Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday. Here are six diabetic vegetarian recipes, including Vegetable Stir-Fry and Chocolate Cherry Tarts. Enjoy!

STUFFED PEPPERS

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

To view this online, click here.

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; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable

CHOCOLATE ORANGE BREAD PUDDING

Yield: 8 servings. Serving size: 3/4 cup.

View this online here.

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups fat-free (skim) milk

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 to 2 teaspoons grated orange peel

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 ounces (4 cups) cubed French baguette

1/4 cup sugar-free chocolate ice cream topping

8 maraschino cherries with stems (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine sugar and cocoa in medium bowl; stir in milk, eggs, orange peel, vanilla, and cinnamon until well blended.

Place bread cubes in ungreased 8-inch square baking dish. Pour milk mixture evenly over bread cubes.

Bake about 35 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 5 to 10 minutes.

Spoon warm pudding into dessert dishes. Drizzle with ice cream topping and garnish with a cherry.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 131 calories, Carbohydrates: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 80 mg, Sodium: 131 mg, Fiber: 1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 1/2 Bread/Starch.

VEGETABLE STIR-FRY

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vegetable-stir-fry

Ingredients

1 pound fresh broccoli

1 teaspoon acceptable margarine

1 teaspoon acceptable vegetable oil

1 pound carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

12 ounces fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (3-1/2 to 4 cups)

2 to 3 medium green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)

2 tablespoons dry sherry

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled

Pepper to taste

Directions

Separate broccoli florets so they are of small, uniform size. Peel tough stems; cut stems into 2-inch pieces.

In a large skillet or wok, heat margarine and oil over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Stir-fry broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and green onions for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 65; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 57 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat

SPINACH SOUFFLE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 4

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/spinach-souffle.

Note: This recipe originally called for beef or veggie broth. Since I'm posting this on Meatless Monday, I've omitted the beef broth option.

Ingredients

1 small onion, minced

1 teaspoon margarine

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1/2 cup reduced-sodium fat-free vegetable broth

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1 package (10-oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained

Pinch white pepper

4 egg whites

Pinch cream of tartar

Directions

Saute onion in margarine in medium saucepan until tender; stir in flour and nutmeg and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and broth and heat to boiling, whisking until thickened. Whisk about half the sauce into egg yolks; whisk yolk mixture into saucepan. Mix in spinach and white pepper.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl to stiff, but not dry, peaks; fold into spinach mixture and spoon into souffle dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F. until puffed and browned, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 118; Fat: 3.9 g; Sodium: 167 mg; Cholesterol: 107.1 mg; Protein: 9.7 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Bread, 1 Meat

CHOCOLATE CHERRY TARTS

Recipe Yield: Servings: 24

Source: Cinnamon Hearts

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-cherry-tarts

Ingredients

2 (8oz) packages Neufchatel (light) cream cheese, room temp

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temp

1 tsp vanilla extract

24 Keebler chocolate wafers, 30% reduced fat

1 (21oz) can light cherry pie filling

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tins with foil and paper cupcake liners.

Beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Place a chocolate wafer in each cup, spoon on cheese mixture. Bake 18 to 20 minutes; remove from tins and let cool. Top with cherry pie filling. Chill overnight before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 118; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 104 mg; Cholesterol: 24 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 bread; 1/2 fruit; 1/2 protein; 1 fat

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO CASSEROLE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/eggplant-and-tomato-casserole

Source: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

Ingredients

1 large eggplant (2 pounds), peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

1/3 cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic

1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves, divided

1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 eggs

3 medium tomatoes, sliced

1/4 cup grated fat-free Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook eggplant in 2 inches simmering water in covered medium saucepan until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain well. Mash eggplant with fork; mix in breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon oregano, basil, and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs.

Spoon eggplant mixture into 11x7-inch baking dish. Arrange tomatoes in rows over eggplant; sprinkle with cheese and remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F. until hot through, about 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Fat: 1.9 g; Sodium: 245 mg; Cholesterol: 53.3 mg; Protein: 5.1 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat