Meatless Monday

It's Meatless Monday, time to try a vegetarian-type day. Of course, if you're already a vegetarian, you know it's a healthy life-style. Either way, here are six yummy vegetarian diabetic recipes to help you through the day, including Stuffed Peppers and Orzo-Stuffed Eggplant. Enjoy!

STUFFED PEPPERS

Servings: 8

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/238.shtml

Ingredients

4 large bell peppers, any color or combination

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)

1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)

1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)

2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic

2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)

1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)

1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)

1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.

In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 23 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable

ROASTED CORN WITH CUMIN AND LIME

https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/roasted-corn-with-cumin-and-lime

Recipe Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

6 ears fresh corn, in the husk

2 limes, cut lengthwise into wedges

Directions

Heat the grill or preheat the oven to 500 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, cumin, salt, pepper and oil.

Prepare corn, one ear at a time. Pull off and discard the 2 or 3 tough outer leaves. Carefully pull back remaining leaves, one at a time, exposing as much of the ear as possible. (It is better to uncover only half the ear than to tear the husks.) Pull off all the silk.

Brush kernels with oil mixture, using just enough to coat corn lightly. Smooth folded leaves back into place, one by one, until ear is completely covered.

Arrange corn on the grill or place in oven. Roast 15 minutes. If using a grill, turn ears 2 or 3 times. (This is not necessary if oven-roasting.)

Serve corn immediately, accompanied by additional salt, if desired, and lime wedges, which are squeezed over the corn as it is eaten.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 207 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread, 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

ORZO-STUFFED EGGPLANT

Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 2 halves.

Preparation time: 25 minutes. Cooking time: 50 minutes.

This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

4 small eggplants (approximately 7 ounces each)

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup orzo pastina, uncooked

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups canned tomatoes, drained and chopped

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

Salt and pepper, to taste

8 ounces part-skim mozzarella, diced

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F. Wash and pat dry the eggplants, cut off their stems, and cut them in half vertically. Place them with the cut side down on a baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 30 minutes.

Remove eggplants from the pan, cool under running water, and pat dry. Using a spoon, carve out and chop the pulp, leaving just a thin shell (about 1/4 inch). Place pulp in a bowl and set aside.

Cook the orzo according to package instructions, but keep it slightly undercooked (1–2 minutes less than directed). While the orzo is cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium-size frying pan over moderate heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the chopped eggplant pulp and sauté for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the tomatoes, dried herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

When the orzo is ready, drain and add to the eggplant mixture. Toss in both cheeses and mix well.

Divide eggplant–cheese mixture into 8 equal portions and fill the eggplant shells. Spray the top of each with cooking spray. Place stuffed eggplant halves on baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 404, Carbohydrates: 38 g, Protein: 22 g, Fat: 18 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 36 mg, Sodium: 138 mg, Fiber: 9 g; Exchanges per serving: 2 1/2 starch, 2 medium-lean meat, 1 1/2 fat. Carbohydrate choices: 2 1/2.

GREEN BEANS AND RED ONION SALAD

https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/green-beans-and-red-onion-salad

Recipe Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

1 10-oz package French-cut green beans

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

4 tablespoons non-fat Italian dressing

Directions

Cook green beans according to package directions, drain and place in serving dish; toss gently with red onion slices and dressing and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

This picnic salad is perfect to pack along for a meal alfresco. If made ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 30; Sodium: 150 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable

CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALAD

https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/corn-and-black-bean-salad

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 cups. Serving size about 1/2 cup.

Ingredients

1 (15-oz.) can cooked black beans, drained

1 (10-oz.) can corn kernels, drained

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

2 green onions, sliced

2 tablespoon minced parsley

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

In large bowl, toss together ingredients, except pepper. Generously sprinkle salad with pepper. Cover and refrigerate 2-24 hours before serving.

Note:

Purple black beans, golden sweet corn and diced red and green bell pepper make a colorful medley in this easy salad. Make it ahead and refrigerate; it keeps up to 5 days.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 60 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat

TANGY APPLE SLAW

Recipe Yield: Serves: 6

Source: Equal ®

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tangy-apple-slaw

Ingredients

4 cups shredded green cabbage

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup chopped unpeeled apple (1 medium)

1/2 cup thinly sliced red or green bell pepper strips

2/3 cup light mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/3 cup reduced fat sour cream

3 tablespoons Equal ® Spoonful or Granulated*

1-1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon pepper

* May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Combine cabbage, carrots, apple and pepper strips in medium size bowl. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Equal®, mustard, lemon juice and pepper.

Spoon Equal ® mixture over cabbage mixture; toss to combine. Refrigerate, covered, 1 to 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.

Notes:

A take-off on the traditional creamy version of coleslaw. Chopped apples add crunch and a hint of sweetness that is also enhanced by Equal.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 152; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 331 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 vegetable, 2 fat