Categories: Recipes

5 Easy-to-Prepare Healthy Recipes for Dinner

Even when you’re in a mad scramble to get food on the table, you have to give serious consideration into monitoring what you eat. Trying to choose quick and easy recipes for dinner can be a daunting task.

However, you must ensure you cook a meal the whole family will enjoy in a very short time while making sure it’s healthy.

Would you like to prepare a healthy dinner meal in less than 45 minutes for your family but don’t know where to start? Here are 5 easy to prepare healthy recipes to get you started.

1. Chicken and Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe

Preparation Time: 7 minutes Cook Time: 23 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Serves: 8

You will need these Ingredients:

1 lb grape cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tsp coconut oil
12 oz whole-wheat spaghetti
2 medium bell peppers, coarsely chopped
2 ½ cups chicken stock
1 ¼ tsp salt
2 lbs skinless and boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
Black pepper, finely grounded to taste
2 bay leaves
2 cups Kalamata olives, pitted
Basil, handful and chopped

Instructions:

Start by preheating large deep skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. While stirring, add peppers and cook for three to four minutes, pour into a bowl containing sliced tomatoes.

Add chicken to skillet and cook for five to seven minutes while stirring on medium-high heat or until opaque. Add chicken stock, salt, olives, bay leaves, pepper, and gently stir.

Snap a bunch of spaghetti in 3 adding to the skillet. Stir gently to mix ingredients.

Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove lid and stir the softened spaghetti well with the rest of the ingredients and then cover again to cook for 5 more minutes.

Turn off heat. Add previously cooked tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Stir and serve hot.

2. Grilled Shrimp in Lettuce Leaves with Serrano-Mint Sauce

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Serves: 10

You will need these Ingredients:

1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
3 tbs canola oil
Fresh cilantro leaves
Pepper, freshly ground
Salt
12 leaves green curly leaf lettuce
Serrano-Mint Sauce
Chili oil, for drizzling (optional)

For Serrano-Mint Sauce:

1 cup mint leaves, tightly packed
2 Serrano chiles, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt
1″ piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
2 tsp sugar
¼ cup white wine vinegar
2 tbs fish sauce

Instructions:

Start by preheating the grill to medium-high. Toss shrimp in oil and season with pepper and salt in a large bowl. For one to two minutes, grill the shrimp on each side.

Avoid overcooking the shrimp as this could make it rubbery and tough. Remove from the grill.

In each lettuce leaf, place about 3 shrimp and then drizzle with the Serrano-Mint Sauce and also with a little chili oil (optional). Then sprinkle with a few fresh cilantro leaves. Roll up the lettuce leaves, and devour immediately.

Preparing Serrano-Mint Sauce:

Except for salt, place all other ingredients in a blender. Use the Pulse button until smooth. Season, to taste.

3. Coconut-Crusted Shrimp with Pineapple-Chili Sauce

Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Serves: 6 -7

You will need these ingredients:

1 pound large shrimp, tails removed, peeled and deveined
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large egg whites
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 small clove garlic
½ small fresh pineapple, peeled, finely cored and roughly chopped
Kosher salt
Zest and juice of 1 lime

Special Equipment: Seven 6-inch skewers

Instructions:

Start by preheating the broiler and lining a baking sheet with a wire rack. Line onto each of seven 6-inch skewers, 3 shrimps, and then set aside.

In a shallow bowl, combine the unsweetened shredded coconut, 1 teaspoon, salt lime zest, and little black pepper. Use the egg whites to brush the shrimp and then press into the coconut mixture until it is completely coated.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and broil. Flip halfway through until the coconut is golden brown and crispy and the shrimp are pinkish and not opaque in the middle, three to four minutes.

In the meantime, blend the pineapple, cilantro, garlic, red pepper flakes, pineapple, and lime juice in a blender until smooth and green. Serve with the shrimp.

4. Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Serves: 4

You will need these ingredients:

¾ cup instant grits
¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
1¼ pounds medium shrimp (tails intact), peeled and deveined
Kosher salt
Black pepper, freshly ground
Juice of ½ lemon
Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

In a covered medium saucepan, bring three cups of water to a boil over high heat. Uncover and whisk in the grits, ½ teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, and stir occasionally, until thickened, for about five minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter and parmesan.

Remove from the heat and season with pepper and salt. Cover to keep warm.

In the meantime, season the shrimp with pepper and salt. You should melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the garlic and cayenne, if using, and cook, tossing, until the shrimp are pinkish, three to four minutes.

Remove from the heat and add parsley, the lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water; stir to coat the shrimp with the sauce and season with pepper and salt.

Divide grits among bowls and then top with the shrimp and sauce. You can serve with lemon wedges.

5. Chicken and Thai Curry Veggie Noodles

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Serves: 6

You will need these ingredients:

2 large 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 large English cucumber, spiralized
½ cup of coconut milk
Juice of 2 limes
½ small head red cabbage, thinly sliced
Lime wedges for serving
2 tbsp almond butter
2 tsp red curry paste
1 large carrot, spiralized
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Black pepper, freshly ground
Kosher salt
Lime wedges for serving
Chopped cashews, roasted and salted for serving

Instructions:

Start by preheating the broiler and lining a baking sheet with foil. Drizzle the chicken with the extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with pepper and some salt.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and broil. Flip halfway through until cooked, about ten minutes.

In the meantime, whisk together the lime juice, coconut milk, curry paste, and almond butter in a large bowl.

To coat completely, add the cabbage, carrots, and 1 teaspoon salt and toss. Let it sit for fifteen minutes before adding the cucumber to the bowl. Toss to combine.

Divide the veggies into 4 bowls and top with thinly sliced chicken, scallions, and cashews. Serve with lime wedges.

Conclusion

Cooking can be hard if we make it hard. We may go for hard cooking when there are special occasions such as holidays but what works best are those easy and quick recipes with a big taste that can be put together in less than 45 minutes.

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