Meatless Monday

It's Meatless Monday, a time to prove that you can be both diabetic and live a vegetarian lifestyle. Here are six diabetic vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Broccoli Chowder and Fresh Fruit Clafouti. Enjoy!

BROCCOLI CHOWDER

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)

1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)

2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)

1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3-1/2 cups vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth (two 14-ounce cans)

8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)

1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.

Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat

GREEN BEANS WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING

Yield: 4 servings (3/4 cup each)

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/922.shtml

1 teaspoon poppy seeds

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon white-wine or rice-wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon minced shallot

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 pound green beans, stem ends trimmed

To prepare dressing: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat.

Add poppy seeds and toast, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl (or jar) and let cool. Add oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, shallot, salt and pepper; whisk (or shake) until blended.

To prepare beans: Cook beans in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain. Warm the dressing in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beans and toss to coat.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 113; Protein: 3 g; Sodium: 104 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Fat: 8 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable, 1-1/2 Fat

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

This is another recipe from

Yield: 10 servings

Source: "Mr. Food Every Day's a Holiday Diabetic Cookbook"

1 package (10 ounces) fresh baby spinach, washed, dried and trimmed

1 pint fresh strawberries, cleaned and sliced lengthwise to 1/4-inchthickness

1/2 of a small onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

Place the spinach in a large salad bowl; add the strawberries.

In a small bowl, combine the onion, sugar, water, vinegar, mustard, and oil. Whisk until well combined. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 79, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 23 mg, Carbohydrate: 6 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 1 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

PENNE WITH GREENS AND CANNELLINI BEANS

Low in fat and loaded with fiber, the smooth texture and slightly nutty flavor of cannellini beans (or white kidney beans) makes a great addition to healthy pasta recipes.

Yield: 6 main dish servings

Source: Dreamfields Healthy Carb Pasta

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/Trusted_Brands/Dreamfields

Print & Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/713.shtml

1 box uncooked Dreamfields Penne Rigate

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup reduced-sodium, fat free chicken broth

1 pound fresh collard or mustard greens, washed, trimmed and cut into large bite-sized pieces

1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (or other white beans)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add broth; bring to boil.

Add greens; return to boil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, uncovered, until greens are just crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add greens with liquid to pasta; toss to coat. Add beans; toss gently. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serving Note: Any dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach or chard can be substituted for the collard greens. 1-1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans can be substituted for the canned beans.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving):Calories: 336; Protein: 16g; Sodium: 128 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Dietary Fiber: 11 g; Digestible Carbohydrates: 22g

Note: According to the recipe, "The Dreamfields process results in a pasta with 5 grams fiber and only 5 grams digestible carbohydrates per serving and a 65% lower glycemic index than regular pasta. If traditional pasta is used in this recipe there is a total of 63g carbohydrate."

STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER

Yield: 2 servings (1 cup per serving)

Source: "The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/1.shtml

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/737.shtml

1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries

2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches

3/4 cup orange juice

In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches. Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard. Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.

Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container. Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup):

Calories: 105, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 2 mg, Carbohydrate: 26 g, Dietary Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 23 g, Protein: 2 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Fruit

FRESH FRUIT CLAFOUTI

Yield: 1 Cake (6 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml

Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/387.shtml

1-1/2 cups slice ripe nectarines, plums, peaches, or pitted cherries (about 10 ounces cut fruit)

2/3 cup fat-free evaporated milk

1 large egg, beaten, or 1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sifted powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare an 8-inch glass pie plate with non-stick pan spray. Layer the fruit in the pie plate.

Combine the milk, egg, flour, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt in a food processor. Process until smooth; pour over the fruit.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature. At serving time, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into 6 slices.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 slice):

Calories: 92, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 36 mg, Sodium: 92 mg, Carbohydrate: 17 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 13 g, Protein: 4 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate