If you have been trying to cut back on the calories, only to find yourself bingeing on unhealthy snacks and food, you are not alone. More often than not, cutting back on calories leaves us starving and craving for unhealthy food that are high in sugar, fat and salt. This is why it is important to consume foods that are healthy and well-balanced, as this will promote satiety and curb hedonistic hunger. There is a common belief that most low-calorie recipes aren’t appetising or as filling. However, nothing can be further from the truth. The key is to combine certain ingredients that leave you feeling sated without compromising your overall calorie count. Let’s delve into some recipes that are not only easy to prepare but are also tasty and healthy.
Salmon With Kale and Apple Salad
Prepared and cooked under 30 minutes, this recipe can be your go-to when time is of the essence. So put your cup noodles aside and start preheating your frying pan. For this recipe, you will need a salmon fillet, 2 small chopped apples, ½ cup of shredded cheese, a handful of almonds, a few leaves of kale, some salt, pepper and some olive oil. Before you start cooking, ensure that your salmon is defrosted. It is best to leave it out for 10 minutes or so before you start cooking the fish. While you are waiting for your fish to defrost, you can make use of the time by whisking some lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a bowl. After that, toss in some fresh kale and mix it with the rest of the ingredients in the bowl. Let the mixture rest for approximately ten minutes before adding in the chopped apples, shredded cheese, and almonds. Season the mixture with some pepper. Leave the bowl aside and preheat a non-stick pan. Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into the preheated pan before placing the salmon fillet; cook both sides until they turn brown, you should not be leaving the fish on either side for any longer than three minutes. Once the fish is cooked, you can serve it with some of the refreshing salad that you had prepared earlier.
Slow Cooked Pork Tacos
If you have ample time to prepare and cook your dish, consider making this for dinner. Requiring only a total time of 50 minutes, this dish requires a moderate number of ingredients and a lot of patience. Rest assured, it is well worth the time and effort. This hearty Mexican dish combines the juicy flavours of slow-cooked pork together with the rich flavour of pasilla chillies. For this dish, you will need four pounds of fatless pork ribs, some pepper, bay leaves, apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of honey a cinnamon stick, corn tortillas, salt, three ancho chilies, three pasilla chilies, three teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, two teaspoons of dried oregano, a medium chopped onion and some garlic. First, you will need to combine the anchos, garlic and chillies into a bowl, before adding 3 tablespoons of water. Then microwave the mix for two minutes. Set the bowl aside and start preparing the garlic. Add peeled garlic, chilli, chopped onion, vinegar, honey, olive oil and chipotle into a blender. Give it a few minutes to blend well before adding a teaspoon of oil into the blend. Then take a large skillet and add a tablespoon of oil. Take a non-stick pan or large skillet and preheat it with a tablespoon of oil in it. Add some chilli sauce and cook it for less than a minute before pouring in the broth and adding the pork ribs. Then add some salt and season the mix. For a more full-bodied flavour, throw in some bay leaves and a cinnamon stick. Leave the pork ribs to cook for five hours. After the meat has been fully cooked, drain the skillet, discard the leaves and shred the meat. Place the flavoured pork into tortillas. If you want to give the dish some extra flavour, you can top the tortillas with some sour cream. Use it sparingly though!
Beef Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
This mouthwatering dish will have you running to the kitchen for seconds! Requiring a total time of 35 minutes, this dish requires four medium-sized zucchinis, a pound of ground beef, ½ cup of chopped onion, an egg (beaten), ¾ cup of spaghetti sauce, ¼ cup of seasoned bread crumbs, ¼ teaspoon of salt. ¼ teaspoon of pepper, a cup of shredded jack cheese. First, you will need to cut and hollow out the zucchinis — remove the seeds. Warm the zucchini in a microwave for a few minutes. In the meantime, cook the beef and onion in a skillet. Turn off the stove and add the beaten egg, breadcrumbs, sauce, salt and pepper into the hot skillet. Then cover the hollowed out zucchinis with the cooked ingredients and top it off with shredded jack cheese, before placing the zucchinis into the microwave for an additional two to three minutes. The combination of textures and flavours of the melted cheese and beef slices are nothing short of satisfying and flavourful.