Crunchy Cucumber Salad

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 English or other unvaxed cucumbers, chopped into ¼” dice (about 3 cups)
  
• 1 green Serrano chile pepper, finely chopped (remove seeds if desired)
  
• ½ cup raw peanuts (toasted, unsalted ones will also work)
  
• 2-3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
• ¼ tsp. salt
  
• ½ tsp. sugar
  
• ⅛ tsp. ground red pepper
  
• 1 Tbsp. canola oil
  
• ¼ tsp. mustard seeds
  

Preparation:

• Place cucumbers and chile pepper in medium bowl. Chop peanuts in coffee grinder or food processor until reduced to coarse powder (not too fine, but no big chunks). Add to cucumbers along with lemon juice, salt, and sugar to taste. Mix well.
  
• Sprinkle red pepper in small pile on top of salad. Do not stir it in yet. Heat oil in small skillet over high heat. When oil begins to smoke, add mustard seeds and cover with lid or splatter screen. As soon as seeds stop sputtering, remove from heat and care fully pour oil over red pepper. Stir in dressing.
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 152 Calories, 5 g Protein, 7 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 12.5 g Fat, 1.5 g Saturated Fat, 150 mg Sodium

Thai Noodle Salad

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. dried vermicelli, cook according to package instructions
  
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  
• ¼ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
  
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  
• 1 tsp minced fresh ginger
  
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper
  
• 1 tsp minced garlic cloves
  
• 1½ cups chopped cooked chicken
  
• 1 red sweet pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
  
• 3 green onions, cut diagonally into ½” pieces
  
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  
• Lime wedges for garnish
  

Preparation:

• Combine soy sauce, chicken broth, peanut butter, lime juice, ginger, crushed red pepper in a medium-size saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until peanut butter is melted.
  
• Add cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly.
  
• Stir in cooked chicken, sweet pepper, green onions and cilantro.
  
• Serve with lime wedges.
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight Loss Recipes Amount Per Serving(¼ of recipe (185 g)): 317 Calories, 25 g Protein, 38 g carbohydrates, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 45 mg cholesterol, 882 mg sodium

Peanut Fruit Salad

(makes 4-6 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 oz.) can pineapple, crushed
  
• 1 cup carrots, peeled and shredded
  
• 1 cup apples (or pears), chopped
  
• ½ cup peanuts
  
• ⅓ cup plain low-fat yogurt
  
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
  
• ¼ cup raisins (optional)
  

Preparation:

• Stir together the pineapple, carrots, apples, peanuts and raisins in a medium-sized bowl.
  
• Blend together the yogurt and peanut butter in another bowl.
  
• Add the yogurt dressing to the salad and stir to coat.
  

Make 6 Servings:

Weight Loss Recipes Amount Per Serving(1/6 of recipe (113 g)): 158 Calories, 6 g Protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 3 g Dietary Fiber, 9 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 44 mg sodium