Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday. Today's offerings include Black Bean Burgers with Avocado-Lime Mayo and Orange and Jicama Salad. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN SOUP

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.

Source: AICR

Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/pumpkin-soup-2.

Ingredients

4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided

4 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh) (butternut squash may be substituted)

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 clove garlic

1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 Tbsp. light whipping cream (optional)

1 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Nutmeg (optional)

Directions

In large pot over medium-high heat add 3 cups broth, pumpkin, onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce to low and simmer uncovered, about 30 minutes.

Puree mixture until smooth, in small batches, using blender or food processor. Return to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes. Add remaining broth as desired. (Optional, stir in cream.)

Pour into bowls. Garnish with parsley (or sprinkle of nutmeg) and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 284 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Recipe Yield: Serves: 20Serving Size: 1 bar

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/almond-cheesecake-bars.

Ingredients

Crust:

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/4 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs

1/3 cup light butter, melted

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, finely ground

Filling:

12 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 large eggs

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix crust ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Press into prepared pan. Bake 10-12 minutes or until firm.

Mix cream cheese and Splenda Granulated Sweetener together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl, and mixing well after each addition. Add sour cream and extracts; mix well. Pour over prepared crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 47 minutes, or until firm.

Top with toasted almonds.

Notes:

Light and creamy cheesecake bars topped with toasted almonds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 105 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugars: 4 g

BLACK BEAN BURGERS WITH AVOCADO-LIME MAYO

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 burger.

Source: The Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen: Fresh, Fast and Flavorful Recipes Made with Canola Oil from the American Diabetes Association and CanolaInfo

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/black-bean-burgers-with-avocado-lime-mayo.

Ingredients

Mayonnaise

1/2 ripe medium avocado, peeled and pitted

2 Tbsp canola mayonnaise

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp water

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Burgers

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 of (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

1/3 cup quick-cooking oats

2 large egg whites

1 Tbsp canola oil

1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

canola oil cooking spray

4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

4 tomato slices

4 lettuce leaves

4 lime wedges (optional)

Directions

Place canola mayonnaise ingredients in a blender, secure lid, and puree until smooth.

Place beans in a gallon-size resealable bag. Using a meat mallet, pound beans to a coarse texture, resembling lumpy mashed potatoes. Place beans in a medium bowl and add bell pepper, oats, egg whites, canola oil, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and shape into four patties.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with canola oil cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add patties and cook 4 minutes on each side or until they begin to lightly brown. The patties will be fragile, so be sure to turn them gently.

To assemble, spoon 1 Tbsp canola mayonnaise mixture on each bun half. Top each bottom bun with burger, onion, a tomato slice, and a lettuce leaf. Place bun tops over each. Serve with lime wedges.

Fresh tip: If desired, omit the buns and serve the patties on the lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and onion. Spoon the mayonnaise mixture on top of the patties and serve with lime wedges.

Notes:

Jazz up these tasty burgers with avocado-lime mayo and you’ll have a vegetarian sandwich that even die-hard meat eaters will love.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 300; Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 1.8 g; Fiber: 10 g; Sodium: 785 mg; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g

HOT AND SOUR SOUP

Yield: 5 servings

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

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/89.shtml

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/901.shtml

Note: This recipe originally called for chicken broth. Since I’m posting it on a Meatless Monday, I’ve changed that to veggie broth.

Ingredients

2 cans (14 ounces each) reduced-sodium veggie broth, divided

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 pound firm tofu, cut into small chunks

1/4 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

3 tablespoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup fresh bean sprouts

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup chicken broth and the cornstarch; mix well and set aside.

In a soup pot, combine the remaining chicken broth, the tofu, mushrooms, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and pepper; mix well and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low; stir in the cornstarch mixture until thickened.

Slowy stir in the beaten egg to form egg strands.

Add the bean sprouts and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Add the sesame oil; mix well and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 89; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 644 mg; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Lean Meat

SAUTEED SPINACH WITH GARLIC

Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/sauteed-spinach-with-garlic

Ingredients

1 pound raw spinach

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 fresh tomato

2 cloves garlic

Directions

Wash spinach thoroughly and drain.

Saute tomato and garlic in olive oil in a large saute pan.

Add spinach, cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook, uncovered, 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 108; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 94 mg; Protein: 3.9 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 1-1/2 Fat

ORANGE AND JICAMA SALAD

Recipe Yield: 2 Servings

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/orange-and-jicama-salad

Ingredients

Butter lettuce leaves

Salt

1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

Freshly ground pepper

1 large orange, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

1 cup Jicama, julienned

1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions

Line plates with lettuce.

Top with orange slices.

Mound with jicama.

Sprinkle with chopped red onion.

Blend juice, vinegar, salt & pepper in small bowl.

Whisk in oil in thin stream.

Spoon over salads.

Garnish with minced cilantro.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 282; Fat: 2.8 g; Sodium: 36 mg; Protein: 4.9 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit; 1 vegetable; 1 fat; 1 starch