Fisherman's Soup

If you love fish and seafood you with love this soup, light and refreshing, but warming on a cold winters night! Synfree on extra easy, and very filling, full of protein from the fish and there's superfree in there too.
You will notice in my method that i cook the squid for a long time, with squid it either has to be quickly seared or simmered for at least 30 minutes for it be tender.

This recipe makes 2 large bowls or 4 for starters.

Ingredients

1 onion finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 red pepper finely diced
1 large carrot finely diced
½ tsp chilli flakes or more if you like it hotter
1 tin tomatoes
750ml fish stock
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp celery salt
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper
2 tbsp capers
1 packet frozen prepared squid, i get mine from Asda, cut into rings, use the tenticules too.
2 tilapia fillets
20 large shrimp
Basil to serve


Method

In a large pot sprayed with frylight fry the onions until soft, add the carrot, pepper, garlic and chilli flakes, fry for 4 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and stock then add the herbs and spices.
Add the capers and squid, bring to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes. Add the shrimp and tilapia and simmer until they are cooked through then serve.

Mexican Salmon Stack

I normally make this dish with chicken, but i had run out so replaced it with salmon and it was just as good.
As you have probably noticed by now from all my recipes, i am very much into comfort food and this recipes fits that category very well.
With all the ingredients i have used this recipe isn't syn free, but the cheese and avocado are optional, although i will say they make the dish. You can use your healthy extra for the cheese. Avocado is 9.5 syns for 100g, which does seem a lot, but i think it is worth it as avocado is very good for you, full of vitamins and minerals, it also boosts your metabolism which is good for weight loss.

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

Ingredients

16oz salmon fillet
1lb maris piper potatoes diced
2 eggs
200g avocado sliced 19 syns
70g halloumi sliced  use your Healthy A or 25g is 4 syns
4 tbsp salsa click for recipe

Method

Spray a baking tray with frylight, lay out the diced potatoes in a single layer, spray with more frylight and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes until golden tossing and spraying again half way through.
Roast the salmon fillet for 10 minutes seasoned with salt and pepper on a pan sprayed with frylight.
In a frying pan sprayed with frylight, fry the sliced halloumi until golden on both sides.
Fry the eggs in a frying pan sprayed with frylight.
Now layer the dish, lay the potatoes on the bottom, top with half the salmon fillet, lay the halloumi on top spoon on the salsa, add the avocado and top with a egg.

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.

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.

Spicy African Pork Tenderloin

This is another versatile recipe. You can have the pork in a meal with sides of your choice. I like it with coriander rice and Spiced Butternut Squash and Mint Yogurt Sauce. Or when it's cold you can slice it thinly and have it in a sandwich with lots of salad. It's great in a salad and i also put it in a pasta dish which i will post later.

It is syn free on extra easy.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

1 jarred red pepper
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 red chillies
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground coriander
2 garlic cloves
1 pork tenderloin


Method

In a blender blitz the first 6 ingredients until smooth.
Put the pork into a plastic bag cover with the marinade and rub it in, leave to marinade for at least 2 hours.

Put the pork onto a rack on a baking sheet covered with foil and roast in the oven for 20/25 minutes, until it is cooked to your liking.

Reserve the marinade and put it into a small saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes, you may need to add a couple of tsps of water if too thick.
You can use this as a sauce, but be warned it is hot, i used it the next day in my pasta dish.
It will keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Mix it with mayonnaise for a sandwich with the pork.
Thin it down and make a salad dressing.
Rub it into any other meats of fish you are going to cook.
As i said it is very versatile!

Buffalo Chicken

When we lived in America, They had a lot of buffalo chicken, with many flavours, but i always loved the hot and spicy ones.
So be warned this dish is spicy!!!
The whole dish is 4.5 syns on extra easy. I serve it with a blue cheese dip and lots of super free salad. I make wraps out of romaine leaves.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

3 garlic cloves grated
3 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp worcester sauce
2 tsp celery salt
3 tbsp hot chilli sauce 1.5 syns
1 tbsp honey 3 syns
1 tbsp tomato puree
4 chicken breasts cut into wing size pieces

Method

Mix together the first 8 ingredients, put them into a freezer bag and add the chicken, massage the marinade into the chicken, then refrigerate overnight.

Line a baking tray with foil and spray with frylight. Lay the chicken onto the tray spray again and bake for 12 minutes.
Put the reserved marinade into a saucepan and bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes, stir the chicken into the sauce and serve.

Cajun Salmon Hash

I had a piece of salmon that had to used up in the fridge and was craving comfort food, so looked to see what else i had laying around and came up with this recipe.

It is along the same lines of the Chicken Hash, but with a few different flavours.

It is syn free on extra easy.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

4 large potatoes peeled and diced

1 lb salmon fillet

8 oz cremini mushrooms thickly sliced

1 red pepper diced

1 cup jalapenos

1 onion diced

1 tbsp cajun seasoning, devided into 3

1 tbsp worcester sauce

salt and pepper to season

2 duck eggs

Method

Spray a baking sheet with frylight and lay out the diced potatoes spray the potatoes, sprinkle over ⅓ of the cajun seasoning and season, bake in the oven for 30 minutes, turning and spraying again half way through.

