Put these Low-Carb Christmas recipes on your holiday menu

Discover some of the low-carb foods you can try out during this Christmas!

It’s that time of year again when chocolate and other sweet treats are in high demand. This is good news for people with diabetes because it means lots of low carb recipes are available. Admittedly, cooking can seem like a challenge to busy people who want to eat well but don’t have much time to be creative in the kitchen.

However, there are several delicious meals you can prepare quickly. The following ideas will help get you started our way towards eating healthier this season. You’ll never believe how easy it is to make these quick dinner recipes!

1. Low-Carb Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

This is an easy recipe that only takes 25 minutes to cook. It’s a great way to use leftover low cab vegetables, and you can make it as spicy as you like, depending on how much chilli pepper you add.

Directions:

1. Cook the spaghetti as per the instructions on the package using a large saucepan.

2. In a medium frying pan, cook onion and garlic for two minutes until softened.

3. Add two tablespoons of water, followed by protein powder and chilli powder (if you’re going to use fresh chilli peppers, purée them first). Stir for a minute, then gradually add tomato paste whilst constantly stirring over low heat for five minutes or until it thickens slightly. Pour in soy sauce and mix well before adding your choice of ground meat (beef, chicken or turkey) and simmer gently for around eight minutes, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon, ensuring that nothing sticks to the bottom of your pan as you go.

4. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of water.

5. Return pasta to the saucepan, pour in meat mixture and stir well before adding another tablespoon of soy sauce or chilli powder for colour if desired.

Add some low cab vegetables to your meal by stirring in finely chopped red cabbage just before serving.

2. Salmon With Honey Mustard Dressing

This works well as an entrée rather than the main course because it’s so light and refreshing. It doesn’t take long to prepare either – you can be eating this dish within 15 minutes!

Ingredients;

– 1 x 250g wild salmon fillet

– 2 teaspoons of honey

– 2 tablespoons of lite soy sauce (the best option if you’re allergic to wheat) or one tablespoon of dark soy sauce for colour and taste.

Directions:

1. Slice the cucumber into rounds, then half those rounds and cut those in half again until you have thin strips. Set aside.

2. Mix all ingredients before placing salmon on a piece of foil big enough to fold over the fish entirely and make a suitable parcel shape – this is where using smaller pieces becomes essential as it will be easier to wrap up tightly! Wrap up your fish and place it on the baking tray before roasting at 180°C (350°F) for about 10 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.

There are plenty of ways to make your meal more colourful! You can add sautéed mixed vegetables, butternut squash or even thinly sliced bell peppers to make it look gorgeous.

3. Baked Chicken With Tarragon Sauce

This recipe works well as an alternative to the salmon dish above if you don’t want to eat fish this week. Again, replace the honey with two teaspoons of brown sugar for a naturally low cab option, although it won’t be relatively as healthy.

Ingredients;

– 1 x 454g packet of skinless chicken breast fillets

– 200mL low cab natural yoghurt (preferably fat-free)

– 1 teaspoon of dried tarragon

– 2 teaspoons of lite soy sauce or one tablespoon of dark soy sauce for colour and taste

Directions:

1. Dice the onion, peel and dice the garlic cloves and slice the mushrooms into thin slices. Place in a large bowl, then add all remaining ingredients except chicken to the bowl and stir well before adding this mixture to a medium frying pan along with your diced chicken breasts.

2. Turn the heat onto medium and cook for around 10 minutes, frequently stirring until you can see the chicken is cooked through (this might be slightly longer if your pieces are quite large). Serve with potatoes or rice, or even on its own with some vegetables added! With these three quick recipes, we hope we’ve given you enough inspiration to keep you on track with your diet plan this Christmas.

4. Sweet Potato Mash

This is a lovely sweet treat that’s also very nutritious. It works well as an alternative to regular potatoes or sweet potatoes; if you’re trying to eat more low carb foods, remember to keep your portions in check!

Ingredients;

– 1 medium-sized peeled and cubed sweet potato (you can use the remainder of this for another purpose)

– 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients before serving with turkey instead of the traditional accompaniment of breadcrumbs, stuffing or any other high carbohydrate side dish! You can even make this recipe ahead of time and freeze it for up to six weeks – thaw overnight in the fridge before heating up gently in an ovenproof dish for around 20 minutes until it’s piping hot.

5. Macadamia Nut Cookies

These are perfect served with tea after a festive meal! If you’re hosting Christmas dinner at your house this year and want to make an effort in the desserts department, this recipe is worth trying out.

Ingredients;

– 1 cup of macadamia nuts (chopped) or cashews, depending on your low cab diet plan

– 1/2 cup of butter-flavoured shortening (you can also use regular if you prefer)

– 2 tablespoons of sweetener or another tablespoon of brown sugar for that traditional taste without the carbs!

Directions:

1. Beat together chopped macadamias, sweetener or brown sugar and butter-flavoured shortening until the mixture becomes smooth, creamy and pale in colour. Add an egg white and the vanilla extract, then stir well before slowly adding in two cups of almond flour, baking powder and salt.

2. Once mixed thoroughly, place heaped teaspoons of your cookie dough onto a greased tray (we recommend using baking parchment paper to prevent sticking). Flatten each cookie slightly before placing these into the oven for between ten and fifteen minutes at 180°C (350°F) or until golden brown on top. You can also use this method with alternative toppings such as chocolate chips! For best results, store in an airtight container overnight before serving, so they soften up perfectly during the following day.

6. Pork Chops With Lemon, Garlic and Rosemary

If you’re looking for a healthy Christmas dinner that’s packed full of flavour, this recipe is an excellent choice. Everyone will be complete after eating it, but it fits perfectly within most low cab diets.

Ingredients;

– 3 x 160g pork loin chops or similar cut of pork (with fat removed)

– 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary

– A few cloves of peeled fresh garlic (you can mince these if you want more flavour)

Directions:

1. Combine the dried rosemary with salt, pepper and grated lemon zest before coating your chopped pork in this mixture, then cook on medium to high heat for around three minutes per side or until slightly golden.

2. Add the garlic cloves along with a tablespoon of lemon juice and hot water before covering and simmering for around 15 minutes or until pork is fully cooked through (adding more lemon if necessary). Serve with your favourite low cab vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage or celery sticks to make this meal even healthier!

7. Roast Turkey Breasts on a Bed of Veggies

Poultry is allowed in most low carb diets, so why not make the most of it by serving up this recipe at Christmas? The meat itself doesn’t have much flavour, but the vegetables are packed full of goodness – you can even replace some with extra avocado to cut out more carbs if desired.

Ingredients;

– 3 large or four medium-sized turkey breast fillets (diced into bite-size pieces)

– 1 tablespoon of olive oil

– 1/2 teaspoon salt for seasoning your vegetables

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) before chopping up two sliced leeks and about six small carrots, placing them all in a large roasting pan. Add the pieces of turkey breast onto the vegetables followed by three tablespoons of water or chicken stock, closing the lid to allow these to cook together for around 50 minutes (depending on your oven) until tender. Serve with any creamy side dishes like cauliflower mash, boiled potatoes or celery sticks!

8. Italian Beef Meatballs

If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual beef casserole, these are the perfect item for any low cab diet. You can use turkey instead of beef if desired, or try this recipe with bacon-wrapped meatballs if you want to mix things up a little.

Ingredients;

– 600g of lean ground turkey (or grass-fed beef)

– 1/2 cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese

– 1 large egg beaten (to bind)

– 2 tablespoons dried basil and oregano mixed

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) before mixing all your ingredients in a large bowl with some salt and pepper until well combined. Take around a tablespoon of the mixture at a time, flattening it into circular shapes before transferring these onto a baking tray that has been lined with parchment paper to stop them from sticking. Once you have used all your beef mixture, place them in the oven for 25-35 minutes or until cooked through (this will depend on how big you have made them).

These are just a few examples of recipes you can try for your Christmas meal. The beauty of following a low cab diet is that you have so many options available to create delicious meals, so why not test out other unique combinations before the big day?

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