One Pot Mexican Rice

All cooked in one pot!! Not much washing up, quick and easy, what more could you want??
Oh yea you also have a very tasty syn free on extra easy meal or side dish.
This is lovely paired up with a juicy salmon fillet or chicken.

The whole pan served 2/4 people depending how hungry you are.

Ingredients

1 onion diced
8oz cremini mushrooms sliced
1 courgette diced
1 garlic cloves chopped
1 red chilli chopped
1 red pepper diced
1 tin tomatoes chopped
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tin black beans drained and rinsed
1 cup rice
1.5 cups water
handful chopped coriander
juice of 1 lime
salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms, pepper and courgette fry for 2 minutes, in blender blitz the chilli and garlic then add to the pan, fry for 1 minute, stir in all the spices and tomatoes, add the black beans, stir in the rice and water, season to taste, bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is cooked.
Stir in the coriander and lime juice.

Pico de Gallo (Salsa)

This is a fantastic salsa!! it is so versatile it goes with anything and is just as great by itself with some chips to dip for a treat!!
It is so easy to make and best of all syn free on extra easy.
I first made this dish to go with the Mexican Salmon Stack.

Ingredients

6 tomatoes deseeded

1 garlic clove chopped

juice of 1 lime

1 onion chopped

1 red and 1 green chilli deseeded and chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp chilli powder

¼ tsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp salt

handful coriander finely chopped

Method

Couldn't be simpler, put everything but the coriander in a blender and blitz until it is all combined and coarsely chopped. Pour into a bowl and stir in the chopped coriander. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for the flavours to mingle.

Fiery Asian Slaw

This is a great side dish for fish, chicken, beef, pork anything really!!
It is crunchy, has a kick and is so tasty that it gets your taste buds tingling and your mouth begging for more as so many flavours bounce off your tongue!!

Unfortunately it isn't syn free, but with all these fantastic superfree ingredients and so much flavour it is worth the small amount of syns it is!!

The whole batch is 5 syns on extra easy and i reckon as a side or in a salad it served about 4 people.

Ingredients

1 bag of slaw mix, i got mine from Asda, it had a ranch dressing in it, which my hubby had on his salad.
100ml fresh orange juice  2 syns
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil  2 syns
1 tbsp hot chilli sauce (sriracha) 0.5 syns
1 tsp grated ginger
½ tsp honey  0.5 syns
handful chopped coriander

Method

It couldn't be simpler, whisk all the wet ingredients together, then mix in the rest. let it rest for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours infuse.

Orange,Harissa and Giant Cous Cous Salad

This is a beautifully, light and refreshing salad, it compliments any meat or fish dish, or is great by its self.
It has a smoky kick from the harissa and a sweet note from the oranges with a slight tang from the lemon, the combination of flavours tingle your taste buds.

The whole dish is 5 syns on extra easy

It goes great with Griddled Chermoula Pork

Serves 6 as a side dish and 4 as a main

Ingredients

1 packet of giant cous cous, cooked as per packet instructions
4 oranges, 1 juiced, the rest segmented 2 syns
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp harissa 3 syns
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 red onion finely chopped
10 cherry tomatoes quartered
half a cucumber, peeled and de seeded, then finely chopped
handful of each coriander leaves and mint leaves, chopped

Method

Mix together the orange juice, harissa, lemon juice, cumin and ground coriander.
In a large bowl combine the rest of the ingredients, then stir in the dressing, leave to stand for 30 minutes then serve.

Griddled Chermoula Pork

This dish is normally done with lamb but as i couldn't get the cut of lamb i needed i decided to substitute it with pork and it turned out lovely.
It is sweet, spicy and juicy. It is great hot or cold.

3 syns for the whole tenderloin on extra easy.

Ingredients

1 large pork tenderloin all the fat removed and cut into 8 pieces.
½ red onion
1 small bunch of coriander
3 cm ginger
juice ½ lemon
1 tbsp honey 3 syns
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric
salt and pepper to season


Method

Blitz everything but the pork in a blender, rub the marinade into the pork and leave it to marinade for  at least 2 hours.
Heat a griddle pan until it smokes, then spray the pork with frylight and griddle for 3-4 minutes on each side.

I served the pork with a beautiful Orange, Harrisa and  Giant Cous Cous Salad.

Crab and Prawn Singapore Noodles

I love Singapore noodles from the Chinese, so when i came across a recipe for them i decided to adapt it for Slimming World, so instead of using lots of syns, i have created a syn free noodle dish with all the taste and flavour of what you will get from a Chinese takeaway, in fact i would even say it tastes better.

