I suspect I am not alone in being tired of figuring out how to feed myself. Raise your hand if you've eaten way too many cans of tuna and bowls of soup the last couple years?
Fairly early on, I realized that I needed to have a dinner plan before the Thai place around the corner opened. Or be able to throw something together for lunch in less time than it took to walk down the street to the Grub Hut. Even so, the "Covid 15" can be largely attributed to take out noodles and fries.
I'm about a month into scaling back on the carbs, with about 5 weeks to go before I'm supposed to be ready to ride the Costa Brava on horseback. I was fatter and less fit when I was cantering down the El Camino Real in Oaxaca five years ago, but there's no question it will be easier and more enjoyable if I shed a few pounds.
While a salad or veggies and a protein is an easy low carb meal, it can get a bit monotonous. It's a fine fallback (right along with those cans of tuna), but I need some variety.
Here are some ideas--a few from my own memory banks, and some that I've come across on the Interwebs that are appealing enough to try out.
Almond crusted fish
I tend to shy away from baking fish, but this almond & parmesan crusted cod recipe sounds pretty good.
Artichoke soup
Artichokes have a fair number of carbs, but also a lot of fiber. If you skip the sourdough bread, Duarte's creamy artichoke soup can still be on the low carb menu.
Beef phô
Obviously, traditional phô noodles are out, but you can either skip them or substitute Shirataki noodles. In moderation! I have more than once made myself miserable eating too many Shirataki noodles in one sitting. Do not advise ever eating more than a half package.
Buffalo chicken bites (or wings, or thighs)
A spin on naked wings or chicken strips. Saute or roast, toss with Frank's Red Hot sauce. Done. I tried marinating the chicken bites in Frank's and tossing in "Pork Panko" before roasting. They were okay, but didn't come out very crispy, so it didn't add much. If I try that again, I think I'd skip the marinade & dip them in egg before dredging in a Pork Panko/Parmesan mix.
Camarones al a diabla
I miss La Fiesta's rendition of this dish. I'm not sure about this particular recipe, but it uses proper chiles & is pretty light on the tomato component. Seems like a good starting point.
Cheese stuffed meatballs
Came across this recipe for stuffed meatballs and it sounded both tasty and different than anything I've made recently.
Chicken in a pot
Basically, whole legs (leg & thigh) braised with vegetables and seasonings. Can take this a number of directions--think cacciatore, lemon chicken, creamy mushroom, coconut curry.
Chicken lettuce wraps
Traditional recipes are packed with sugar, both in the chicken and the dipping sauces. They don't need to be sweet--I like to use plenty of fresh ginger and shitake mushrooms and opt for a more savory flavor palette. You can also try this substitute for the sugar-laden Hoisin sauce.
Chicken (or fish) piccata
Lemon, butter, and capers play well with both chicken and fish. You can just skip dredging the protein in flour. If you want to thicken the sauce slightly, you can use a little unflavored gelatin.
Chicken shawarma kebab
I have not attempted these kebabs, but they also meet the "sounds good and different" criteria.
Egg rolls in a bowl
This deconstructed version of an egg roll is basically a braised cabbage dish. If you like cabbage, it's pretty good for something different. The lettuce wrap filling would be pretty good this way, too.
Fajitas
You could use some lettuce in lieu of tortillas, or just knife and fork it. This is basically just another protein + veg option, but the marinade and lightly-cooked peppers and onions add a little interest.
Fish (or chicken) Veracruzano
Diced tomatoes with peppers, onions, olives, and capers is good with all sorts of seafood and chicken.
Fried artichokes
I'm seeing some recipes for "air-fried" artichoke hearts that look promising. None seem quite right to me, I'll have to experiment.
Rajas poblanas (with chicken)
Another thing I miss from La Fiesta. I'm not sure about adding kale, but Rick Bayless generally knows what he's doing.
Spaghetti squash bolognese
Did you know you can cook Spaghetti squash whole in the microwave? Simply stab it several times & nuke it. It's much easier (and safer) to cut once it's softened. It comes out a bit waterier--I might try popping it under the broiler for a bit the next time.
Za'atar roasted cauliflower
One of the Green Chef meal kits involved roasted cauliflower. I don't know why I never think to do that, it's tasty. This recipe might be a reason to hunt down some Za'atar.
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