Coconut Shrimp Curry

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quick-cooking barley or brown rice
• 1 (14 oz.) can unsweetened lite coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. Thai red curry paste
• 1 large red bell pepper, slivered
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 4 tsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1 /4 lbs. peeled & deveined large shrimp
• 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp. slivered fresh basil
• lime wedges for serving

Makes 4 Servings

1. In a medium saucepan, cook the barley or rice according to package directions. Drain away liquid left in the pan. Cover and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of the coconut milk and the curry paste. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the bell peppers and onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes to soften the vegetables.
3. Stir in the soy sauce and remaining coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute to blend flavors.
4. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring often, until the shrimp turn pink and are just opaque in the center, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.
5. Divide the barley or rice among 4 plates, top with the curry, and sprinkle with the basil. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

WW POINTS VALUE: 10 pts. with barley, 9 pts. without barley

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Super Quick Cookbook. This quick and easy Asian dish is tastier than takeout and both cheaper and better for you. This dish has a unique flavor to it with the coconut milk, red curry paste, soy sauce and lime juice. Don't worry if the dish looks like a hot mess but it's flavorful, spicy and delicious. Don't forget to use unsweetened lite coconut milk because the thick sweetened coconut milk is used to make pina coladas. If you're on Phase 1, serve the cooked shrimp over sautéed zucchini, bok choy or spinach.

Thai Chicken Legs

Ingredients:

• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tbsp. grated peeled fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp. Asian fish sauce
• 1 tbsp. granular sugar
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
• 2 tsp. grated lime zest
• 1 tsp. Thai red curry paste
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 (1/2-lb.) whole chicken legs, skinned

Makes 4 Servings (1 chicken leg per serving)

1. Combine the garlic, ginger, vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, cilantro,yo mint, lime zest, chili paste, and salt in a zip-close plastic bag; add the chicken. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag; turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
2. Spray the grill rack with nonstick spray; prepare the grill for a medium-hot fire.
3. Lift the chicken from the marinade and place on the grill rack. Discard the marinade. Grill the chicken until well marked and an instant-read thermometer inserted in a thigh registers 165 F, 8-10 minutes on each side.sian dis

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Ultimate Chicken Cookbook. If you're craving takeout food, PUT DOWN THE PHONE!! You can make this dish in 30 minutes or less and you'll be just as happy and satisfied. If you love Chinese takeout, you'll love this dish. Thai food has all the flavors you crave: spicy, sweet, sour, bitter, hot and aromatic. You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in place of the legs and your meal will taste just as delicious. Thai roasted chili paste is a condiment that is made from crushed roasted red Thai chiles, granulated sugar, tamarind, dried shrimp and other spices. It has a smoky and spicy flavor to many Asian dishes.  Grilled Thai chicken is absolutely delicious you'll have it again.

Thai Vegetable Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

• 1 (14 oz.) can light coconut milk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp. grated lime zest
• 2 cups sliced asparagus tips
• 1 cup halved mushrooms
• 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 small head bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole
• 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 small bunch fresh basil, slivered

Makes 4 Servings

 

In food processor, combine the coconut milk, garlic, lemon and lime zest. Pulse to process into a paste. Remove to a large skillet. Place over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the asparagus, mushrooms, bell pepper, bok choy, peanuts and red pepper flakes and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, lime juice, lemon juice, and basil and simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. You can make this vegetarian dish in about 30 minutes or less and it will be delicious. You can serve this dish as a side dish or as a vegetarian entrée and it will be deliciously satisfying. Don't be intimidated by Thai food. Thai food has all the flavors you love: hot, spicy, sweet, sour, bitter and aromatic. If you don't have bok choy on hand, spinach will work just as well. The great thing about this dish is that it has 4 different kinds of vegetables in it so you could get your daily servings of vegetables in this dish.

Thai Shrimp Soup with Lime and Cilantro

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 3 tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 (1/2-lb.) head napa cabbage, thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
• 1 1/2 lbs. fresh or thawed frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp Asian fish sauce
• 2 tsp grated lime zest
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Makes 4 (2 1/4-cup) Servings

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger and onion; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add broth and red pepper flakes; increase heat and bring soup to a low boil.
2. Add cabbage and cook 2 minutes. Add shrimp, fish sauce, lime zest and lime juice; cook just until shrimp turn pink, about 1 minute. Serve hot, sprinkled with cilantro, if using.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook. This is a wonderful hot soup that will quickly fill you up and leave you satisfied. I've always wanted to try Asian soup and shrimp. My mother and I had this soup for dinner last night and it  was so delicious. I never thought I would like hot Asian soup but I did as did my mother. The lime and ginger gave this soup a nice zing to it. You can also add diced carrots or cooked soba noodles to this soup when you're on later phases as well a scallions for a heartier and more authentic Asian taste. If you are craving Asian food but you don't want to go out, this soup taste lust like what you  would get at a restaurant and it's quick, easy and delicious.

Thai Beef and Lettuce Rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef (7% fat or less)
• 4 garlic cloves, minved
• 1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp chili garlic sauce
• 2 tsp pasked brown sugar
• 1 tsp Asian (dark) sesame oil
• 8 Boston lettuce leaves
• 1 cup matchstick -cut carrots
• 8 fresh cilantro sprigs
• 8 fresh mint sprigs

 Makes 4 Servings

1. Mix together the ground beef, garlic, soy sauce, chili sauce and brown sugar in a medium bowl until combined.
2. Spray a large nonstock skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the beef mixture and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until  browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the sesame oil.
3. Place about 1/4 of the beef mixture on each lettuce leaf. Top evenly with 1/8 of the carrots, 1 cilantro sprig and 1 mint sprig. Fold in two opposite sides of each leaf.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4pts (2 lettuce rolls per serving)

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. My mom and I were craving burgers and this was a burger recipe I came across and wanted to try. I've never had Asian burgers before and so I was on a new mission. I really enjoyed this burger as did my mom. Asian burgers stand out from the rest because (from what I understand) the recipes don't include buns. Asian flavors have a different kind of aroma to them and they give you that extra kick and spice in your mouth. If you don't have cilnatro and/or mint sprigs, use a 1/4 cup dry measure to qickly and evenly divide the beef.