Flavoursome Low Calorie Meals With Olive Oil
Looking to mix up your healthy meals this Spring? Look no further than Mediterranean diet recipes! This style of eating is as delicious as it is nutritious. With Mediterranean dishes you will enjoy flavorful recipes like stuffed bell peppers, Greek pasta salad, and white bean stew. All Mediterranean ingredients are high in anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, the mediterranean diet has the added benefit of being low calorie – but don’t be fooled! The tastiness of these Mediterranean dishes comes from good-for-you ingredients readily available during the spring such as olives, olive oil, nuts and seeds for an extra dose of protein. A quality extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold is especially efficient as one tablespoon contains 120 calories – but studies show this healthy fat actually helps weight loss when consumed responsibly. Get cooking today with Spring Mediterranean diet recipes for a nourishing meal that will help you feel and look your very best. If you are new to Med style eating you can find out more about getting started on a Mediterranean diet.
Roasted Salmon Recipe with Smoky Chickpeas & Greens
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided, plus a pinch
- 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives and/or dill, plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 10 cups chopped kale
- ¼ cup water
- 1¼ pounds wild salmon, cut into 4 portions
Instructions
- Position racks in upper third and middle of oven; preheat to 425 degrees F.
- Combine 1 tablespoon oil, paprika and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Very thoroughly pat chickpeas dry, then toss with the paprika mixture. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the chickpeas on the upper rack, stirring twice, for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, puree buttermilk, mayonnaise, herbs, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and garlic powder in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add kale and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add water and continue cooking until the kale is tender, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in a pinch of salt.
- Remove the chickpeas from the oven and push them to one side of the pan. Place salmon on the other side and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Drizzle the reserved dressing on the salmon, garnish with more herbs, if desired, and serve with the kale and chickpeas.
- Drizzle the reserved dressing on the salmon, garnish with more herbs, if desired, and serve with the kale and chickpeas.
Mediterranean potato salad Recipe With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 tsp oregano, fresh or dried
- ½ x 400g can cherry tomatoes
- 100g roasted red pepper, from a jar, sliced
- 300g new potato, halved if large
- 25g black olive, sliced handful basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Heat the Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook for 5-10 mins until soft. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for 1 min. Add the tomatoes and peppers, season well and simmer gently for 10 mins.
- Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain well, mix with the sauce and serve warm, sprinkled with olives and basil.
There is a healthy salmon dinner from the wonderful eatingwell.com, you’ll get a dose of greens and green dressing! Chowing down on 6 or more servings of dark leafy greens a week can help keep your brain in top shape. This dish features the Test Kitchen’s current go-to method for doctoring a can of chickpeas: spice them up and roast until crispy. Or a Mediterranean potato salad, packed full of fresh nutrients and lends itself to selecting your favourite Spring flavours with low calorie olive oil as your main source of healthy fat.
Spring is a time of fresh beginnings, and it’s the perfect opportunity to create delicious Mediterranean spring diet recipes with seasonal flavours. Working with extra virgin olive oil as your primary cooking fat ensures your meals will be healthy, flavourful, and packed with nutritional benefits. Plus, since olive oil is low calorie, you can enjoy all that mouth-watering Mediterranean cuisine without the guilt.
So start experimenting with recipes like spanakopita, pork tenderloin souvlaki, and chickpeas tomato cazuela. Replace butter in some of your favourite recipes and make them Mediterranean-style instead! Incorporating extra virgin olive oil into your cooking is a surefire way to boost flavour for the season and gain unbeatable health advantages. It’s time to get creative in the kitchen – so what are you waiting for? For more inspiration on how to start cooking Mediterranean diet recipes this spring with extra virgin olive oil, check out the Morocco Gold recipe pages here.
