All posts by Rene Averett

Asian Recipes, Main Dish, Poultry

Delightful Thai Peanut Chicken with Broccoli

Image: Thai Peanut Chicken with Broccoli

I love cooking with a wok, but you don’t need one to cook Asian food. A heavy metal deep-sided skillet will work fine.  Prepare all your ingredients ahead of time and keep them close. Stir-fry is a quick cooking method using high heat, so you need to add the ingredients quickly.

This yummy recipe uses cayenne pepper and Asian Chili paste to add a spice to the dish. If you don’t like much spice, then you can omit them and still have a tasty, healthy main course. Pair this up with riced cauliflower, either cooked fresh or one of the frozen varieties to keep this a low carb meal.

Thai Peanut Chicken with Broccoli

3 tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce
4 tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
2 teaspoons Rice Wine Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
4 skinless, boneless Chicken Breast halves – cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons chopped Garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh Ginger Root
3/4 cup chopped Green Onions
2 /2 cups Broccoli Florets
1 tablespoon Asian Chile Paste
1/2 cup unsalted dry-roasted Peanuts

In a small bowl, add the soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Set aside.

Heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add chicken, garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly, until chicken is golden on the outside, about 5 minutes.

Reduce to medium heat, then add green onions, broccoli, peanuts, Asian chile, and the peanut butter mixture. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes, or until broccoli is tender, and chicken is cooked through.

Serve over riced cauliflower.

 

Condiments and Sauces, Main Dish, Mexican/Spanish Recipes, Pork, Recipes

Cinco de Mayo Tastes Great with Chipotle Chorizo Skillet Dish

photo: chipotle chorizo skillet

Are you ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? The 5th of May is a time to celebrate Mexico and the culture of these passionate people. I grew up on the border in El Paso, Texas, so I was inundated with the flavors of Mexican food early.

While at the grocery store, I picked up a jar of Chipotle Salsa Crema. Chipotles were not such a frequently mentioned word when I was growing up, but lately it and chorizo have become the new flavors of this century. Anyway, I went to the Herdez company’s recipes to see what sounded good with the salsa and found this combination sounded wonderful.

I’ve adapted it to work with a low carb lifestyle and managed to keep it below 10 net carbs. This does involve slightly smaller portions, so if you have carbs to spare, go ahead and make your portions a little larger. Otherwise, use a low carb side dish to help fill out the meal. You can use cauliflower rice, a salad, or asparagus for this purpose.

I made my dish with the Great Low Carb Bread Company’s rotini pasta, which is 7 net carbs per serving. Four servings are in an 8 ounce package, so I am using only two servings for this dish. I plan to make it again for this month’s celebration using 2 cups of spaghetti squash as a substitute. I believe the squash will be a great replacement and I’ll update this post after I try it. It saves about 1 1/2 carbs per serving to use spaghetti squash, and it is a good substitute if you can’t find low carb pasta.

Be sure to use the right chorizo. You want the sausage-style Mexican chorizo, not the one in a tube with a chile sauce with it that works great with scrambled eggs, and not the Spanish hard chorizo. Sometimes you can find the sausage in a bulk package but you can also use a tubed sausage. such as Don Juan brand. You want a ground meat you can break down in the skillet.

This is the first time I have tried toasting the pasta before cooking it. I wasn’t sure how well it would cook once it was toasted, but it works fine. It does take the pasta a little longer to cook. If you make this with spaghetti squash, skip the toasting step.  Instead, you will cook the spaghetti squash in the oven or microwave and use a fork to separate the strands, then just stir it in after you add the chorizo back to the pan.

I reduced the amount of Cotijo cheese used in the original recipe as I found the dish to be very salty and it seemed a lot of it came from the Cotijo. The sauce is also salty. If you can’t find Herdez Chipotle Salsa Cremosa, you can substitute any other brand you might find, or you can make your own from the recipe below the main dish.

If you’re looking for other Mexican food recipes, just type Mexican in the search on the top left. You’ll find many options. You’ll also find 16 other recipes in my booklet, Mexican Food for a Low Carb Lifestyle.

