Tag Archives: Reduce

Herb’s & Spice’s to Replace the Salt Shaker

…. After all, “variety is the spice of life”.

Add chopped basil to flavor vegetable dishes

Freshly grown and cut herbs placed in a vase filled with water adds beauty and a wonderful scent to the kitchen. Keep the herbs within hands reach makes it easy for the cook to chop and provides flavor to dishes while reducing sodium.  Herbs when added to any dish, accent’s and brings out the best from vegetables and meats. Consider making some changes to your meal preparation; buy spices and always keep a bouquet of garden fresh herbs within hands reach ready to be enjoyed.
Recipe Ideas

Spices (1/2 -1 teaspoon)
Allspice, Cumin, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes Saffron, Tumeric

Herbs (1-2 Tablespoon)
Basil,  Cilantro, Ginger, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme , Garlic, Onion

Sauces:

  • Excellent combination for any tomato base: Oregano, Garlic, Parsley, Red Pepper flakes, EVOO
  • Ragu base tomato sauce with or without meat. Chopped Onion, 6-10  Basil leaves, EVOO
  • Cream sauce: Chopped sage, 1/2 c. onion, 1 minced garlic, cracked pepper
  • Spaghetti Sauce
  • Michelangleo Sauce

Soups:

  • 1 tsp Tarragon, 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes, 1 square inch cheese Rind from the end of Parmesan Cheese added to any soup. Allow to simmer for 45 minutes.
  • With a 2 tbsp olive oil combine equal parts of ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME, to a GARLIC clove, half ONION for your favorite beans. • Try any of these herbs in your steamed vegetables or in soups.
  • Choose from 1/2 tsp Mint, Lemon Zest, or Dill are great in rice with vegetables and kidney beans, or in dips with yogurt and low fat sour cream.
  • 1 tsp chopped Chives and 1 tsp parsley are great on top of salad, soup or baked potato. They are also good in dips with yogurt and sour cream.
  • Fava Bean Soup
  • Creamy Zucchini Soup

•  For a delicious Pot Roast choose a group of seasonings, rub onto meat, place into a covered dish or closed plastic bag, allowing to absorb flavors for 4+ hours then prepare according to roasting time.

Herbs releases a wonderful aroma adding great flavors to your meals.

•  Chicken and Turkey

Choose group of seasoning and herbs and rub onto Chicken and Turkey

  • 1 tsp Turmeric, 1 tsp Marjoram, 1 minced  Garlic Clove, 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil .
  •  Zest of 1 Lemon and 1 Orange, 1 Tbsp chopped mint, 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  •  1 Tbsp chives, 1/2 tsp Oregano, 1 minced Garlic clove,  1/2 c. chopped onion, 1/2 tsp Cumin, 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil with tomatoes (tomato sauce), rice, black beans and corn for a delicious Spanish flavor.
  • Chicken and Dumplings (reduced-sodium)
  • Pork Roast and Vegetables
Steak  Marinade steaks in 1/4 c balsamic vinegar to tenderize the meat, adding a bit of 1/8 tsp salt, pepper and dried/chopped mint leaves
Wine Substitute
3/4 cup wine can be substituted with1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar and 1/4 cup water.
Fish
  • • Place fish onto a large aluminum foil. In the center of fish place 5-10 leaves of parsley, 4 garlic slices, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Completely cover fish and seal aluminum, place into oven and bake on 350 for 20 minutes.
  • Tuscan Cacciucco Fish Stew

Tips to reduce sodium:
Table Salt
Omit salt or reduce salt by ½ in most recipes (except in products with yeast). Cook foods without adding salt.
Don’t put the salt shaker on the table: try pepper, or Mrs Dash salt substituteFrozen or canned vegetables
Choose frozen vegetables without sauces or use no-salt-added canned goods. Rinsing canned vegetables will help reduce sodium.Seasoning Salt or spice mixes with salt
Use salt-free seasonings and spice mixes, herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic or Chile peppers to flavor food instead of salt.

Seasonings high in sodium include: catsup, chili sauce, chili powder, bouillon cubes, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and meat tenderizers.

Decrease Fat and Reduce Calories

Most recipes can substitute a healthy oil for fat. Use ¼ less liquid oil or solid fat called for in the recipe. If recipe calls for 1 cup use ¾ cup. Use equal amounts of oil for melted shortening, margarine or butter. HEALTHY OILS: Olive Oil, Canola Oil

Shortening, butter, or oil in baking
Use applesauce, prune puree or low fat yogurt to replace butter, shortening or oil in the exact amount. May need to reduce baking time by 25% to avoid a dry cake.

Whole milk, half and half or evaporated milk
Replace with skim milk, 1% milk, evaporated skim milk, fat-free half and half , or plain soymilk with calcium.

Butter, shortening, margarine, or oil to prevent sticking. Fat to sauté or stir-fry.
When sauteing foods, use cooking spray, water, broth or nonstick pans. Use ¼ c. Canola Oil at medium temp to fry foods.

Full-fat cream cheese
Substitute with low-fat or nonfat cream cheese, Neufchatel or low-fat cottage cheese pureed until smooth. Use low-fat yogurt to replace higher fat dairies in recipes.

Full-fat sour cream
Full-fat cottage cheese
Full-fat Ricotta cheese
Use nonfat or reduced fat sour cream or fat-free plain yogurt. (Yogurt is not heat stable.) Use 2% or fat-free cottage cheese. Use part-skim ricotta.

Cream
Whipping cream
Try utilizing evaporated skim milk
Use nonfat whipped topping or cream (This is only nonfat if one serving size is used.)

Eggs
Use egg whites (usually 2 egg whites for every egg) or ¼ cup egg substitute.
Whole fat cheese
Use reduced fat cheese, but add it at the end of the baking time or use part skim mozzarella.

Frying in fat
Effective cooking methods are: bake, boil, broil, grill, poach, roast, stir-fry, or microwave.

Regular mayonnaise or salad dressing
Low fat, reduced or nonfat mayonnaise or salad dressing. Top off salads: Whisk lemon juice, oil, oregano and pepper together.

Canned fish
Buy water-packed canned products.

Fat cuts of meat w skin on
Leaner cuts of meat or ground meat, remove skin before cooking.

By: Kimberly Crocker