Mo (moo) Indonesian Stir-Fry

Mo (moo) Indonesian Stir-Fry

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes: 10 cups
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

4 cups water
2 packages (3 ounces each) ramen-style noodles
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in thin strips
1⁄4 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1⁄2 cup water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
2 carrots, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1⁄2 large head cabbage, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
1⁄4 cup green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Bring 4 cups water to boil in a 2 to 3 quart saucepan. Add noodles, cover, and remove from heat (do not add flavor packets). Wait one minute, drain noodles and set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, and 1/2 cup water. Heat over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (350 degrees in an electric skillet). Add chicken and cook until no longer pink when cut, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Add red pepper, ginger, and carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add cabbage and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until cabbage is crisp-tender.
5. Stir in green onions, cooked noodles and peanut sauce. Toss and serve immediately.
6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• To avoid peanuts or peanut butter, try this stir fry with sunflower seeds or sunflower seed butter

Cheesy Beef Pasta

Cheesy Beef Pasta

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes: 8 cups
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1⁄2 pound lean ground beef (15% fat)
1 onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small zucchini, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 jar (24 to 26 ounces) tomato based pasta sauce
1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
1⁄4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional)
12 ounces rotini pasta (about 4 cups)
2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook beef, onion, garlic and zucchini over medium-high heat (350 degrees in an electric skillet) until meat is browned and broken into pieces. Drain any fat.
2. Add the pasta sauce, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes, if desired. Bring to a simmer and cook on medium low (275 degrees in an electric skillet) for 15 minutes.
3. Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package Directions.
4. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce in the skillet. Stir in the cheese and cover until the cheese is melted.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Substitute broccoli for zucchini. Cook fresh broccoli with the pasta in step 3 or add frozen broccoli in step 2.

Sesame Broccoli

Sesame Broccoli

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Makes: 2 cups
Serving Size 1/2 cup

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon sesame oil or vegetable oil
3 cups chopped broccoli, fresh or frozen
2 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon vinegar or water
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon corn starch
1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

1. Toast sesame seeds (if using) in a dry skillet on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside.
2. In a medium skillet, sauté broccoli in oil over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine water, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes (if using).
4. Add the sauce mixture to the broccoli in the skillet. Stir and cook until broccoli is tender and the sauce has thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds (optional). Serve.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Indian Lentils and Pasta

Indian Lentils and Pasta

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Makes: 6 cups
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

3 cups water
2 cloves garlic finely chopped or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1⁄2 cup dry lentils, rinsed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1⁄2 cup orzo or tiny pasta
1⁄4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat (300 degrees in an electric skillet). Add onion and garlic and cook 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Stir in water, diced tomatoes with juice, lentils, cumin, turmeric, and red pepper flakes, if desired.
3. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low (250 degrees in an electric skillet). Simmer for 25 minutes.
4. Add pasta and cook uncovered until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve warm.
6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Serve topped with light sour cream or plain non-fat yogurt.

Beef and Broccoli

Beef and Broccoli

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes: 7 cups
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

3⁄4 pound lean ground beef
1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
3⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1⁄4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1⁄2 cup water
4 cups broccoli, chopped (fresh or frozen)
3 cups cooked bulgur

Directions

1. Sauté beef, ginger, and garlic powder in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat is browned.
2. In a bowl, mix sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, pepper flakes and water.
3. Add sauce to beef and cook for 5 minutes. Add broccoli and cook until tender.
4. Serve over cooked bulgur.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours

West African Peanut Soup

West African Peanut Soup

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Makes: 8 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

2⁄3 cup onion, diced
1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup cooked skinless chicken breast, diced
1 1⁄2 teaspoons curry powder
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cups reduced sodium fat-free chicken broth (see Notes)
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes, unsalted
6 Tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter

Directions

1. In a large pot saute onion in sesame oil until translucent; add garlic and chicken and stir to heat through.
2. Add seasonings and saute 1 minute longer.
3. Add broth, tomato paste, tomatoes, and peanut butter. Stir until well combined.
4. Heat over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Serve immediately.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Broth can be canned or made using bouillon. For each cup of broth use 1 cup very hot water and 1 teaspoon or 1 cube bouillon.
• For more peanut flavor, add chopped peanuts.
• To avoid peanuts or peanut butter, try sunflower seeds or sunflower seed butter.

Quick Tomato Pasta Sauce

Quick Tomato Pasta Sauce

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
Serving Size 1/2 cup

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced or crushed tomatoes
1⁄4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. (If using garlic powder, omit oil and skip this step).
2. Add tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes, if desired. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally. For a thicker sauce, cook an extra 10 to 20 minutes to allow more of the liquid to evaporate.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Kale Dip

Kale Dip

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Makes: 12 servings
Serving Size 2 tablespoons

Ingredients

1 1⁄2 teaspoons oil
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 cups kale, thinly sliced
1⁄8 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and kale and season with salt. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool.
2. Transfer kale to a blender. Add cottage cheese and puree until smooth.
3. Season with red pepper flakes and lemon juice.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• 1 bunch fresh kale (about 8 cups, chopped)
• No blender? Make chunky version! Finely chop kale and garlic before cooking. Mash dip with fork.
• Try adding onion or garlic powder, dill weed or curry powder for a flavor boost.
• Can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Serve with fresh vegetables or Food Hero Baked Tortilla Chips.
• Freeze extra lemon juice to use later.