This week I'm sharing low cal summer dishes that are light on calories big on flavour. Plus we have the #CookBlogShare 2020 week 26 linky.
Welcome to #CookBlogShare the weekly linky for all things foodie hosted here on Recipes Made Easy the last Tuesday of the month, at Lost in Food on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and with our guests hosts on the remaining Tuesdays.
Its the place where food bloggers can share their latest posts and for you to find new food blogs.
June in a Nutshell
But first, as another month comes to an end, a quick recap of what’s been happening here in June.
Well its certainly been a busy month. As many of you know I have a small urban allotment. As its not a full-size allotment I can't grow a huge selection of produce, so instead I have chosen to grow mainly soft summer fruits.
Surrounded by houses it has a mild micro climate and the fruit tends to ripen a little earlier, June started with a trickle of raspberries and a few strawberries.
Now as the month draws to a close, I have had heaps of blackcurrants (well 5 kg or so) a few redcurrants and whitecurrants (I think I may have been over zealous pruning them this year). A fair amount of gooseberries, particularly from the sweeter red gooseberry bush, lots of raspberries and a decent amount of strawberries.
Needless to say that has meant I have been very busy in the kitchen, making old favourites like Blackcurrant Cordial, summer pudding, gooseberry fool, blackcurrant jam and other jams.
I've also come up with quite a few new recipes for blackcurrants including the most delicious blackcurrant curd which I hope to publish later this week on Only Crumbs Remain.
Most of the fruit has been harvested now, although the raspberries will hopefully keep coming all be it in smaller amounts until the Autumn and I still have a punnet or two of blueberries to ripen, I just have to pick those before the birds get them.
And for the fruit I didn't have time to make anything scrummy with yet, I've popped that in the freezer for later.
Its a good job things are slowing down now as I will be spending most of July in Suffolk trying to tame the gardens of my holiday cottages after 3 months of total neglect, now that we will soon be allowed to go back there again.
As for the mosaic table I started last month - needless to say that has not progressed much!
Low Cal Summer Dishes
So once again there were plenty of lovely recipes linked up on #CookBlogShare last week hosted by Chloe at Feast Glorious Feast. Now if you have slightly over-indulged in a little too many treats and not enough exercise during lockdown then you are going to love the recipes I have chosen for this months round up.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who could do with some lighter dishes, and all of these come in at under 500 cals a portion, some considerably less.
Uramaki sushi with Chilli Crab
This sushi from Feast Glorious Feast comes in at 53 Cals a piece. Sure you are going to eat more than one but you would have to be very hungry to come in over the 500 cal mark.
Oriental courgette noodle soup
This soup from The Glutenfree Alchemist is made with courgette noodles, cooked in a homemade vegetable broth and is packed with the flavours of the Orient. At under 90 cals a portion, it would make a fabulous lunch dish or light supper.
Grilled veggie hummus wrap
From Melissa Traub we have a tasty vegetarian wrap for the summer, or any time of the year for that matter. It’s a hummus wrap with a combination of grilled vegetables with fresh cold veggies for a crunchy and satisfying vegan sandwich and comes in at just over 250 cals.
Quiche Lorraine Style Frittata
This delicious frittata from Easy Peasy Foodie is inspired by the flavours of a Quiche Lorraine but without the added calories or complication or making of pastry. A great light lunch or breakfast at around 280 cals a portion.
Giant Couscous. Tomato and Rocket Salad
This pretty salad from Curly's Cooking is fresh, light and summery. Curly suggests serving it as part of a lunch or BBQspread but I think it would make a delicious and satisfying lunch in its own right. It comes in just nudging over 400cals.
Courgette Pasta
I'm always looking for lighter ways to serve pasta in the summer and I love both the look and sound of this pasta dish from Lost in Food. Flavoured with courgette, lemon and garlic this pasta dish comes in just over 480 cals but I'm sure it's going to be worth each and every one.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
Great theme, it is definitely the time of year to enjoy lighter meals. Thank you for including my couscous.
Michelle Rolfe
Great round up as always Jacqui. Its this time of year I always gravitate to lower calorie dishes, I love the fresh flavours and simplicity of vegetables for that reason. I've a whole host of blackcurrant recipes to get right this year and the crop is looking good for practice! Thanks for including our courgette pasta.
Joanna
Lots of delicious and healthy recipes - the noodle soup and the sushi look brilliant.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I agree.
Sarah James - Tales from The Kitchen Shed
What a tasty round up Jacqui, the courgette soup looks delicious and perfect for when our courgettes are ready.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I have to say I'm going to have to make that soup too it does look very good indeed as do all the recipes.
Louise Fairweather
Lovely round up! Quite fancy the frittata for lunch tomorrow
Melissa Altman-Traub
Thank you for this collection. The courgette soup looks like something really different and tasty!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I agree the soup does look good altogether a nice collection of recipes to choose from
Choclette
Great theme. I definitely need a few low calorie meals. I've been over indulging on the carbs front these last few months. Kate's soup looks perfect.
I'm so impressed with all of your fruit and it doesn't look as though yo even have any netting. The birds got all of my allotment redcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries. They let me have a handful of raspberries and left me the rhubarb. I was devastated.
Jhuls
Loving the features this week! Thanks for hosting, Jacqui! I pray all is well with you! Take care!
Donna
Love the look of all of these summery recipes, and your blackcurrant curd looks gorgeous!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Thanks Donna and the blackcurrant really is Fab! I shall be writing up the post this week.
Lesley
What a great round up Jacqui, thank you for including our recipe. There are a lot of recipes I fancy trying on this round up. I'm looking at your beautiful blackcurrant curd and it's making crave a scone, then again I could probably eat it from the spoon, straight from the jar. I wish I could get my hands on blackcurrants!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I was thinking my curd would go very well with those biscuits you shared recently!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
Loved reading this post... your allotment sounds wonderful... and all that delicious fruit to eat/cook with... my mouth is watering and I am very jealous of your freezer right now! Thanks for featuring my frittata 😀 Eb x
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Growing soft fruit is actually fairly low maintenance so most of the year it's just a bit of weeding and pruning but come June!!!!! And now you could not get another berry in the freezer its chockablock so anything we harvest at the moment has to be eaten.
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist
Lovely round up of perfect summer dishes... I definitely have my eye on the sushi!! Thank you for hosting.
And thank you for featuring my courgette noodles soup. It's such a flavoursome dish.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Your soup looked wonderful Kate. I love these lighter summer dishes.