Favourite Low Calorie Recipes

Yummy, filling, to die for - these are just some of the ways CookYourselfThin.co.uk members describe the low calorie recipes they have made from the site's Recipe Database. Here are their favourites along with some of their comments.

Keema Curry Pork Teriyaki Skinny Chicken Chow Mein Stuffatina Alla Romana

Keema Curry

• Preparation Time: 25 minutes
• Cooking Time: 40 minutes
• Serves: 4
• Calories: 352 per serving

Ingredients

• 4 Servings/400g Beef, Mince, Extra Lean
• 1 Med Onion/90g Onions
• 100g Spinach, Baby
• 25g Tomato Puree
• 1 Tsp/5g Coriander, Seeds, Ground
• 1 Can/400ml Coconut, Milk, Light, Reduced Fat
• 2 Cloves/6g Garlic
• 1 Tsp/4g Chilli Powder
• 1 Tsp/5g Cumin, Seeds, Ground
• 30g Curry Paste, Mild
• 1 Med/160g Peppers, Capsicum, Red
• 300g Potatoes, White

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4

Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes and boil for 10 minutes, drain and set aside.

Meanwhile chop the onion, red pepper, and spinach. Crush the garlic.

Spray a pan with the oil and gently fry the onion for 3 minutes until softened, add the mince and fry for a further 5 minutes until browned.

Add the coriander, garlic, chilli and cumin and fry for a further 1 minute.

Stir in the tomato puree, spinach, peppers, potatoes, coconut milk, and curry paste and simmer for 1 minute.

Transfer the contents of the pan to a casserole dish, cover and cook in the oven for 40 minutes.

Serve with warm naan bread or rice.

Members Comments

I just can't get over how good it is! Cooked it once for friends, then for my boyfriend- who was so impressed he said he likes it more than indian eaten out at a restaurant! Cooking it again tonight for my dad and brother, can't wait! Highly recommend it. Rockchick

I love the keema curry, chicken korma,mushroom strog, creamy stilton chicken and chicken chow mein...hmm have I missed any?? Susan2000

Pork Teriyaki

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 25 minutes
• Serves: 4
• Calories: 178 per serving

Ingredients

• 40ml Sherry, Medium
• 5g Five Spice Powder
• 2 Tsps/10ml Oil, Sesame
• 1 Tsp/5g Sugar, White, Granulated
• 1 Clove/3g Garlic
• 1 Tsp/2g Ginger, Ground
• 4 Tsps/20ml Sauce, Soy
• 350g Pork, Raw, Lean

Method

Crush the garlic and cut the pork fillet into bite-sized cubes

Put the sherry, 5 spice powder, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger and soy sauce into a small container with a lid and shake well to combine.

Put pork into a plastic food bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and keep in the fridge for at least 2 hours. (If you’re passing, give the bag a shake!)

Pour the pork and marinade into a bowl.

Thread the pork onto skewers, and cook under the grill or on the barbecue for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Turn the skewers and brush with the remaining marinade occasionally whilst cooking.

CYT Members Comments

The verdict was FANTASTIC! The pork was delicious - so aromatic & tender. It wasn't like diet food whatsoever, I can't believe how nice these recipes are, to me they are a new eating plan not tasteless diet food like Weight Watchers & Rosemary Connelly etc. I'm hooked. Jellybaby

It smells FAB! I'm not really into Chinese, but even I liked it, I’m sure you'll just love it. Porkertocorker

I have just made this for tea and thought it was lovely. My hubby enjoyed it too. Sivvi

Skinny Chicken Chow Mein

• Preparation Time: 40 minutes
• Cooking Time: 6 minutes
• Serves: 3
• Calories: 287 per serving

Ingredients

• 175g Noodles, Egg, Medium
• 1 Tbsp/15ml Oil, Sunflower
• 1 Med Onion/90g Onions
• 2 Cloves/6g Garlic
• 175g Bean Sprouts
• 175g Mange Tout
• 225g Chicken, Breast, Fillets, Skinless & Boneless
• 2 Tbsps/30ml Sauce, Soy, Dark
• 10g Ginger Root
• 5g Five Spice Powder

Method

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5

Put a piece of foil (Approx 30x40cm) onto a baking sheet and brush the centre with 1 Teaspoon/5 ml of the oil.

