Healthy eating doesn’t have to be dull! Here are 14 of my favourite low calorie dinners, all clocking in at 500 calories or less. Nutritious, delicious, interesting and satisfying – no skimping on portion sizes!
January in brief!
January is getting away from me, with a “I’m taking a break!” declaration being somewhat disrupted with work related projects that have come to fruition that need attention. 2024 is looking to be an exciting year! Patience has never been my greatest virtue so I exaggerate not when I say that I am busting to tell you what I’m working on right now but I will get in trouble if I do.😂
So, I’ll probably be a little quieter with new recipes for the remainder on January as I try to catch up on life matters. Tax! Find a home! Weeding!
But I wanted to check in and I thought I’d leave you with some of my personal favourite “healthy” recipes (New Years’ resolution and all that). What “healthy” actual means is debatable but for me, it’s recipes that are lower in calories, lower in fat, nutritious and balanced which usually also means lower carb. But, still delicious – of course. And filling. Anybody can cut calories with tiny portions. But it’s miserable.
My 10 14 favourite low-calorie meals
The order is not indicative of preference! I love them all – though you’ll be able to tell which ones I have an extra soft spot for. 😅
1. Fish tacos
410 calories for THREE tacos! Lime chipotle marinated fish pan-seared, flaked into chunks then stuffed into tortillas with lightly pickled red cabbage and my pink taco sauce. You will not missed deep fried! (But when you do, Baja Fish Tacos are in my cookbook.😇)
2. Hot and sour soup
I could eat this soup every single day.* It’s 100% me – big, bold, spicy flavours! Tofu, shiitake mushrooms, shredded chicken in a slightly thickened spicy-sour soup. 216 calories for a big bowl!
* I say this a few times in this recipe list. 😅 I mean it!
3. Moroccan stuffed eggplant
Oven-roasted eggplant halves topped with Moroccan spiced lamb or beef. 450 calories for two eggplant halves. BIG flavours, very satisfying!
4. Slow-cooker Mexican Chicken Soup
Throw everything into a slow cooker and come home to a hearty soup filled with Mexican flavours that happens to be healthy! 352 calories for a big, cosy bowl.
5. Crunchy Chinese chicken noodle salad
Asian slaw with shredded chicken and crunchy noodles tossed in a fabulous Asian dressing. 100% munch-worthy and lunch-worthy! Great meal-prep – just keep the noodles and dressing separate (chopped veg and chicken will last for days in the fridge).
6. Indian Eggplant Curry (brinjal)
Not for the faint-hearted!!! A very intense flavoured curry sauce with roasted rather than deep-fried eggplant pieces, this is a low-calorie hidden gem with just 250 calories per serving. Serve over basmati rice (200 calories for 1 cup) or cauliflower rice for a super low-cal option at just 35 calories per serving.
PS We also make this on a large scale at RecipeTin Meals (400 servings!)
7. Pan fried seasoned fish
When it comes to protein, white fish is my go-to when I’m making an effort to “be healthier” because generally speaking, fish is better for you than red meats. Higher protein, lower saturated fat and the oilier fish (like salmon) is high in omega-3 (“good fat”). While I’m a sucker for lemon butter sauce, fish seasoning is my go-to for a lower fat option – ~265 calories for a 180g / 6 oz white fish fillet like flathead, barramundi.
Serve with a big pile of roasted asparagus with parmesan and lemon (84 calories) or a big Green Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Feta (166 calories) to round out your meal.
8. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cynics – please trust me. I would never, ever, EVER share a recipe unless I truly thought it was delicious! This will honestly surprise you. It is TASTY! 288 calories for a meal-size portion.
9. Sweet potato soup
Clocking in at 337 calories, creamy, dreamy, sweet, savoury – and simple to make! It’s a home run.
10. Sizzling ginger fish
A steamed fish to get excited about!! Simplified fillet version of the famous Cantonese Steamed Ginger Scallion Whole Fish. 343 calories per serving. Serve over cauliflower rice (35 calories) for a low-carb side to soak up the tasty sauce and a side of Chinese Broccoli with oyster sauce (91 calories), Bok Choy in Ginger Sauce (81 calories) or for something more substantial, try the Spicy Asian Zucchini (143 calories per serving – this is so substantial I’ve had it as a meal on numerous occasions).
11. AWESOME vegetarian San Choy Bau (Chinese lettuce wraps)
I do not use the word “awesome” in a recipe name lightly!! I’m on the wrong side of 20 for that. 😅 My secret? Crumbled tofu. Cooks up and soaks flavour like mince! You can barely tell it’s tofu.
