5 Easy Low-Calorie Summer Dinners

Summer is here and despite us wanting to look our best by the pool, we often end up indulging in greasy BBQ food and ice cream. Luckily, we've made looking and feeling good easier than ever with 5 quick and healthy dinners for weight loss. And no - we're not just talking unsatisfying salads! These are low-calorie meals that will fill you up.

 

Pad Thai Summer Salad

 

Salad is the pinnacle of light summer meals. It's low-calorie, packed full of veggies, and requires minimal cooking - but that doesn't mean it has to be boring! This Pad Thai-inspired salad features crunchy veg, low-cal noodles, and a creamy satay sauce that tastes like a real treat! 

 

Ingredients:

200g of your chosen protein (we recommend chicken breast or firm tofu)

1/4 red cabbage

1/4 white cabbage

2 carrots

1 red bell pepper

3 scallions

1/2 bunch cilantro

1/4 cup roasted peanuts or cashews

 

Dressing:

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 cup peanut butter/nut butter of choice

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 lime - juiced

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp sriracha

 

Method:

1.Begin by chopping your vegetables: Cut your red and white cabbage into shreds, your carrots and bell pepper into matchsticks, and your scallions into long shreds.

2.Saute your chosen protein in a pan with a small amount of oil. When fully cooked through and lightly browned.

3.To make the dressing, add minced garlic and all other ingredients into a bowl. Whisk with a fork until smooth.

4.Combine your proteinand vegetables in a large salad bowl and add half of your dressing. Toss salad and serve with added dressing on the side.

 

Vegan Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti

 

Looking for healthy vegetarian summer dinner recipes? This recipe is vegan, high-protein, and full of healthy carbs. If you thought you couldn't enjoy pasta on a diet - think again! The key to this protein-packed recipe is homemade tofu ricotta. It might sound complicated, but with a high-speed blender, it will take you just 5 minutes to make.

 

Ingredients:

4 oz spaghetti (Try spelt, wholewheat, or yellow pea pasta for a healthier option)

100g spinach

1 handful fresh basil

1 lemon

 

Tofu Ricotta:

200g firm tofu

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 cloves garlic

1 lemon - juiced

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp miso paste

1 tbsp Italian herbs

1 tsp salt

 

Method:

1.Boil salted water in a pan and add your pasta.

2.Chop the tofu into cubes and add to a high-speed blender along with all of the other ricotta ingredients, until fluffy like normal dairy ricotta.

3.Once your pasta is cooked, drain the water and spoon your ricotta mixture into the pan. Stir through evenly.

4.Chop your spinach and add to the warm pasta, allowing the leaves to wilt and merge with the ricotta sauce.

5.Lastly, chop your basil and stir it into the pasta. Grate some lemon zest into the pasta before squeezing more lemon juice into the mixture. Stir and serve!

 

Poached Salmon With Dill Sauce

 

This is one of my favorite easy low-calorie summer dinners for one. Salmon is rich in high-quality protein. The salmon is melt-in-the-mouth and can easily be cooked up in a single portion. Let's get into it!

 

Ingredients:

1 salmon steak or fillet

1 cup white wine

1 cup water

1 oz cream cheese

2 oz sour cream

1/2 lemon

1 handful of fresh dill

 

Method:

1.Add your water and white wine to a skillet along with 4 sprigs of fresh dill.

2.Gently lay your salmon fillet on top of the dill sprigs in the skillet.

3.Heat the skillet slowly on a low heat without allowing the liquid to boil.

4.In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, chopped dill, and season with salt and pepper.

5.Once the salmon is poached, carefully remove from the pan and top with the creamy dill sauce. Serve with steamed greens and a lemon slice.

 

Caribbean BBQ Kabobs

 

It can be hard to find recipes that will satisfy your family and friends, while also being healthy dinners for weight loss. Which means summer BBQs can often result in us over-indulging and feeling guilty. These Caribbean BBQ kabobs may be low-calorie, but they are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

 

Ingredients:

400g diced chicken breast

1 sweet onion

3 rainbow bell peppers

1 pineapple - in chunks

2 handfuls small tomatoes

1/3 cup orange juice

2 limes

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 garlic cloves - minced

1 tsp minced fresh ginger

1 tsp cayenne powder

1 tsp cornflour

 

Method:

1.To make your sticky sauce, combine orange juice, soy sauce, cayenne powder, minced ginger and garlic in a small pan. Cook over a medium heat until lightly simmering.

2.Add cornflour into your mixture and whisk over medium heat. Zest and juice your lime into the mixture before whisking and setting to one side.

3.Cut your onion into segments and your bell peppers into bite-sized chunks.

4.Thread your chicken, onion, peppers, pineapple and tomatoes onto skewers.

5.Add your skewers to the grill and cook over medium heat, being careful to ensure the chicken gets fully cooked through.

6.Once the chicken looks cooked, brush your sauce generously over the kabobs and rest on the top of the grill for 10 minutes.

7.After 10 minutes, flip your kabobs and brush with another coat of sauce and leave to rest for another 10 minutes before serving.

 

Spicy Beef And Broccoli Stir Fry

 

When you're looking for a quick mid-week dinner that can go from pan to plate in 10 minutes - look no further than this protein-packed stir fry! Bursting with flavor and colorful veggies, you wouldn't believe how quickly this easy meal comes together.

 

Ingredients:

250g diced beef steak

1 head of broccoli

1 onion

1 green bell pepper

100g mushrooms

1 cup dried brown rice

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 garlic cloves

1tsp chili flakes

1/2 cup beef stock

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cornflour

 

Method:

1.Begin by chopping your onions, pepper and mushrooms. Set aside.

2.Add your brown rice to a pan of boiling water.

3.Begin by mincing your garlic and adding to a small saucepan with a little drizzle of oil. Heat until the garlic becomes fragrant and add chili flakes, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Stir carefully.

4.Add beef stock and stir. Once simmering, add cornflour and whisk until thickened. Set aside.

5.Next, add a drizzle of oil to a wok and begin sauting your beef.

6.Once browned, add in the veggies and stir quickly until the veggies are soft.

7.Pour your sauce into the wok and coat veggies and meat thoroughly.

8.Serve over rice.

 

 

There you have it! you have five healthy, simple and delicious summer low-calorie recipes, and it only takes less than half an hour to complete a delicious summer fat-reducing meal.Try them all and let us know what you think - we know you'll love them!