Category Archives: Main Dish

Main Dish, Seafood

Simple but delicious Cod with Lemon

Photo: Baked Lemon Cod

A long ways back, I helped put on a Scandinavian feast for an SCA group. One of the recipes I found came from an unlikely source – the Betty Crocker International Cookbook. This wonderful cod with lemon is simple to make and tastes delicious. When I served it for the feast, everyone raved about it. Since this is a fish recipe, it technically works for a meatless Monday offering, but it’s good anytime. Cod is one of my favorites although the recipe can work with halibut as well. The key is to have a nice thick piece of fish, at least one-half to one inch thick.

Enjoy this Norse fish course with riced cauliflower and a green vegetable. I made stir fried Brussels sprouts to provide a hearty serving of nutrition and flavor. It also pairs well with broccoli.

OVNSSTEKT TORSK MED SITRON
(Oven Baked Cod with Lemon)

Photo: Lemon Cod dinner with Brussels sprouts

1 lb. Cod Fillets, at least 1/2-inch thick
1⁄4 cup Butter, melted
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
1⁄4 cup Low Carb Flour
1⁄2 teaspoon Salt
1⁄8 teaspoon White Pepper
Paprika
1 Lemon, sliced thinly

Preheat oven to 350 .

Cut cod into four serving pieces.

Mix butter and lemon juice and set aside. In a separate bowl mix flour, salt and white pepper together.

Dip one piece of cod in the butter and lemon mixture. Roll in the flour mixture to coat. Place into an 8×8-inch baking pan or an oven-safe skillet, such as a cast iron or copper one. Repeat the dip and dredge step with each piece of cod.

Pour any remaining butter mixture over the top. Sprinkle with paprika. Place a thin slice of lemon on top of each fillet.

Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes. The fish should flake easily with a fork.

Garnish with lemon slices and fresh chopped parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

Graphic: Nutrition Information Baked Cod with Lemon

Recipes, Soups and Stews, Vegetarian

Warming Broccoli with Irish Cheddar Soup

Photo Broccoli Cheese Soup

Switching on a dime, the temperatures in Reno went from spring-like mid-50s to snowing today. Perfect time for delicious and warming soup. I ran across a recipe for broccoli cheese soup and made a couple of small changes to make this scrumptiously rich-tasting version using sharp Irish cheddar cheese.

Broccoli Soup with Irish Sharp Cheddar Cheese

3 tablespoon Butter, melted
1/2 cup Onion, chopped
1 clove Garlic, minced
3 tablespoons All Purpose Low Carb Flour
1 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Water
2 cups Chicken Stock
2 1/2 to 3 cups Broccoli, chopped
1 Carrot, peeled and chopped
2 Celery stalk, cleaned and diced
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Spicy Seasoning
7 oz. Kerry Gold Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large pot, melt butter and sauté onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to make a paste. Add the chicken stock and stir or whisk to blend the flour in, then add the cream and water. Stir together over medium heat.

Add the vegetables and stir together. Add the spicy seasoning and stir, then lower the heat to a simmer. Let cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Add cheese, reserving about 1/4 cup for topping, then stir until it melts. Add the nutmeg, if desired.

Serve in one cup bowls and top with a pinch of reserved cheese.

Makes 4 to 6 servings depending on appetite.

Image: Nutrition Information Broccoli with Irish Cheddar Soup

Main Dish, Poultry, Recipes

Easy Chicken with Riced Cauliflower Dish

Photo: Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

This is a quick-to-make one skillet dinner that tastes like comfort food, especially on chilly winter nights. Based on a Green Giant recipe, it is adapted for low carb and for low sodium.  The changes to the recipe for the low sodium are listed after the regular recipe. You add extra chicken to make six servings instead of four and also get a little less cauliflower to keep the sodium under 100 mg.

This is flexible if you want to add another 1/2 cup of vegetable to it. Mushrooms, carrots, or shredded cabbage would work well in it. Carrots will pop the carbs up a one or two, so use them in sparingly.

Easy Skillet Chicken & Riced Cauliflower

This yummy skillet dish is based on a Green Giant recipe. It’s easy, delicious, and a snap to make.

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small Onion, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
2 cups Riced Cauliflower
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1/4 cup Kohlrabi or Broccoli stems, chopped
1/4 cup Sweet Peppers, chopped
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Oregano
Seasoning Salt to preference
Pepper

Put chicken pieces in a bowl and sprinkle seasoning salt, salt and pepper on it, then mix the seasonings into the chicken.

In a large non-stick, deep-sided skillet, heat oil over medium heat, then brown the chicken, stirring to make sure both sides are browned. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add onion, stir, and cook about 3 minutes until it is softened. Add cauliflower and garlic and continue to stir and cook for another 3 minutes. Add the peppers and kohlrabi or broccoli stems, then stir in broth.

Bring the pan to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer and cook about 5 more minutes until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is completely cooked. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and fresh oregano.

Makes 4 servings

For Low Sodium, substitute the following quantities:
1 1/2 pounds boneless Chicken Breasts
1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth, or make your own
Mrs. Dash Seasoning of choice

Image: Nutrition Information for Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

Asian Recipes, Poultry, Recipes, Seafood, Vegetarian

Shrimp and Chicken Fried Cauli-rice

Photo: Shrimp fried Cauli-rice

Chinese New Year is coming up tomorrow, January 25th to start the Year of the Rat. But there’s nothing ratty about this quick-to-make and tasty cauliflower fried rice. You can get an easy start by using Green Giant’s Fried Rice Blend with carrots and broccoli all chopped up into crumbles to cook quickly. Or you can use one of the frozen rice blends with peas and carrots.

If you want the meat version, get pre-grilled chicken from the grocery store and shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. Add in shrimp and you have a great celebration fried cauliflower rice that is low carb and delicious. To make this meatless for Meatless Monday, use just the shrimp or add tofu cubes. To make it vegetarian, use tofu only.

I did use a little too much soy sauce in mine, so I cut back on it in the recipe, but adjust to your own taste.

Shrimp and Chicken Fried Cauli-rice

12 oz. package Green Giant “Cauliflower Crumbles” Fried Rice Blend
1/3 cup sliced Snow Peas, fresh
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 teaspoons Sesame Oil
2 teaspoons Garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Ginger Root, minced or grated
1/3 cup Chicken Breast, cooked and chopped or Tofu, cubed
1/4 pound small Shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 Eggs
2 stalks Green Onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
1/4 teaspoon Red Chile Flakes (optional)

Slice snow peas into small pieces and set aside. Slice green onions into thin slices using both the white and green parts.

In a deep skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for about 2 minutes. Add the fried rice blend vegetables and stir and cook for about 7 minutes until they are softened. Add the snow peas and chicken (if using) and cook two more minutes.

Beat the eggs in a bowl and set aside for now.

Add the sesame oil, then add the shrimp and chile flakes to the mix. Cook until the shrimp start to turn pink, then add the beaten eggs and stir into the rice. Cook until the egg is done, then add the green onions and stir in. Remove from heat and stir in soy sauce.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Info for Fried Cauli-rice.

Italian Inspired Recipes, Main Dish, Recipes, Vegetarian

Italian Vegetable Sauce pairs with spaghetti squash

Image: Italian Veggie Sauce

Looking for a little comfort food on these cold winter nights? Want to keep on your Meatless Monday plan? Look no further!

This yummy meatless sauce with Italian seasonings and zucchini pairs well with spaghetti squash to give you a delicious and low carb alternative to pasta. While it comes in a little higher in carbs than I usually aim for with my recipes, it is still only 13.5 net carbs per serving.

If you’re just not into a meatless sauce, then feel free to add ground beef and/or Italian sausage to the dish. It works great either way.

Italian Vegetable Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1/4 cup Onions, chopped
3 Sweet Mini-Peppers
1 teaspoon Garlic
1 15-ounce can Diced Italian Style Tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning Blend
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 ounces Red Wine
3 cups Spaghetti Squash
1 cup Zucchini, diced
1/2 cup Mushrooms, sliced
1 cup Spinach, fresh

Preheat oven to 385 degrees (F.)

Cut the spaghetti squash in half, remove the seeds, rub with a little olive oil, and place face down on a foil-covered baking pan. Bake for about 40 minutes until a fork inserted into the squash goes through easily. Remove and set aside to cool.

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil, then add onions and garlic. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes until the onion sweats. Add tomatoes, seasonings, and wines. Stir and cook for a few minutes, then lower the heat to simmer and cook about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should be thickening. Add zucchini and cook about 10 minutes until it is almost tender. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook another few minutes.

Use a fork to separate the spaghetti strands of the squash and warm in the oven or a microwave for about three minutes.

Add the spinach to the sauce and stir it in until it is limp.

Put 3/4 cup of spaghetti squash on a plate, and top with 1/4 of the vegetable sauce. Grate Italian cheese over the top. Serve with a salad.

Makes 4 servings.

Image: Nutrition Info