Place the chicken breasts, side by side, onto the centre of the foil, and sprinkle with 30ml of water. Close the foil around the chicken to make a loose, but tightly closed, parcel.

Bake the chicken in the oven for 30-35 minutes until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oven, allow it to cool slightly, shred and set aside.

Thinly slice the onion, garlic and ginger, and top and tail the mange tout.

Cook the noodles in a large pan of boiling, salted water according to the pack instructions.

In the meantime, heat the remaining oil in a wok or large frying pan, and stir-fry the onion and ginger over high heat for 2-3 minutes until onion is softened.

Add the garlic, bean sprouts, mange tout and five spice powder, and continue stir-frying for a further minute.

Drain the noodles well and add to the wok/frying pan, add shredded chicken and soy sauce. Stir-fry for a further 2 minutes until piping hot. Serve immediately.

CYT Members Comments

Never thought I could cook anything that tasted as good as a Chinese take away chow mein - but I have just done it! It never fails to surprise me on how delicious and tasty all the recipes are.  2NPW

I agree! I've just had this for my tea and it was fab, generous portion too. Will def be making this one again.  Bloatedtummy

Hi there, I have just made the chicken chow mein. It was quick and easy and very tasty. I used prepared noodles so it was even easier. I was very impressed. I haven't had it from the takeaway so I can't compare, but at least you know these are all the best ingredients when you cook it yourself.  Fiona

Oh yes I made it last week and have put it on list to make again. Is defo better than some of the Chinese chow meins I've had in the past, very tasty. Cazza39a

This was absolutely gorgeous, I added some carrots and some baby corn and it was really tasty. I made it for my friends who aren't even on a diet and they loved it. budgielass

Hi, this went down so well I've done it twice in the last week. As good as if not better than the takeaway version! orcal

Stuffatina Alla Romana

• Preparation Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 3 hours
• Serves: 8
• Calories: 287 per serving

Ingredients

• 4 Tsps/20ml Oil, Olive
• 3 Rashers/42g Bacon, Streaky, Rashers
• 3lb/1362g Beef, Steak, Rump, Raw, Lean
• 250ml Wine, Red
• 100g Tomato Puree
• 240g Celery
• 1 Tbsp/10ml Juice, Lemon, Fresh
• 4 Cloves/12g Garlic
• 1 Cube/7g Stock Cubes, Beef
• 1 Tsp/2g Pepper, Black, Freshly Ground

Method

This Roman beef stew is truly delicious and its long cooking time deserves a big pot full. It freezes well, so no need to worry about any extra portions.

Cut the bacon into small pieces, cut the beef into 1 inch cubes and crush the garlic.

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pan and gently fry the bacon until golden.

Add the beef and fry over a high heat, stirring frequently, until browned.

Pour the wine over the beef and bring to the boil. Keep it bubbling until the liquid has reduced by half.

Finely chop 3 sticks of the celery and add to the pot. Stir in the tomato puree, lemon juice, garlic and black pepper.

Add the stock cube to 1 pint of boiling water to make a stock. Pour enough of this into the pot to just cover the meat, and set the rest aside.

Cover the pot and gently simmer for three hours, checking once in a while and topping up with more of the stock if necessary - to keep meat covered.

30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, cut the rest of the celery into 2 inch pieces, blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain and add to the stew.

Tip - Stuffatina tastes even better if you make it a day in advance and refrigerate.

Serve piping hot with Tagliatelle.

CYT Members Comments

Made this the other night for whole family they loved it and can't wait for me to make it again even wanting seconds and thirds - ha ha portion size goes out the window with my lot but not me anymore hee hee :)  Minime4

The stuffatina alla romana is to die for.  holly b

I made the Stuffatina recipe last night, and we've just had some tonight. I have to say, this is one of my favs so far! Was lovely and rich, and the other half loved it! Give it a go, if you've not yet tried it? Well worth the cooking time. porkertocorker

A great one for over winter. i absolutely love it! cazious

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