SP Days for Vegetarians

As the autumnal night draw in, this warming spicy Double Dahl, named as such as it features two different pulses, is packed with protein as well as being a filling main or side dish. It also works great as a filling to a wrap or cold it works quite well spread on HEB crackers (trust me!) Here I've served this with my Spicy Spinach with Halloumi and Chana Masala for a great SP friendly meal. I'd recommend getting hold of whole cumin seeds if you can, as they make a really tasty topping at the end of the dish and add a real aromatic finish that gives this a 'real' curry feel. As with all recipes and meal plans on the blog I have highlighted the   protein sources (P foods) in red , the  speed (S) foods in green ,  healthy extra allowances in blue  and  syns, with syn values in brackets in orange .  Double Dahl Makes 2 main portions - syn free 200g Mung Dahl (the yellow kind) 200g Red Lentils 1 yellow onion, finely chopped 3 crushed garlic cloves 1 thumb

This super-speedy, iron-rich dish of Spiced Spinach with Halloumi is easy-peasy to make and is delicious as either a side dish or the main event!  After a brief break from updating the blog I made an feast of spicy indian-inspired dishes this weekend that I want to share with you all over this week. Pictured here you can see the Spiced Spinach with a portion of the Chana Masala I posted a while ago the Double Dahl (to be posted later this week) and Tikka Tofu (again, coming soon!) This dish came about as I was hankering after my favourite order from any Indian restaurant - Palak Paneer. Aware that this dish traditionally uses a good deal of paneer cheese and an oil-base for the spices, I wanted to make a healthier version that would be equally tasty and satisfying. This dish does carry some syn value for the curry paste used, but having experimented with several alternatives, nothing beats the rich depth of spice that you find in a curry paste and it makes this a ver

These delicious Red Onion and Carrot Bhajis work wonderfully as an accompaniment to a curry or as a lunchbox snack. They have the tasty tang of traditional bhajis but are free from the heavy calorie load of a deep-fried version. These aren't syn-free, but at just half a syn per bhaji, they won't take up all your allowance for the day. They are packed with veg, with the carrot ensuring that you have that lovely golden orange filling inside the bhaji. The gram flour used also contains protein (it is made from chickpeas) so this, with the eggs make these lovely and filling. Following the steps in drying out the veg here is essential to ensure the mixture doesn't become too loose to form the patties in the pan. You can always adjust the spices to your taste - these have q bit of heat behind them, but if you like them more spicy you could add some dried chilli powder too. I would strongly advise squeezing fresh lemon over them whilst warm and serve with lots of leafy gree

This stuffed butternut squash is a bit of a show-stopper - ideal for Sunday Lunch or a dinner party. The size of this feels quite decadent and is certainly very filling! This dish combines the sweetness of roasted squash with the dry spice of the spinach curry. It is ideal dressed with refreshingly tasty fresh vegetables. Perfect for the change from summer to autumn, this dish takes a while to bake, but it gives you a great chance to put your feet up whilst the oven does the work.  This is packed with speed veg and low in calories. The Quorn in the curry also adds some protein to the dish. It is used here, in part, to replace paneer cheese in the traditional palak paneer dish I based this stuffing mixture on. However, whilst using the Quorn keeps this free of any use of healthy extras, you could, if you prefer, replace with 40g of light halloumi and count this as a Healthy Extra A choice for the day (or 50g of Savera Paneer for 4 syns).  As with all recipes and meal pla

When you get the urge for a chinese supper, this syn-free Choi Sum Tofu Stir-Fry really hits the spot. Packed with protein-charged tofu and lots of crunch fresh vegetables, this is a meal ready in minutes that makes a perfect weeknight quick-fix meal. After finding some Choi Sum at a reduced price, I snapped it up to experiment with and came up with this tasty treat. You could easily swap in pak choi, chard or a similar leafy green, sliced into similar chunks if (when) this isn't available but if you get the chance to try this, it has a lovely citrus tang to it, which I thought was pretty delicious. I would strongly recommend using a firm tofu, like Tofoo, or press a less firm brand first, before making this as the dryness means it does take up the marinade a little and allows it to form this darker crust on the outside of each chunk. I'd also recommend some nice big hearty chunks like this, to decrease the chances of it breaking up within the pan. I tore off strips