Tag Archives: yogurt

Asian Recipes, Breads, Recipes

Get a quick flatbread to the table in 15 minutes

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Photo: Naan flatbread

If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine, then you’re familiar with naan bread, that lovely flat bread that is served with sauce dishes. While it can be made with yeast so it rises more, I was delighted to find this simple recipe, which is made without yeast. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find I could make a low carb version using low carb flour in it and still get a very tasty bread to sop up my curry sauce.

I added the garlic and herb seasoning — I used Mrs. Dash, but any brand will work– and curry powder. Not everyone is as thrilled with curry as I am, so feel free to omit it. This recipe is flexible, so if you want to add onion powder or even chopped green onions to it, you can. Look for the lowest carb plain yogurt you can find. These vary quite a bit in the carb count, so try to get one around 7.5 g or less per serving.

Simple Naan Bread

1 cup Carb Counters All Purpose LC Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Sugar Substitute
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 teaspoon Curry powder (optional)
3 tablespoons Butter
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash (R) Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend

In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder and sugar substitute together. Add olive oil, yogurt, garlic and her seasoning, and curry powder, if using. Mix together until the dough pulls together and is elastic.

Separate the dough into 4 balls. Lightly powder a bread board with a little low carb flour, then pat one of the balls into an oval shape. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out in an oblong shape until it is about 1/4″ thick.

Heat a heavy skillet, such as a cast iron or copper skillet, over medium high heat. Spray the pan with baking spray (like PAM), then cook the flatbread for about 2 minutes or until the bottom begins to show a mottled brown pattern. Turn and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. Remove to a plate and spread melted butter over the cooked bread.

Repeat with the other three balls. Makes 4 servings.

Breads, Recipes

Celebrate Fall with a Plum Bread

Photo: Loaf of plum bread

This fall, a friend gifted us with some fruit from her garden. She included plums, not enough to make jam, but sufficient for a plum bread. So I found this recipe, which is versatile enough to substitute in nectarines or peaches. I adapted it to low carb and tried it out.

First, I didn’t put it in a bread pan big enough for the dough and foolishly poured it all in when I saw it was overfilled hoping it would rise to a nice tall loaf. Unfortunately, the batter wasn’t thick enough to stand on its own while it cooked, so it oozed over the side of the pan, as you can see from the photo.

However, the flavor is wonderful and eating lumps of it didn’t bother me at all. But for this recipe, use a standard-sized bread pan. This bread us very moist and can be a breakfast or dessert bread.

I use a mixture of low carb flours fours for my bread. In this case, I used Bakesquick for 1/2 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup CarbQuick, and 1/4 cup Almond Flour. If you use Coconut Flour, use 2 tablespoons for 1/4 cup of flour and add an extra egg or egg whites.

Photo: Slice of plum bread

Plum Cake

1 cup chopped Plums (Nectarines or Peaches can also be used)
1 1/2 cups Low Carb Flour
1/2 cup Butter
3/4 cup Sugar Substitute
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
2 Eggs
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
6 ounces Vanilla Low Carb yogurt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (F.) Cut a parchment paper liner for the bottom of your loaf pan, spray with baking spray.

Remove the pits from the plums and chop them.

In a large bowl, use a mixer cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat into the mixture.

In a separate bowl, add flour, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda and stir together.

Add 1/2 of the yogurt to the butter mixture, then add 1/2 of the flour mixture. Repeat mixing in the remainder.

Stir in the chopped plums. Pour into your prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until the top is golden brown. Serve warm. Reheats easily in the microwave.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Nutrition information per serving (8 per loaf):
Calories:245 Fat:21.3 g Net Carbs: 6.2 g Protein:8.1 g

Nutrition information per serving (10 per loaf):
Calories:196 Fat:17.1 g Net Carbs: 5.0 g Protein: 6.5 g

If you try this recipe, please let me know how it turned out and how you liked it.

Desserts, Recipes

Strawberry Mock Trifle is cool and easy

Photo: Mock Strawberry Trifle

This little creation uses a vanilla magic muffin along with low carb yogurt, sliced strawberries and whipped topping to create a variation of trifle that is most satisfying. The muffin cooks in a minute, then you just assemble the rest, so it goes together quickly.

Strawberry Mock Trifle

For the muffin:
1 tablespoon Butter
1 oz. Cream Cheese
2 tablespoons Egg Whites
2 tablespoons Sugar Substitute
2 tablespoon Low Carb Flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Other ingredients:
2 oz. low carb Fruit Yogurt or Dairy mix such as CarbMasters fruit
1/2 cup sliced or chopped Strawberries with juice
1/4 cup Whipped Topping or
use 1/4 heavy cream and whip it with sugar substitute to taste
1 tablespoon Brandy (optional)

In a microwavable cup or bowl, add the butter and the cream cheese. Microwave for about 15 seconds to soften. Stir together with a spatula or small whisk. Add the egg whites, vanilla, and sugar substitute and mix until it looks creamy. Add the flour and baking powder and mix until it is all worked into a batter. Smooth down the sides and microwave for one minute.

Let cool for about 15 minutes.

Cut or tear the cake into pieces. Put into a larger bowl and sprinkkle brandy over the top if you are using it. Add 1/3 carton (2 oz.) of flavored yogurt of your choice. (I use strawberry or another complimentary fruit flavor.) Add strawberries and whipped topping and mix it altogether until fruit, cake and yogurst are evenly distributed.

Spoon into two one cup serving bowls and add a dollop of whipping cream on top. Add a mint leaf for garnish if you wish. Serve.

Makes two servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories:132.4 Fat:8.6 g Net Carbs:5.5 g Protein: 6.0 g

Desserts, Recipes

Pena Colada Frozen Pops

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As we move into Hot August Nights in Reno, it’s definitely time for a cool down treat, so I’m continuing to make simple, delicious, and low carb frozen treats for a nice afternoon refresher. I love pineapple, but it isn’t remotely low carb. Still, if you don’t over-do it, you can enjoy this delicious fruit along with another one that also is a bit too sweet. I combined the flavors of a Pena Colada, without the rum, into a tasty ice.

2 cups fresh Pineapple
6 fresh Bing Cherries
1 container Vanilla Carbmasters Yogurt or other low carb yogurt
2 tablespoons Sugar Substitute
1/2 teaspoon Rum Extract (optional)

Set up molds to hold the frozen pops on a tray that will fit in the freezer. Around my house,that can be a challenge and I’ve used various dishes for a tray. I also use silicone cupcake molds for my frozen treats. They are easy to unmold and since I have many individual ones,it’s easy to vary the shapes and number of them I need. But you can also use pop molds or a regular cupcake pan.

In the blender, mix all the ingredients except the cherries, pulsing until they are completely pureed. Add the cherries and pulse a few more times to have small pieces in the mix.

Pour or spoon into the molds, filling them about 1/4 inch from the top. Carefully move the filled molds to the freezer. After an hour and half, add popsicle sticks if you wish. I make them without most of the time. Let them freeze another four hours, then unmold. A little warm water in the bottom of the pan will help if they don’t pop right out. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in a plastic bag to put back in the freezer. Be sure to keep one out to eat right away.

Makes about 6 to 8 frozen pops.

Nutrition Information per pop:
Calories: 15.4 Fat: 0.4 g, Net Carbs: 2.6 g Protein: 0.2 g

Note: This same recipe works well with strawberries, raspberries, and other frozen fruit. Simply replace the pineapple and cherries with your choice. Omit the rum flavoring and put in a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice, if you wish.

Desserts

Frozen Cranberry Cream is cooling

Let’s end the hot days of July and move into the even hotter days of August with a refreshingly cool frozen dessert that is easy to make. I happen to be one of those people who has cranberries in my freezer, but this recipe can use any berry in it. In fact, most berries don’t require the first step, which is making the cranberries into a jam. It’s not hard and it’s worth it if you like the taste of this seasonal berry.

A key ingredient in this is yogurt or a yogurt substitute. Most vanilla yogurts are not very low carb, so look for the Greek yogurt with the lowest carb count you can find (the carbs minus the fiber and any sugar substitutes in it).  Or you can use a low carb yogurt-like substitute, such as CarbMasters Dairy Blend.

Frozen Cranberry Cream

To make the Cranberry Sauce:
1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries
2 tablespoons Sugar Substitute
1/4 cup water

Put the water in a small saucepan and add the sugar. Heat over medium high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When the water comes to a near boil, add the cranberries. Cook, stirring frequently until the cranberries pop and the mixture begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and let them cool for about 10 minutes. They should continue to thicken. Save about two tablespoons of the mix back and use the rest for the cream.

1/3 cup Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce
6 oz. Greek Vanilla Yogurt or CarbMasters Vanilla Yogurt
1 tablespoon Sugar Free Honey or Sugar Substitute
2 tablespoons slivered or shaved almonds, chopped
2 tablespoons Cool Whip or other topping

In a 2 cup bowl, mix yogurt, cranberry sauce, and honey together until well blended. Add the cool whip and almonds, and stir until mixed in.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in the freezer for at least two hours. Remove about 30 minutes before you want to serve to let it soften.

Use a spoon to scoop the desert out and put it in serving cups or glasses. Garnish with a teaspoon of cranberry sauce and a sprig of spearmint.

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition Information with Greek Yogurt per serving:
Calories:71 Fat: 2.1 g Net Carbs: 7.9 g Protein: 4.4 g

Nutrition Information with CarbMasters per serving:
Calories:32 Fat: 2.1 g Net Carbs: 1.9 g Protein: 0.8 g

Note: Raspberries and Strawberries will come in around the same carb count, but the blueberries will be just a little higher.