All of these recipes are for special occasions; most are lower-fat/cholesterol, healthier than normal and part make-ahead.
1. BEEF
Korean-style Spicy Seared Beef is a delicious, exotic combo of tender juiciness, heat & a hint of sweetness. It's perfect for a wallet-conscious Valentine Day...
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Korean Style Beef Slices, spicy, sweet & tender 'This excellent beef with Sesame Noodles made a darned good meal!' Taster |
Korean Beef Slices don't need an expensive cut of meat and relies on ingredients found in most kitchen cupboards. It's easy to make and can be part-prepared in advance.
That said, the marinade works with every budget, enhancing all beef cuts from sirloin to rump to the frugal hanger steak and casserole steaks. It also works with cuts of pork and chicken.
Tender cuts of meat take a minimum half hour of marinading.
The recipe first posted in 2017 and used beef short ribs (not as pricy then as now) even though they release a great deal of fat during cooking. But slicing the meat thinly, marinading it overnight, cooking it very fast and draining the fat in a colander gave exceptional results. The meat had heft -- in a good way -- and wonderful layers of flavour: the natural sweetness of pear, the savoury marinade, the gentle heat.
Cost: min £4-5
Feeds: min 2-3
(Feb 2022) sample prices Sainsbury's online: £13.50 for 2 short ribs (1.5k); stir fry beef strips at £3.50 for 350g/13oz; extra lean casserole steak at £5 for 500gm/17.6 oz
2. SEAFOOD
Creamy Seafood Pasta: make ahead Healthier High-Fibre Indulgence uses spelt pasta but there's an option for common wheat
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| Seafood Pasta with Wine & Cream Sauce, Italian Style 'Subtle layers of flavour. Wouldn't have tried this normally but half-fat, lower-carb is a winner.' Taster |
To simplify life, the pasta's components are partially cooked the day before serving; restaurant techniques are used to refresh the ingredients. It is presented hot, with perfect textures.
The rich, luxurious cream sauce is half-fat. Plenty of vegetables reduce the carbs in each serving and add decorative pops of colour. Spelt spinach tagliatelle* - more greenery - suits those averse to common wheat (but any pasta in any shape or colour will work well).
Frozen seafood makes the dish wallet-friendly (though fresh fish can be substituted - at a cost!).
Cost: £5'ish to max ???
Serves: 2-3 but multiplies easily
Comments
'This is really lovely, full of subtle layers of flavour. I'd normally avoid creamy sauces but this one's low-fat, and the low-carb element is a draw, too.' Retired Writer
'This is really lovely, full of subtle layers of flavour. I'd normally avoid creamy sauces but this one's low-fat, and the low-carb element is a draw, too.' Retired Writer
*Planet Organic, health food shops, specialist delis
**Iceland Premium Seafood Collection £8/ish700gm
***M&S £2.50
**Iceland Premium Seafood Collection £8/ish700gm
***M&S £2.50
3. VEGETARIAN
Sublime, memorable Hot Avocado Pilau Avocado Pillau/Pilaff is vegetarian but teams well with roast chicken...
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| Sublime Hot Avocado Pilau (first posted 5/11/2015) 'When I first tried this, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.' Taster |
This wonderful vegan dish is super-special. Warm, rich and comforting, it has multiple layers of exquisite flavour & texture.
It is also a great solution to waiting around for avocados to ripen and then finding they've gone past their best. Heated, the avocado softens, becoming even more buttery and beautiful.
67 prefers brown rice for this recipe -- its flavour, nuttiness and health-giving properties give the dish a delightful oomph. As long as the brown rice is cooked properly - instructions below - it will be fine. White rice is also good, as is orzo, the easily digestible rice shaped pasta.
This is the hot version of the popular Avocado Pilau Salad.
This is the hot version of the popular Avocado Pilau Salad.
Cost: £4.00
Feeds: 3-4 as main; 6 as side
Comments:
'I just loved the warmth and butteriness of the avocado, the contrasting crunch of pine nuts and the gorgeously savoury rice punctuated with the firm mushrooms and bits of tomato. I never tire of making it.' Blogger
4. VEGAN
Baked Mushroom Risotto: healthier risotto -- but still a knock-out indulgence
This risotto is not one of your ladle-by-ladle, pain-in-the-butt slightly arty risottos with the centre of each rice grain still uncooked. It is not loaded with butter and white carbs.
This risotto is a lower-cholesterol, high-fibre risotto and it's cooked in the oven. Some of the preparation needs to be done in advance and makes life a lot easier for cook. Brown rice replaces white to add fibre and slow down the absorption of carbs. 67 didn't bother with Arborio but a white rice would be fine.
Cost: £4.00
Serves: 6 as a side, 4 as a main
updated Feb 2022
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| 'Unlike other risottos, it's light even with brown rice.''the mushroom flavour emerged beautifully.' Tasters |
This risotto is not one of your ladle-by-ladle, pain-in-the-butt slightly arty risottos with the centre of each rice grain still uncooked. It is not loaded with butter and white carbs.
This risotto is a lower-cholesterol, high-fibre risotto and it's cooked in the oven. Some of the preparation needs to be done in advance and makes life a lot easier for cook. Brown rice replaces white to add fibre and slow down the absorption of carbs. 67 didn't bother with Arborio but a white rice would be fine.
Cost: £4.00
Serves: 6 as a side, 4 as a main
Comments:
'Risotto's are usually very heavy; this one's not. It's light and good. I had no idea you used brown rice.''Excellent hot; the mushroom flavour emerged beautifully.' Tasters
These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises. It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.
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