Country Potato Salad

This potato salad is deliciously creamy and full of flavour, it is fab as a side dish, for a picnic, with a green salad, it is so versatile!!
It isn't syn free but it is so much better than any shop bought potato salad.
The amount of ingredients that i used made enough for 6 servings. The whole dish was only 4.5 syns on extra easy, so split that between 6 and it's next to nothing, and so worth it!!!!

Ingredients

2 lb new potatoes boiled until cooked and cooled
3 hard boiled eggs chopped
3 rashes of bacon with all the fat removed, fried and chopped
3 or 4 spring onions chopped
7 tbsp lighter than light mayonnaise
3 tbsp fat free natural yogurt
2 tsp wholegrain mustard
10 basil leaves chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large bowl mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, wholegrain mustard, salt and pepper, and basil. The gentle stir in the rest of the ingredients, being careful not to break them up. let them rest in the fridge for 30 minutes for all the flavours to 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.

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

Garlic, Rosemary and Orange Slow Cooked Turkey Breast

I had a large turkey breast in the freezer that needed using up, so i decided to slow cook it to use for snacks. It was great in sandwiches, on a baked spud, with a salad or just to pick at!

Ingredients

1 large turkey breast roast

2 garlic cloves sliced

¼ cup light soy sauce

2 tsp mustard powder

1 tbsp honey 3 syns

50ml freshly squeezed orange juice 0.5 syn

1 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped

salt and pepper

Method

Make small holes all over the turkey breast and push in the slices of garlic. Mix together the rest of the ingredients. Place the turkey into a slow cooker, pour over the marinade and cook on low for 8 hours, you may want to baste every now and then.

When the turkey is cooked, remove and let it rest for 10 minutes, keep the sauce in the slow cooker you will need it. Using two forks shred the turkey, return it to the slow cooker and toss it into the remaining sauce. 

You can serve it hot or cold, the flavour improves if you leave it in the fridge until the next day.

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.

Coronation Chicken

I've found lots of recipes for coronation chicken, but not a syn free one.
My adaptation isn't quite syn free but the closest i could get, without having to use a mullerlight yogurt.

It is thick and creamy, with a great kick, theres a crunch from the apple and it has so much flavour.

1.5 syns for the whole batch.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts seasoned and roasted for 20 minutes, then diced.
1 apple peeled and diced
1 onion diced
2 tbsp quark
6 tbsp fat free natural yogurt
1 tbsp mango chutney
1 tsp madras curry powder
salt and pepper to taste
handful chopped coriander

Method

Mix all the wet ingredients together with the curry powder, then add the chopped, chicken apple and onion. Stir in the coriander and season to taste.

This dish is great served in a sandwich, on a jacket potato, with pasta or rice.

Ceasar Salad

Who'd have thought you could have a creamy dressing on your salad! It's tangy, creamy and very tasty, in fact i would say it tastes better than a full fat dressing!!

2.5 syns per 35g serving on extra easy.


Dressing Ingredients

⅓ cup of lighter than light mayonnaise - 2.5 syns
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil - 6 syns
1 tsp dijon mustard - 0.5 syns
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp worcester sauce
1 tin sainsburys anchovies in oil drained
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 garlic clove
30g parmesan cheese - 6 syns

Method

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blitz into a smooth creamy dressing.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Salad Ingredients

1 large romaine lettuce chopped
2 slices wholemeal bread from an 800g loaf
30g parmesan cheese grated

Method

Chop the bread up into 1cm cubes and lay on a baking tray, spray with frylight and bake for 5 minutes to crisp and golden.
Mix the lettuce with the dressing and sprinkle with the croutons and parmesan.

Greek Salad

A zesty salad that goes well with grilled meats, kebabs, fish or by itself as a light lunch.

Just one syn for 8 olives.
Cheese is healthy extra A


Serves 2

Ingredients

½ cucumber seeds removed and thinly sliced
12 cherry tomatoes quartered
16 olives halved
half a red onion thinly sliced into half moons
1 tbsp capers
small handful basil thinly sliced
small handful mint thinly sliced
45 g feta cheese
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
½ tsp sweetener
salt and pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp water

Method

In a salad bowl mix together the first 8 ingredients.
In another bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients.
Spoon over the dressing and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Tilapia and Lemon and Caper Dressing with Orzo and Salad

This is a light and zesty dish, with a kick of chilli, which compliments the soft flakes of fish and crunchy salad.

Syn free on extra easy and lots of superfree too.


Serves 2

Ingredients

4 tilapia fillets
1 cup of orzo
2 tbsp capers
1 red chilli deseeded
juice of a lemon
handful of basil chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
¼ tsp sweetener
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 iceburg leaves
2 handfuls of mixed salad leaves
10 cherry tomatoes
2 inches of cucumber thinly sliced and cut into half moons
4 radishes thinly sliced
half a red pepper thinly sliced
4 spring onions thinly sliced

Method

Cook the orzo as per packet instructions. When cooked drain and run under the cold tap.

Blitz the chilli and garlic in a blender, tip into a bowl and add the lemon juice, sweetener, balsamic vinegar, chopped basil and capers, mix together.

Make up the salad with the mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, peppers and spring onion, pile it all in the iceburg leaves.

Spray a frying pan with extra virgin olive oil frylight and fry the tilapia for 2 minutes on each side.

Serve everything up and drizzle over the dressing.

Asian Salmon Giant CousCous Salad

This is a very tasty salad, with all the Asian taste sensations of salty, sweet, spicy and tangy, you can have it with or without the salmon, or add any meat you like, plus any vegetables you like.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 inch of ginger  peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove crushed
1 red chilli chopped
3 tbsp light soy sauce
juice of one lime

300g giant cous cous
1 lb salmon
6 spring onions
half a cucumber, seeds removed and chopped
2 roasted red peppers
handful of basil leaves chopped
1 packet of edamame beans

Method

Cook the couscous as per packet instructions, then run under a cold tap to stop the cooking.
Roast the salmon sprayed with olive oil frylight for 18 minutes
Chop up the spring onions and red pepper.
Blend all the first 5 ingredients in a blender to make a dressing.
Flake the salmon.
Put everything into a large bowl and mix.

A Simple Ham Salad

The title says it all, the only time consuming part is all the chopping and making the dressing.
To be honest you can put whatever you like in the salad but this one was so   tasty i had to add it!


Ingredients

1/2 bottle of cheap balsamic vinegar
Mixed Lettuce leaves
Cherry Tomatoes
Celery the heart and the leaves
Capers
Cucumber
Radishes
Spring onions
Lean ham with all the fat cut off

Method

Tip the balsamic vinegar into a pan and boil down to half, so its thicker and sticky, set aside to cool.

Chop up all your vegetables and mix with the salad leaves, dice the ham and mix through.

Drizzle over the reduced balsamic dressing and serve.

Didn't i say it was easy!! Oh just one tip, don't lean over the pan when its boiling and breath in, the fumes can be quite lethal!!