12. Vegetable tagine
A big pot of Moroccan spiced stewy vegetables with chickpeas! And it’s even vegan. Yay vegans! 200 calories for a meal-size portion without couscous, though you could have a little less and serve it over couscous (253 calories per serving).
13. Ratatouille – French vegetable stew
Summery stunner bursting with Mediterranean flavours! 158 calories per serving – so you can totally afford to add a hunk of crusty bread for mopping. (PS There’s also a baked version in my cookbook).
14. Ceviche
I could eat ceviche every. Single. Day! 333 calories for a meal size portion. Serve with crispy baked corn tortillas (60 calories per tortilla) – spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, cut into corn-chip size triangles. Bake at 200°C/375°F (180°C fan) for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing halfway, until golden and crisp (keep an eye on them after the 10 minute mark).
There you go! 14 of my (current) favourite low-calorie meals – did you notice everything is under 500 calories including sides? I hope you got inspired with some new ideas!
For more healthy recipe ideas – a surprising number of them actually – have a browse through my Low Calorie recipe collection. (Then you can spend all your calorie savings on cake! 😈)
What about you? What are some of your favourite ways to eat lean? – Nagi x
Life of Dozer
The Butt Bark.
Captured by Kevin Case, Unleashed Northern Beaches.
Hiya Nagi
I found you YouTube channel last year (who knows how must have been meant to be!!!) I just wanted to say that your recipes are AWESOME (I am on the wrong side of 20 also and frequently feel the need to use this word 😂😂😂) all that you do is truly inspiring and yes so much so I bought the recipe book!!!!
Warmest Regards
Jay Cee.
Thank you for the timely posting of lower calorie meals. They sound celicious.
Good luck with the cute and irrepressible Dozier! Lovehis pictures and posts!
You are too good,born to be a very talented cook.
Always good,tasty recipes!
Thanks Nagi
I’ll be trying all of your low cal recipes . Sound delicious 👍
Great recipes always. Love Dozer. Going to try the ginger fish. Thank you.
My family love all your recipes . My daughter in law’s mother from Pittsburgh follows you also. I bought your book for her as she’s visiting now. Thankyou
Those fish tacos are the bomb!
Thanks as always!
Just read that DINNER was the bestselling book in Australia last year. Good on you!
Great timing Nagi n Dozer 🐾🧡
Thank you for the great ideas 💡 and the encouragement. I’ve been trying to eat more healthfully by eating less red meat and lots more greens and trying to eat more beans , lentils ( need indian recipes🇮🇳), more whole grain foods…less sugary snacks 😢
I like your top 14 plus the 3 related recipes too..lettuce wraps, bok choy and 🍆. Ive been making more soups. I’ve tried some of your veggie/lo cal 👍
You always have a new project on the go. Here, I thought you were actually taking a bit of a break 🤔
Take care in the heat there. Its freezing 🥶 here.
I am so glad to see this wonderful list — just the right time too after all of the holiday goodies! Thank you so much Nagi — Happy New Year 2024 to you and Dozer!
I love your cookbook, by the way!
How spectacular for you and Dozer to bring people together world-wide through good food, light and love!!!
I cant wait to see which i do, & how it turns out.
Hi Nagi, love your recipes and your style! But a small note – your online text needs closer editing. (I’m an editor, so I notice errors/ typos that creep into everything/ anything…)
I just cooked four recipes from your Dinner cookbook and ALL of them were a resounding success! I am not a good cook but your recipes (and hints) are foolproof and the dishes were absolutely scrumptious. Thank you Nagi & Dozer.
Absolutely luv all these recipes Nagi – I’ve fallen in luv with cooking again since having your book “Dinners” – watching yr instragrams & all the emailed recipes 😍😍🙌 thank you ❤️
These are great thanks Nagi. Tonight I’m making your chicken shawarma, can’t wait.
Shawarma on the menu here too!
Thanks Nagi. I’ll be getting into a low cal regime this year, as I feel I’ve been eating too much red meat previously.
Much appreciated, and all of them look delicious – bar the cauliflower rice 😱 Force fed to me as a child😭 I thought I’d get over it, but at age 70, idt so.
Absolutely delighted to receive this unexpected post and have a number of your lighter post-Yule dishes to try whilst I am madly following all the international cycling in SA and Victoria ! Both the fish recipes and the vegetarian wrap for me . . . do look after yourself . . . . hugs galore up the Coast . . .
My DINNER book arrived today. Have to say I love it. I’ll probably be buying these for all my upcoming gifts. I’ve had so much inspiration from you online and now to have the book with even more is so awesome. Much love from Canada.
Happy New Year to you and Dozer!
I’ve missed you and very happy that you’re back.
Trying the Fish Tacos this week. Adobo Chicken definitely one of my favourite low-cal recipes on the site