Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday, when we explore a day without meat.

It's entirely possible to have a vegetarian lifestyle while diabetic, as these six recipes prove. Today's offerings include Summer Garden Pilaf and Simple Veggie Skewers. Enjoy!

LEMON BROCCOLI PASTA

This is from Diabetes Self Management.

To view this online, click here.

Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 1 cup.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons sliced green onions

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets

3 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta

1/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese

Directions

Spray large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add green onions and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes or until green onions are tender.

Stir broth, lemon peel, and pepper into saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in broccoli and pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 6 to 7 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat. Stir in yogurt until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes. Top with cheese before serving. Garnish as desired.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 120 calories, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 125 mg, Fiber: 2 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable.

CHICKPEA SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 servings

Source: Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

Book Title: Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chickpea-salad.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1/4 cup red pepper, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

2 tablespoons lowfat mayonnaise

Pita bread or mixed greens

Directions

In a bowl, coarsely mash the chickpeas.

Add the celery, red pepper, onion, salt, pepper, and mayonnaise and toss well.

Serve over pita bread or mixed greens.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 206; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 641 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1-1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat

MANGO FRAPPE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 3 cups (3 Servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/mango-frappe.

Ingredients

1 medium whole ripe mango (12 ounces), peeled and pitted

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lime juice

1-1/4 cups club soda

2 ice cubes

Directions

Puree the mango in a food processor or a blender. Add the orange and lime juices; process until smooth.

Add the club soda and ice cubes; process just to blend and crush the ice. Serve at once.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 83; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 27 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Sugars: 18 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit

MINESTRONE SOUP

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings (about 1 cup each)

Source: Cooking with The Diabetic Chef

Book Title: Cooking with The Diabetic Chef

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/minestrone-soup

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

1/4 medium carrot, finely diced

1/4 stalk celery, finely diced

2/3 teaspoon garlic, minced

2 tablespoons leeks, finely diced

3 ounces (about 1/3 cup) canned tomatoes, chopped

1/2 medium zucchini, diced

1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme

3/4 teaspoon fresh oregano, minced

3 cups chicken stock

3 ounces (about 1/2 cup) frozen spinach, chopped

3/4 cup white beans, cooked

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are slightly tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Add the garlic and leek and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato, zucchini, thyme, oregano, and chicken stock. Bring the liquid to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the spinach and white beans. Return the liquid to a simmer for 20 minutes. Season with the salt and white pepper. Serve immediately and garnish with the Parmesan cheese.

Notes:

Additional info: Dietary Fiber: 5 g, Sugars: 3 g

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 283 mg; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

SIMPLE VEGGIE SKEWERS

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Recipe Yield: Yield: 12 appetizers

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/simple-veggie-skewers

Ingredients

1 medium-small zucchini squash

12 cubes (3/4-inches each) reduced-fat white cheddar, provolone, or Swiss cheese (about 3 ounces)

12 small whole fresh mushrooms

12 pitted jumbo black olives

12 cherry or grape tomatoes

12 wooden skewers (6-inches each)

1/2 cup light ranch salad dressing (optional)

Directions

Trim the ends off the zucchini, quarter it lengthwise, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces.

Thread 1 of the zucchini pieces, 1 cube of cheese, 1 mushroom, 1 olive, 1 tomato, and another zucchini piece onto each skewer.

Serve immediately (accompanied by the dressing if desired) or cover and chill for several hours before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 58; Fat: 2.8 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 138 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat

SUMMER GARDEN PILAF

Recipe Yield: Yield: 7 servings; Serving size: 3/4 cup

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/summer-garden-pilaf

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1/3-inch dice) zucchini

1 cup fresh or frozen whole kernel corn

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 cups cooked brown rice

Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place the oil in a large deep nonstick skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, corn, red bell pepper, onion, and oregano. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, just until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Periodically place a lid over the skillet if it becomes too dry. (The steam released from the cooking vegetables will moisten the skillet.)

Add the rice and salt to the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, for a couple of minutes, until the mixture is heated through. Add a tablespoon or two of water if the mixture seems too dry. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Fat: 2.9 g; Saturated Fat: 0.4 g; Fiber: 2.7 g; Sodium: 138 mg; Protein: 3.3 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/4 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat