The nippy season is past and so have the soups and heavy meals. Enter spring and the variety of meals we can enjoy during this cheery season. Light meals to celebrate Spring
Most people tend to be feeling sluggish and tired during this time of the year. So, it is important to make sure the meals we eat really help in boosting gallons of energy into our system. A light and yummy meal can be so much fun to make, and here are our top 3 meals to celebrate spring!
Light meals to celebrate Spring
Light meal recipe: Mini meatball open pitas
You’ll need:
For the meatballs:
- 1 small onion
- a tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 250g lean leaf mince
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 large egg yolk
- Zest of 1 lemon
For plating:
- 4 mini Pitas
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 100ml hummus
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 2 small radishes, sliced
- Paprika for seasoning
- fresh coriander to garnish
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
Get started on the meatballs:
Peel and finely chop the onion.
Gently fry the onion in a lightly oiled pan on low heat until soft.
Add the tinned tomato, season with salt and pepper and simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes.
Add meat, nutmeg, lemon zest, and egg yolk to a mixing bowl with the breadcrumbs. Season with salt & pepper.
Mix together until combined well and shape into small balls.
Cook the meatballs in a lightly oiled pan on medium-to high heat until browned.
Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce ensuring the meatballs are covered. Cook on a low heat for 30 minutes until cooked through.
Get started on the plating:
Cut the pitas in half. Brush with melted butter and brown on medium –high heat on a grill pan.
Add a tablespoon of hummus to the centre of the pitas.
Top with 3 or 4 meatballs, sliced red onion and radish.
Sprinkle with a few pomegranate seeds, sesame seeds and paprika.
Top with fresh coriander and a drizzle of olive oil and lime juice.
Light Recipe: Fried salmon and veggies
You’ll need:
- 2 portions wild salmon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- pinch of ground pepper
- 100 g broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces
- 100 g carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
- 150 g spinach, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 red onion, sliced thin
- 1 1/2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- a tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Get started:
- Heat a nonstick wok over medium high heat and spray with cooking spray.
- Season salmon pieces with salt and pepper and add to the hot pan. Cook until both sides are cooked through. Transfer fish to a plate and keep warm.
- Add carrots, broccoli and onion to the wok and cook for 5 minutes.
- While vegetables are cooking, stir together soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic in a small bowl.
- Add the spinach to the other vegetables and stir in the sauce. Cook for another minute.
- Serve and enjoy.
Light Meal Recipe: Basil pesto pasta
You’ll need:
- 200 g penne pasta
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted
- Garlic clove, crushed
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Parmesan shavings
- Salt and pepper
Get started
- In a sauce pan, heat water to boiling point and add pasta and a pinch of salt. Follow the packet directions and cook until tender. Drain and return the cooked pasta to the pan.
- Blend basil, pine nuts, garlic and parmesan in a food processor until almost smooth.
- Add oil to the processor with basil mixture. Blitz to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add pesto to the pasta and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle parmesan shavings and serve.