Chiptole Chorizo Skillet with Pasta

1 Tablespoons Olive oil
4 ounces Ziti, Rigatoni, Rotini, or medium Shells Low Carb Pasta, uncooked
1⁄2 cup White Onion, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons of Garlic, minced
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
Salt to taste
dash Black Pepper
1 /2 (16-ounce) jar Herdez® Chipotle Salsa Cremosa (433.7 grams)
2 cups Chicken Broth
8 ounces Mexican Chorizo, cooked
1/2 cup Mexican Crema
4 ounces Oaxaca or Chihuahua Cheese, crumbled or Mozzarella Cheese
2 ounces Cotija Cheese, finely crumbled
2 tablespoons Cilantro or Parsley, finely chopped (optional)

In a large skillet, break up the chorizo into pieces and cook until almost done. Use the spatula to continue to break the pieces down while you’re cooking. Set aside. If you are using the same skillet for the next step, then wipe it out with a paper towel.

In a large, deep oven-safe skillet (such as cast iron or copper), add oil and heat to medium.  Add uncooked pasta. Toast and fry the pasta, stirring often, for about 6 minutes.

Add onions, garlic, bell pepper, and black pepper to the toasted pasta and sauté for 3 or 4 minutes until the onions are softened.

Stir in the chipotle salsa cremosa and chicken broth.  Cover, reduce heat slightly, and continue cooking for 15-25minues or until pasta or spaghetti squash, if you are using it, is cooked through and most of the liquid is absorbed or reduced.

Turn the oven to the broiler setting.  Mix in the chorizo, Mexican crema and Oaxaca cheese. Reserve other cheese for garnish. Cook on low just until cheese melts.

Place skillet under the broiler on high. Broil until Cheese starts to bubble and brown lightly. Remove from oven. If your deep skillet doesn’t fit under the broiler, put it in the oven on 500 degrees (F) and cook for about 5 minutes.

Garnish with Cotija cheese and cilantro. Makes 6 servings.

To make Chipotle Salsa Crema if you can’t find it bottled, use this recipe from Laylita.

Chipotle Salsa Cremosa Recipe

1 cup Mexican Crema or Crème Fraiche
1-2 small Chipotles in Adobo, seeds removed
1 clove of Garlic
Juice of 1 Lime
Salt to taste

Place all the ingredients in a blender or mini-blender, like a Bullet or drink mixer. Pulse until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the spice level.

Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. The sauce will be thin, refrigerate to thicken it.

TIP: I found the flavors melded together more and the sauce was thicker after it had a chance to sit overnight. So, this is perfect to make the day before you want to serve it, then just reheat.

Nutrition Information_Chipotle Chrorizo

 

Main Dish, Seafood

Spicy Cod with Chorizo

Photo: Cod with Chorizo

Hola, amigos y amigas. Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, so I think  it’s a good time to start getting up some posts for those of you who like to celebrate, Let’s face it. If you like Mexican food, it’s just the perfect day, or maybe week, to celebrate!

I tried this recipe out about a the middle of March and loved it. I think it’s a slightly different take on your traditional fare, but still has all the flavors you love. I did adapt it a little bit for a low carb lifestyle and to use ingredients I had on hand. If you want to see the original, you can find it here.

For the breadcrumbs, I used Dixie Carb Counters Low Carb Bagel Chips. If you have a favorite low carb bread, you can use that also. Be aware that anything higher than 2 net carbs for the amount called for will add a few carbs to the recipe.

While we’re talking about the upcoming celebration, let me remind you that I have a collection of recipes–most of which are not on this blog–to help you enjoy Tex-Mex-style Mexican food at home without guilt. Check it out at here. It’s available at most e-book sellers and in paperback through Amazon in a 3-booklet compilation that includes Breakfast Choices and Magic Muffins.

 

Spicy Cod with Chorizo

3 Tbsp. Olive Oil, divided
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
1 Tbsp. chopped Parsley
1 Tbsp. fresh Oregano leaves
1 small Shallot, thinly sliced
2 oz. Spanish Chorizo sausage, bulk
2 Tbsp. Sherry or Red Wine Vinegar
4 6-oz. pieces skinless cod or halibut fillets
1/2 cup Low Carb Bread Crumbs

Heat oven to 425°.

To make breadcrumbs: Use 1 or 2 slices of low carb bread. Or use about 6 DCC Low Carb Bagel Chips. Put the bread in a food processor and pulse until you get coarse crumbs.

