Healthy Nachos
Serves 4
Cals per serve 460
Pre time 20mins
Cook time 10mins
Please NOTE: The salsa is best when made at least 4 hrs prior to enjoy most flavoursome!
Ingredients:
230g beef mince
2 medium diced onions
1 diced red capsicum
2 diced green capsicum
1 cup beans (any kind you like)
170g tortilla chips
1 1/4 cup shredded cheese
1 diced avocado
2 diced tomatoes
1 diced spring onion
1 sliced jalapeno (optional)
salsa
Spices:
1 tsp child powder (optional)
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions:
1. Add beef mince, onions and capsicums to large pan. Cook over medium high heat until mince is done. Drain if needed.
2. Add child powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and beans to pan. Stir well and cook for about 3 mins. Remove from heat
3. Arrange half of chips on 2 large plates. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese. Top with half of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese. Top with remaining chips. Top with the remaining mince and then sprinkle with remaining cheese.
4. Microwave for 45-60secs until the cheese is melted
5. Top with desired toppings. Serve and Enjoy!
Home made salsa:
4 Serves
Ingredients:
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 chopped onion
2 minced garlic cloves
hand full coriander or parsley
1/2 small jalapeño (seeds in for spicy version or remove seeds for mild version)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar but you can also use lime or lemon juice)
Instructions:
1. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, coriander and jalapeno to food processor or blender and mix until smooth.
2. Transfer to a bowl and stir in salt and vinegar.
3. Refrigerate for min 4hrs for most flavoursome result!
Mongolian Beef
Serves 4
Calories per serve: 385cal (excluding rice)
Time to make: 10mins Prep 20mins Cook
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Serves 8
Approx 500cals per serve
Total Time 3.5hrs
1kg Beef Stew Meat cut into pieces
2 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp freshly ground pepper
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 medium Onions
7 cloves Garlic
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1.5 Tbsp Tomato Paste
1/4 cup Flour
2 cups dry Red Wine
2 cups Beef Broth
2 cups Water
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
4 large Carrots
1kg baby Potatoes
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 160deg C
Pat beef dry and season with salt and pepper.
Heat up heavy pot, heat olive oil and brown meat for about 5-8minutes.
Transfer meat to large plate.
Add onions, garlic, balsamic vinegar. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape brown bits off the bottom, about 5mins. Add tomato paste and cook a little longer. Add beef back in, sprinkle with flour and stir until flour is dissolved. Add wine, broth and water, bay leaf and thyme. Stir to loosen any brown bits off bottom of pot and bring to boil.
Cover with a lid and transfer to preheated oven, braise for 2hours.
Remove pot from oven and add carrots and potatoes. Cover and place back in oven for a further hour.
This tastes best the following day! Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Enjoy!
Serves 4
Calories per serve 251cal
1 Tbsp Oil
1 Red Onion, chopped
2 Garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp Paprika
1 Green capsicum/pepper chopped
400g Mushrooms
1 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
300ml Beef Stock
400g lean rump steak, sliced and fat removed
300ml Natural yoghurt
Serve with rice, make according to packet instructions. A 1 cup serve will keep you within your calorie allowance.
Veggie option mushroom stroganoff with rice. Double the amount of mushrooms.
Tip: Leave the yoghurt out while cooking to get to room temperature and let the beef and mushrooms cool before you add the yoghurt. This will help it not to curdle or split.
Serves 3
Calories per serve: 340
Time to make: 25 mins
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Vegetarian: Leave out the beef
I suggest dividing the spaghetti and meatballs into 5 portions; have one for dinner and one for lunch the next day. You have it with a side salad and cook pasta or mashed kumara/potatoes for the rest of the family.
Serves: 5
Calories: 309 per serve for meatballs and tomato sauce only
Meatballs
500g-600g Quality Mark beef mince
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or use 3/4 cup fresh, made in a food processor)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Generous pinch of salt and a good crack of black pepper
Sauce
3/4 cup red wine (or use stock – but I recommend wine for flavour)
1 1/2 cups beef stock
1/2 cup tomato paste
400g can chopped tomatoes in juice
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Handful halved ripe cherry tomatoes (optional)
To serve
Cooked spaghetti (or your favourite shape pasta, or mash)
Fresh basil leaves, torn
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Add the mince to a large bowl with the breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, egg, herbs, tomato paste, olive oil and season. Mix gently to combine using clean hands.
Shape the mixture into balls slightly bigger than a golf ball.
Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes to set.
Heat a little oil over a medium-high heat in a large frying pan and brown the meatballs all over (do this in batches).
Once browned, remove carefully with tongs and set aside on a plate.
Drain any oil from the pan and return it over a high heat.
Add the wine (or stock) and let it bubble for 30 seconds, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate all those crunchy caramelised meat juices from the meatballs.
Add the stock, tomato paste, tomatoes, oregano, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Stir.
Add the meatballs back to the pan and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to a thick pasta sauce consistency (it might take longer or less time).
Turn the meatballs over once or twice.
Add the cherry tomatoes (if using) and simmer another minute or so.
Season with salt and pepper, until it tastes right to you.
Serves: 1
Calories per serve: 366cal
Time to make 10 mins
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
To serve:
Makes 4
Calories per serve: 347cal
Time to make: 40 mins
INGREDIENTS
TO SERVE
DIRECTIONS
NOTE: Left over serves for lunch or for the freezer.
more to come 🙂