Healthy Spin on German Comfort Food

This already-dug-into-unbelievably-delicious plate was one of the calorie-laden meals previously discussed. I so very much enjoyed this meal over and over again. However, it did very much contribute to my clothes being tighter and the scale being so unkind. Because I enjoyed this food SO very much, I set out to come up with lower fat, lower-calorie recipes that would still hit the spot!

Cucumber Dill Salad

Serves 4

2 Long English cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced

½ tsp. sea salt

½ tbsp. fresh dill, chopped

1-2 tbsp. white wine vinegar

Peel cucumbers and thinly slice widthwise. Combine cucumbers and sea salt in an airtight container and refrigerate for one hour. Empty container of cucumbers into colander and rinse well. In a salad boll, toss in white wine vinegar and dill to taste and serve.

Crispy No Fry “Schnitzel”

By definition, Schnitzel (oh glorious golden crispy tasty Schnitzel) is flattened, breaded, deep-fried meat. My spin on this Viennese/ German favourite, substitutes frying for baking. Though it isn’t a bang on version of the original, it certainly quenches cravings for the deep fried variety.

Serves 2

2 x 8 oz. chicken breasts/ steaks/ pork, sliced diagonally and thinned

½ cup whole wheat no additive flour

1 tbs. garlic powder

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup whole wheat Panko breading

2 tbs. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Extra virgin olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 425°F and spray cookie sheet with olive oil.  Slice meat in half diagonally and hammer meat until thinned. Season meat with salt and pepper. Set out three shallow bowls. In one, combine garlic powder and flour. In another, beat eggs until frothy. In third, combine Panko and cheese. Take meat and coat first in flour mixture, then egg, and then breading. Place on greased cookie sheet and baked until golden brown (approximately 20 minutes, flipping ½ way through).

Stay tuned for Spätzle recipe (it's still in the works)...

Follow me on Twitter @YogaPace