Spray an ovenproof dish with frylight, put the salmon in the dish and spray with frylight and sprinkle over ⅓ of the cajun seasoning and season, bake for 8 minutes.

Spray a large frying pan with frylight, fry the onions till they start to soften, add the mushrooms and pepper and fry till golden, sprinkle over the remaining cajun seasoning, worcester sauce and season, add the jalapenos and fry for 2 minutes, stir in the cooked potatoes and serve up, flake over the salmon and top with a fried egg.

Salsa Chicken with the Works

Craving nachos, Tex Mex or something spicy then this is the dish for you!
This dish takes a long time to cook but is so easy to prepare. Just stick it in your slow cooker in the morning and your meal is ready when you get home from work or play!

Depending on what salsa you use in this dish, makes a difference on the syns per portion.


Serves 6

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
8 oz mushrooms sliced
2 red peppers diced
1 cup of salsa, shop bought or homemade
1 tins of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp fajita seasoning
8 spring onions chopped
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp chilli flakes
1 cup basmati rice

Method

Lay the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker and sprinkle with the fajita seasoning, layer the rest of the ingredients on top of the chicken, pour over ½ cup water, stir it all together and set the slow cooker to 8 hours, an hour before the cooking ends stir in the rice.

I served the Salsa Chicken with coriander leaves, 30g grated cheddar cheese, sliced jalapenos, and instead of sour cream i made a coriander and lime fat free creme fraiche. Instead of having nachos i used crisp little gem leaves.

Beef Chilli

This is a tasty beef chilli, spicy, rich and full of vegetables.
Syn free on extra easy.
Great with rice, jacket potato and as Chilli Cheese Fries, or just by itself!

Serve 8

Ingredients

2 onions chopped
3 carrots chopped into small dice
2 red peppers diced
8 oz mushrooms chopped
1 kg extra lean mince beef 5% fat or less
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 red chillies finely chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp celery salt
2 tsp red chipotle powder or hot smoked paprika
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tube passata
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 litre beef stock
salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large pot sprayed with frylight, brown the mince then remove, respray the pot then fry the onions for 2 minutes, then add the carrot and red peppers fry for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms, garlic and chilli fry for 1 minute. add all spices and herbs, stir in then add the tomato puree, passata, chopped tomatoes and beef stock, return the beef to the pan and bring to a boil the simmer for at least 2 hours, season to taste, if the chilli gets a bit dry add more water.

Spicy Crushed Roasted New Potatoes

These potatoes are great with any meal, crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, with a spicy bite.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

serves 2

Ingredients

1 lb new potatoes
extra virgin olive oil frylight
2 tsp northwoods fire spice mix, or Cajun spice mix
salt and pepper to season

Method

In a large pan boil the potatoes till fork tender, drain and let dry.
Lay them out in a single layer in a oven proof dish sprayed with frylight and crush them with a fork, spray the potatoes with more frylight, then sprinkle over the spice mix and salt and pepper.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes till golden and crispy, you may need to spray with frylight again half way through.

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.

Spicy Lamb Kebabs with Coriander and Chilli Sauce

These kebabs are great done on the bbq or indoors under the grill.
You can make them as spicy as you like by adding more chilli.
The lamb is so tender due to the marinating.
The sauce compliments the sweetness of the lamb and also makes a good dressing for an accompanying salad.


Heat the grill to medium high.

Marinade Ingredients

2 tsps ground cumin
2 tsps ground coriander
2 tsps grated fresh ginger
½ tsp salt
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 tsps water

Marinade Method

Blend all these ingredients together.

Kebabs Ingredients

4 lamb steaks cubed with all visible fat removed
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 red onion
8 oz mushrooms halved
Frylight

Kebab Method

Rub the marinade into the lamb chunks and marinate overnight if possible.
Thread the lamb and vegetables onto skewers and spray with frylight.
Grill on a bbq or under the grill turning every 3-4 minutes till cooked.

Coriander and Chilli Sauce Ingredients

½ cup coriander leaves
¼ cup mint leaves
2 spring onions chopped
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp lime juice
¼ tsp ground cumin
Pinch of salt
1 garlic clove
1 green chilli
Pinch of sweetener

Sauce Method

Blend all the ingredients together and serve with the kebabs and a green salad.

Oyster Chicken with Ginger and Mushrooms

This is a very tasty Chinese dish and you can make it as spicy as you like.

Serve it with noodles or rice.

8 syns for the total dish on extra easy, 4 syns per portion.

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts diced

Salt and pepper

1 tbsp potato flour  (3 syns on extra easy)

1 tbsp Shaxoing rice wine (1 syn on extra easy)

1 punnet of oriental mushrooms

1 head of broccoli

2 tbsp light soy sauce

2 tbsp oyster sauce (2 syns on extra easy)

2 tbsp chilli sauce (2 syns on extra easy)

1 inch ginger grated

200 ml cold vegetable stock

Method

Mix the chicken, salt and pepper and potato flour together.

Mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, chilli sauce and the grated ginger with the stock.

In a hot wok sprayed with frylight brown the chicken for 3 minutes, then sprinkle with the rice wine.

Add the broccoli with a tbsp of water to create some steam to help it cook, cook for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms and fry for 1 minute then stir in the sauce and simmer till the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Serve with rice or noodles.