In a large ovenproof skillet, such as cast iron or copper, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown and crisp. Add a little salt and pepper. Pour crumbs into a bowl and add parsley and oregano and mix. Set aside.

Use a paper towel to wipe out the skillet. Heat and add the sliced shallot and crumbled chorizo. Stir and cook until chorizo is done, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a bowl, then add sherry or vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Wipe out the skillet again and heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Season the cod with a spicy seasoning salt on both sides. Cook until the bottom turns opaque, around 3 to 4 minutes. Put the skillet in the oven and roast until the cod is completely cooked, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Serve fish with the chorizo mixture and toasted breadcrumbs on top. Add a fresh salad to compliment the fish. I also pan fried green beans with sliced celery and diced ham as a side.

Serves 4.

Recipes, Seafood

Delectable Shrimp and Mushrooms in a Creamy Sauce

Photo of Shrimp and Mushrooms with Sauce

Delicious shrimp with a creamy sauce and lots of mushrooms is absolutely wonderful. This is an easy recipe worthy of a the finest restaurant. It quickly went into my favorites and make often file.

I used Dixie Carb Counters Skinni Spaghetti (4 net carbs per serving), and split one serving (1/4 package) to make two servings, so 2 net carbs for the pasta. You can also use 2 cups of spiral zucchini (zoodles) in place of the pasta. As side dishes, I made fresh salad and some steamed green beans.

I admit, this recipe is loaded with calories. Lots of butter equals calories, but the carb count is really low. If you are nervous about a high calorie meal, cut the butter in half. It will still be wonderful.

Shrimp and Mushrooms in Cream Cheese Sauce

1/4 package low carb spaghetti or zoodles
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
½ cup butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
¾ teaspoon dried basil
⅔ cup boiling water
½ pound shrimp, cooked or raw

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti or zoodles and cook until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Put a medium-sized heavy skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the mushrooms and sauté until tender. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add the shrimp if you are using raw shrimp and stir cook until they turn pink.

In the same pan, add 1/2 cup butter and the minced garlic. Cut the cream cheese into pieces and add to the pan, stirring and breaking it up as it melts.

Add the parsley and basil, stirring. Lower heat to simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring as needed. Mix in boiling water, a tablespoon at a time until the sauce is smooth.

Add the shrimp and mushrooms and stir. Simmer a few more minutes to heat. Add pasta or zoodles and stir together.

Makes two delicious servings.

Beef, Recipes

Delightful Corned Beef Tacos

Photo - corned beef tacos

I apologize for not being around much this month. Since it’s my birthday month, I spent quite a bit of time eating out or eating leftovers, but I did manage to cook a few new things during March.

If you have any corned beef left from St. Patrick’s Day, you can use it in this delicious fusion recipe of Mexican and Irish. Or you can do what I did and buy a pound of cooked corned beef from the grocery store deli. I had them cut it about 1/4 inch thick so that I could slice it into thin strips for the recipe.

Purple cabbage isn’t required and green cabbage will work just as well, but the reddish one is more colorful. The flavor is spicy and a bit sweet, so it makes for a nice tickle on the taste buds. I used La Banderita flour tortillas, which are 4 net carbs per tortilla. You can use one of the wheat ones that will save you a carb on each taco. Ideally, two tacos are a nice serving, but I’ve listed the carb count for each taco.

Corned Beef Tacos

1 pound thick-sliced Corned Beef
1 teaspoon Brown Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
4 low carb Flour Tortillas
1/2 cup Irish Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Slaw
1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1/4 cup white onion diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard

Make the slaw first. Put all ingredients into a bowl and stir together until it looks creamy. Refrigerate.

Cut the sliced corned beef into thin strips. In a small bowl, mix the mustard, cayenne pepper, and garlic together and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet, then add the corned beef. Cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in mustard mixture and stir cook the corned beef for about 3 to 5 minutes until it is completely covered and warmed through.

To serve, warm the tortillas over a flame or in the oven, wrapped in foil, for a few minutes. Spread corned beef mixture down the middle of each tortillas, spread the slaw over the meat, and top with shredded cheese.

Mix 2 tablespoons salsa with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise to make a spicy sauce for the tacos.