Skip to main content

5:2 goes retro

The new year brings a return to the 5:2 diet ( 5 days normal eating 2 days fasting)
I have found it fairly easy to stick to, on the '2'days you need to have a maximum of 650 cals. At lunchtime the distractions of work and the wide choice of low-cal offerings at local delis and restaurants help the process. However come the evening a combination of starvation and the requirement to eat with the rest of the family make it a bit of a struggle.




First slice the shallot in half then slice into very fine slices. then slice the garlic similarly thinly.
Now fry the garlic slices in some oil until they go golden. Drain and then put on some kitchen paper to get rid of the oil. Now do the same with the shallots.

Cut the chicken into long thin strips and put these into a clean medium-sized frying pan. Add water to cover and ¼ teaspoon salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is just done. Remove the chicken from the water and tear it into shreds 1-inch long or cut it into a ¼-inch dice. Save the water in which it was cooked.

Peel and de-vein the shrimp if necessary. Bring the chicken poaching water to a simmer and add the shrimp. Turn the heat to medium-low. Stir and poach the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes or until they are just cooked through. Drain. Cut the shrimp into a ¼-inch dice. Combine the chicken, shrimp, and peanuts, cover and set aside.

Combine 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar, and the lime juice in a small bowl and mix. Set aside. Cut the chilies into very fine rounds. Wash and dry the coriander. Cover and set aside.Combine the apples, grapes, oranges, lettuce, chicken, and shrimp in a large bowl. Add the lime juice and sugar mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Add in half of the fried shallots and garlic. Toss. 

Place in a serving bowl and garnish with the reserved shallots, garlic, cilantro leaves, and chillies.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Crack potatoes courtesy of Ottolenghi. Harissa and confit garlic roast potatoes

Another recipe from Ottolenghi's Simple, another recommendation from Will Saunders.   I know its the middle of summer but who doesn't love a roastie? These little tinkers are so good that they are like crack, class A calories. The clever bit is the addition of semolina and caraway seeds which adds a new level of crunchiness to add to the delicious warm heat of Harissa. Heres the recipe These make a lovely, spicy change from the traditional Sunday roasties. They’re especially good with spiced roast meat. Serves six to eight. 2 large heads garlic, cloves separated and peeled 130g goose or duck fat 4 sprigs fresh rosemary  6 sprigs fresh thyme  2kg maris piper potatoes, peeled and cut into 5cm chunks 40g ground semolina 2 tsp caraway seeds, toasted and lightly crushed 2 tbsp rose harissa Flaky sea salt Heat the oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2. Put the garlic, fat and herbs in a small ovenproof pan or saucepan for which you have a lid. Cover and roast f...

Nigel Slaters deceptively brilliant monkfish

Lisa discovered this recipe in her favourite Nigel book. It is one of those fish, 'but not as we know it Jim' recipes. Not just because Monkfish is the fish that can best impersonate meat but also because of the marinade ingredients that are more often featured with lamb. It's not difficult to do but the flavour is a revelation, which makes it a perfect recipe in my book. This can be cooked on a grill pan or a barbecue. Ingredients 3 bushy sprigs rosemary, leaves finely chopped 4 anchovy fillets 2 large cloves garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 large lemon, juice only 3 tbsp olive oil 800g/1½lb monkfish fillet Method Pull the leaves from the rosemary stalks and chop them finely, then tip them into a bowl large enough to take the fish. Rinse the anchovy fillets and smash them to a rough pulp with the flat edge of your chopping knife. Peel the garlic, crush it flat, then smash it to a purée in the same way. Stir together the herb, anchovy and garlic, adding a grind...

Freekeh, Chickpea and Herb Salad

Yet another recipe from the excellent NYT food app, this one by  Martha Rose Shulman  I think toasting the Freekeh first makes a significant difference to the taste and texture of the Freekeh which can be a bit chewy for some tastes. This is great as part of a mezzE of different salads with some grilled chicken or fish alongside for the carnivores amongst us. The recipe There is a lot to love about freekeh, an earthy grain that I’d like to see catch on in more kitchens. It cooks up in about 25 minutes, and it’s light, like coarse bulgur, which it resembles, except that the color is darker and greener. But freekeh has a more complex flavor than bulgur. What stands out is its smokiness, a result of the production process, in which durum wheat — the type used for many pastas — is harvested while still green and soft, and carefully roasted in the husk over open fires. The wheat is beaten to remove the chaff, and in the Middle East it is sold whole or cracked. The cracked version i...