with the marinade in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until fully cooked.
5. Serve straight from the oven.

Here’s a tip:
For maximum flavour, place the chicken and marinade in the refrigerator and leave overnight

Orange and raisin muffins

Makes 6
Per muffin 198 calories, 5g fat

Ingredients:
50g (2oz) raisins
2 tbsps orange juice
75g (3oz) St Ivel Gold Lightest
40g (1½oz) Silver Spoon Half Spoon granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
175g (6oz) plain flour
1 good tsp baking powder
1 tbsp skimmed milk
1 orange, zested

Method:
1.Preheat the oven to 150C, 300F, Gas Mark 2. Line a six-muffin mould with muffin papers.
2.Place the raisins in a small saucepan and pour the orange juice. over them. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
3.Meanwhile, using a whisk, cream together the margarine and sugar in a large bowl. Gradually mix in the beaten eggs. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour and the baking powder. Stir in the raisins with juice and mix well to combine. Stir in the skimmed milk.
4.Spoon the mixture into the muffin mould and bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes until well risen and golden brown.
5.Garnish with a little orange zest and serve warm.