It went really well with a big bowl of Crispy Kale

Syn free on extra easy

Ingredients

1 packet of vermicelli noodles
½ tsp turmeric
2 tsp sweet curry powder
4 spring onions sliced diagonally
1 red chilli
1 garlic clove
1 red pepper sliced
200g crab meat
20 cooked prawns
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 egg beaten
handful coriander leaves

Method

Cook the noodles as per packet instructions.
Blitz the chilli and garlic in a blender or finely chop.
In a wok sprayed with frylight pour in the egg and swirl around to make a thin omelette, toss and cook on the other side until set. remove and chop up.
In a wok sprayed with frylight, fry the onions and red pepper, add the garlic and chilli, turmeric and curry powder and fry for 1 minute, stir in the noodles and stir together, then stir through the crab, prawns, egg and coriander until warmed through, pour in the soy sauce and mix together then serve.

Liver and Bacon Sauté with Roasted New Potatoes

This may not be a dish for everyone as a lot of people don't like liver, but personally I love it and would encourage you to try it!
There is so much flavour to this dish and it is very low in syns. As the whole pot is 1 syn on extra easy.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

1 lb new potatoes
4 spring onions sliced diagonally
2 thick bacon chops, all fat removed and diced, or 1 large gammon steak
2 tsp paprika
250g liver sliced
200ml hot vegetable stock
1 tsp flour 1 syn
salt and pepper
4 tbsp fat free natural yoghurt

Method

Halve the new potatoes and boil until tender, let them dry, then lay them on a baking tray sprayed with frylight and spray them again then roast for about 20 minutes until they are golden and crispy.
Meanwhile in a large pan fry the bacon until it is golden. Season the liver with the paprika, salt and pepper and stir in the flour. Add the liver to the pan and fry until cooked to your liking. Add the spring onions and potatoes to the pan to warm through. Then divide between 2 plates.
Add the stock to the pan and scrap all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan to make a very tasty gravy, pour over the meals, dollop 2 tbsps of yoghurt on top of each and sprinkle with coriander.

Red Lentil, Jalapeno and Lime Soup

I was a bit apprehensive about this soup as i don't usually like beans and pulses, i was worried it would have a really grainy texture.
I couldn't have been more wrong, it was smooth and creamy!
You have a bite from the jalapenos and a zing from the lime, that makes you just keep on eating it, i had to go back for more!!

It is syn free on extra easy, and the pot i made served 6.

Ingredients

1 large onion chopped
2 carrots chopped
2 green chillies deseeded
1 inch ginger
1 tsp cumin seeds
4 tbsp red lentils
500g passata
750ml vegetable stock
salt and pepper
zest and juice of 1 lime
handful coriander leaves
6 tbsp fat free yogurt

Method

In a blender blitz the chilli and ginger.
In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions and carrots until soft. Add the ginger and chillies and fry for 1 minute, add the cumin seeds and lentils, stir together then pour in the passata and stock, season to taste, then bring to a boil and simmer over a low heat for about 45 minutes, and the lentils and carrots are soft.
Using either a stick blender or a normal blender, blend the soup until it is smooth, return to the heat and warm through, take off the heat and stir in the lime juice and zest.

Serve up with a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkling of chopped coriander.

Butternut Squash and Coriander Fried Rice

I made up this rice to go with my No Butter Chicken Curry, and it complimented it wonderfully.
The sweetness of the butternut squash went so well with the spicy sauce.
It is so easy to make also, and again syn free on extra easy!!
This rice dish would go well with any curry, Cajun Salmon, or any cut of meat with a spicy rub.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

½ butternut squash diced into 1cm cubes
2 cups cooked rice
handful of chopped coriander leaves
butter frylight
salt and pepper

Method

Lay the butternut squash cubes in a single layer on a baking tray sprayed with frylight, spray and season them. Bake in the oven for 15/20 minutes, then toss them and spray again, bake for another 15/20 minutes until the are golden, set aside.

In a large frying pan or wok, sprayed with butter frylight, toss in the cooked rice, butternut squash and coriander, season and gently toss until warmed through, then serve.

No Butter Chicken Curry

Butter Chicken on Slimming World, who'd have thought, ok so technically there isn't any butter in it, but it melted like butter and was so flavoursome!!

This has got to be one of the most tastiest currys i have had. You can make it as spicy as you want, by adjusting the chilli flakes. Get this it is SYN FREE!! yes i said syn free on extra easy.......

The batch i made served 4

Ingredients

4 chicken breast diced

2 red onions chopped

2 inches of grated ginger 

1 tsp sweetener

2 tsps cumin seeds

1 tsp turmeric

2 tsp chilli flakes

1 tbsp garam masala

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp tomato puree

500 ml chicken stock

salt and pepper

handful chopped coriander leaves

½ cup fat free yogurt optional, i didn't use it.

