5 Healthy 5-Ingredient Dinners: Week 39

NOTE: Don’t feel like you’re supposed to make all these recipes. Choose just one to experiment with each week.

MONDAY

As much as I love coconut milk based curries, sometimes you just want something different.

For those days it’s hard to go past this mild and creamy cashew-based pot of goodness.

I’ve called it ‘everyone happy’ because it’s a really easy recipe to adapt to different dietary requirements. Use all chicken for the omnivores, all chickpeas for the vegetarians. Or serve with steamed or fried rice for the carb lovers.

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TUESDAY

Zucchini & Chicken Pad Thai

Pad Thai used to be one of my benchmark dishes to judge a Thai restaurant is. When done right, it’s a wonderful dish busting with fresh flavours and textural contrast.

Of course since having diabetes and going Low Carb, it’s been years since I last had Pad Thai.

Then the other day I was picking zucchini in the garden and wondering what I could do with it… And so my Zucchini & Chicken version of Pad Thai was born!

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WEDNESDAY

Plan-B Spinach & Eggs

Last minute plan changes happen. So it pays to be prepared and have a plan-B recipe at the ready that is a) incredibly low effort b) delicious c) satisfying.

These green eggs tick all the boxes.

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THURSDAY

Best Ever Beef Stroganoff

We have the lovely Susan, one of my long time Simple Meal Plans students to thank for this recipe.

Years ago she shared her recipe for ‘skid row’ stroganoff using ground (minced) beef. Without that spark of inspiration I would never have even thought to dip my toes into the stroganoff waters.

I’m not sure why it took me years to create this. Possibly boarding school food associations.

But I LOVE mushrooms and I love sour cream. So I shouldn’t be surprised how much I LOVE this dish!

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FRIDAY

One Pot Miso Salmon

Layering veggies and salmon in a pot and cook with a miso sauce so the salmon steams. It’s about as simple as dinner can get.

I love how the steamed fish and veggies feel so nourishing and wholesome.

And with the miso juices, incredibly delicious. You’re welcome.

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SWEET TREAT

Strawberries with Balsamic and Mascarpone

Strawberries picked fresh from the garden are thing of beauty. Unfortunately, I find that commercially grown strawberries hardly ever come close. This is where a little balsamic vinegar can make all the difference.

It may sound a little weird, but it’s amazing how the balsamic intensifies the flavor of less-than-perfect strawberries. It’s critical that you use an aged balsamic (15+ years) as younger vinegar won’t have enough sweetness and will taste weird.

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