Method

In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions until soft and golden, to stop them burning before they are soft, every 5 minutes, i put a dash of water in with them and cover the pot for 2 minutes, this helps them become soft like butter, you will need to fry them for about 30 minutes.

Add the ginger and the next 7 ingredients stir into a paste and cook for 1 minute, then add the chicken, stir to coat the chicken and cook for 3 minutes, stir in the stock and season, bring to a boil then simmer over a low heat for 1 hour.

If using the yogurt, remove from the heat and stir it in then serve. I served mine with Butternut Squash and Coriander Fried Rice, and sprinkled it with the coriander leaves.

Orange and Balsamic Orzo Salad

This is a gorgeous salad, it's light, refreshing and zingy! Sweetness from the honey, a twang from the balsamic vinegar and a combination of both from the oranges which brings both flavours together. Full of lovely super free and as colourful as a rainbow.

This salad goes beautifully with Orange and Ginger Tilapia

The whole dish is 2.5 syns on extra easy and it served 3 as a main dish or 5 as a side.

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked orzo or any other small pasta
8 cherry tomatoes quartered
3 inches of cucumber peeled deseeded and sliced
4 spring onions finely sliced
segments of 1 large orange
handful of chopped coriander leaves
50ml freshly squeezed orange juice 1 syn
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dijon mustard 0.5 syn
1 tsp honey 1 syn
salt and pepper to taste


Method

Mix together the first 6 ingredients.
whisk together the remaining ingredients, then pour over the pasta and mix together, let it sit for 30 minutes then serve.
I served this with Orange and Ginger Tilapia

Butternut Squash, Mushroom and Gorgonzola Pilaf

This is a warming, earthy dish, full of herby woodland flavours. You have the woodiness of the mushrooms, sweetness from the squash and a creamy sharp bite from the cheese. It is all brought together by the wild and basmati rice.

The cheese is optional, if you do use it, it is 4.5 syns for 25g on extra easy, unfortunately you can't use it as your healthy extra A.

preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

½ a butternut squash, peeled and diced

1 large onion chopped

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 punnet of button mushrooms halved

1 cup basmati and wild rice rinsed

2 cups vegetable stock

15g dried wild mushrooms rehydrated and finely chopped

1 tsp finely chopped sage

1 tsp italian seasoning or mixed herbs

handful of chopped coriander leaves

50g gorgonzola optional

salt and pepper

Method

Lay the squash out of a tray sprayed with frylight, spray the squash and season, roast in the oven for 25/30 minutes.

In a large pan with a lid, fry the onions in frylight until soft, add the garlic fry for 1 minute then add the mushrooms and fry until golden, stir in the rice and toast for 1 minute. Stir in the stock and add the herbs, season and cover, simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked through and all the stock has dissolved.

Remove from the heat, stir in the coriander, squash and cheese, then serve.

Jalapeno and Coriander Rosti

I love potatoes and how versatile they are, but any potato that is fried is alway at the top of the list.

I love the kick from the spice and as coriander is my favourite herb it adds a delicious flavour.

The rostis go so well with chipotle yogurt and cajun salmon and a big salad!

They are syn free on extra easy.

Ingredients

1lb potatoes, i used maris piper

1 onion

1 tsp ground cumin

1 green chilli finely chopped

handful of coriander leaves chopped

1 egg beaten

salt and pepper

Method

Grate the potato and onion onto a clean tea towel, then squeeze out all the moisture, in a large bowl mix all the ingredients together.

In a large frying pan sprayed with frylight, flatten a spoonful of the mixture and fry for 3 minutes on each side until they are golden, transfer to a baking sheet, repeat until you have used up all the mixture. Spray with more frylight and bake for 15 minutes, until they are cooked through.

Chicken Enchiladas

I was really craving enchiladas, but didn't want to waste all my syns on the tortillas, then i thought how about trying to make them with pasta, but instead of wrapping them i decided to make it in the style of a lasagne.

To say they were delicious is an understatement, they were amazing!!!

I served them with jalapenos, coriander leaves, grated low fat cheese and a chipotle yogurt sauce.

Serves 4, plus one portion of the chicken sauce left over, each serving is 2 syns as long as the cheese is used as your healthy A.

Pre heat oven to 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

4 roasted chicken breasts shredded

150g chorizo sausage chopped  9.75 syns

8oz mushrooms chopped

1 onion chopped

2 red peppers chopped (i used jarred)

2 tins tomatoes

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp dried oregano

2 tsps cajun seasoning

½ tsp celery salt

1 tsp chilli powder

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 tbsp chipotle paste  ½ syn

dried lasagne sheets

80g low fat cheddar cheese

80g grated low fat cheese to serve

jalapenos to serve

coriander leaves to serve

½ tsp chipotle paste mixed with fat free natural yogurt to serve

Method

In a large pan brown the chorizo and remove. Fry the onions in the same pan for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms and peppers and fry until golden. Add the cumin, oregano, cajun seasoning, celery salt, chilli powder, chipotle paste and garlic, cook for 1 minute, add the tomatoes and 200ml of water. Return the chorizo and add the chicken to the pan, simmer for 20 minutes.

Layer the sauce in a baking dish with the lasagne sheets, finishing with the sauce on top, cover with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes, uncover, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 20 more minutes.

Serve with a green salad and the condiments.

Spicy Tilapia Pasta

Another seafood and chorizo recipe you say!! I'm afraid it is, but i'm addicted to chorizo at the moment, i know it has syns, but the flavours and spices and smokiness is so worth it, it just makes the dish come to life!!! In the winter months i'm all about comfort food and this is on the list!

6.5 syns for the whole dish on extra easy, which in our house made 3 servings, but were greedy!!

Ingredients

4 tilapia fillets

100g cooking chorizo sliced 6.5 syns

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 red chilli finely chopped

1 tin tomatoes

250ml fish or vegetable stock

1 tsp paprika

salt and pepper

handful coriander leaves

cooked pasta of choice

Method

In a large pan sprayed with frylight, cook the chorizo until it is golden, add the garlic and chilli, cook for 1 minute then add the paprika, tomatoes and fish stock, season and simmer for 5 minutes. Lay the tilapia in the sauce and cook for 8 minutes, add the pasta and coriander leaves to the dish stir into the sauce, gently breaking up the fish into large chunks and then serve.

Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato

I found a recipe for Chipotle Chicken on Pinterest, and it looked good, I was always told you eat with your eyes. I decided to adapt it for Slimming World.

You have the spiciness and smokiness of the chipotle and the sweetness of the sweet potato with a tang from the cheese.

I also had some rice left over from last nights meal so decided to mix that in too, and it works very well.

The whole dish is 1 syn on extra easy, so if serving two it's only ½ syn per person.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes baked

2 chicken breasts roasted and shredded

2 tbsp chipotle paste 1 syn

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tbsp lime juice

2 garlic cloves grated

salt and pepper

8oz mushrooms chopped

1 red pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

1 cup cooked rice

handful coriander leaves

80g reduced fat cheese

Method

Mix together the chipotle paste, chilli powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, lime juice and grated garlic, season with salt and pepper, set aside.

In a frying pan sprayed with frylight fry the onions till golden, add the mushrooms and fry till golden, then add the red peppers, fry for 2 minutes, stir in the chicken, rice, coriander and sauce, heat through for 2 minutes.

Cut the sweet potatoes in half, scoop out most of the middle, spray the inside of the skins with frylight and put back in the oven for 10 minutes. Save the middles for another meal.

Stuff the potato with the chicken mix then bake for 10 minutes, sprinkle with the cheese and put bake in the oven till the cheese has melted.

Serve with a green salad.

Ginger and Coriander Baked Tilapia

This is a light refreshing dish, full of superfree. The fish is light, moist and flaky with a delicate flavour, but it stands up to the punchy flavours of the sauce. The flavours just dance on your tongue.

This dish serves 2 and is 2 syns on extra easy per person.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

4 tilapia fillets

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 inch ginger grated

1 red chilli finely chopped

handful coriander leaves

2 tbsp light soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil (2 syns)

1 tbsp shaoxing rice wine (2 syns)

Stir Fried Vegetables

1 onion chopped

1 red pepper chopped

½ chinese leaf lettuce

8oz oriental mushrooms

½ head broccoli

1 red chilli sliced

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp fish sauce

remaining juices from the fish

handful coriander leaves

Method

Lay the fish in a baking tray sprayed with frylight.

Combine the garlic, ginger, chilli, light soy sauce, shaoxing rice wine, sesame oil and coriander together, pour over the fish. Bake for 8 minutes.

Spray a hot wok with frylight, add the broccoli with 2 tbsp of water to create some steam to help it cook, add the stems of the chinese leaves and onions, fry for 1 minute, add the red pepper, chilli and mushrooms, fry for 2 minutes, add the soy sauce, fish sauce and remaining juices from the fish, fry for 1 minute the stir in the chinese leaves and coriander.

Serve up the vegetables and lay the fish on top, spoon over sauce and serve with basmati and wild rice.