Yummy Under 500-Cal Recipes?

Sorry, I can only come up with more as my MFP account "ages"...
Since it's only been a little over a week and I've never had the faintest idea about calorie numbers before, I can't honestly say how much my dishes usually carry...
But I promise to enter recipes as I try them!

Actually, there's two things I imagine must be under 500 if you don't eart cartfuls of it:



No 1:

"Karotteneintopf" (for the non-German-speaking-world, that's carrot stew):

You need:

20-30 minutes

and

1-2 onions
carrots and potatoes according to number of eaters
Gemüsebrühe (vegetable broth ?!)
Fleischwurst (apparently it's called "ring bologna" in the States for reasons I can't even begin to fathom - good thing you're buying ingredients in Germany, Meg!)
butter
salt, pepper and a bit of nutmeg
fresh parsley (if you like it)

- Chop 1-2 onions into little cubes and slowly brown them in a bit of butter at the bottom of a big pot.
- While they're at it, you peel potatoes and carrots (about 2/3 carrots, 1/3 potatoes would be the ratio I use, but of course you can adjust that if you like) and cut them up into bite-sized pieces - the less time you have for cooking, the smaller the pieces need to be. ; ) (carrots should be around twice as thick as 2-Euro coins, taters can be 2-3 times that - they're quicker!)
- Use a kettle and set water to boil.
- add the veggies to the onions - carrots first (they need longer), then the taters (add a bit more butter if you're afraid it'll burn)
- When the onions look golden and smell yummy you add a bit of boiling water, so they won't turn black
- use some more of the boiling water to make 1-2 cups of vegetable broth from the granulated stuff and add that
- turn down the heat and let it simmer until carrots and potatoes are "al dente" (not hard anymore, not mushy yet)
- while that's doing its thing, cut up the Fleischwurst into pieces
- add salt, pepper and some nutmeg according to your preferences
- if there's not enough broth, you can always add boiling water
- pour into deep plates or shallow bowls (wouldn't use cereal bowls, the potatoes will be hotter'n hell for a while!!!)
- sprinkle with fresh parsley (a step I leave out, but my Mom insists I mention it.... ; )!!!)
- add Fleischwurst cubes and enjoy - carefully blowing on each spoonful you have the first ten minutes, because it's always VERY hot (that's why I put the Fleischwurst on top - the original recipe says it goes on the plate before you put the Eintopf in, but that way it gets warm. Since you will burn your mouth when you're too greedy, and I always am, I love the crunchy cold meat between the hot veggies!)


No 2:

good old omelette!

I always use onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini + some ham and cheese as filling. Put the whole thing on top of 2-3 slices of good wholegrain "Schwarzbrot" with sunflower seeds with butter and be happy! ; )

Can't imagine that would have more than 500 kcals - if it does, maybe you need to keep it down to 1-2 slices...

YUMMY!

So, what do you have?
Oh, and if you're about to die laughing because I just mentally served you like 5.000 kcals in one go, please tell me! ; )
I need some education in this field...

Have a great holiday!

420 cal per serving risotto - this is for butternut squash but I've also used fresh garden peas, mixed mushrooms, etc, etc

75g arborio/risotto rice per person
half an onion per person
2 cloves garlic per person
half a pint of veg. stock per person (1 stock cube)
fry light spray to fry onion
then whatever veg you're adding: 100g squash (pre roasted), or handful of mushrooms/peas etc per person
sage leaves go well with squash for added flavour, and try fresh mint if using peas

Fry onion and garlic
Add rice and stir for a minute
If using mushrooms add now and stir
Add stock a ladleful at a time and constantly stir until each ladleful is absorbed
If using veg that doesn't need further cooking, e.g. pre-roasted squash, or peas, add just before the last bit of stock.
Stir constantly and serve immediately.

Doesn't look a huge amount in the bowl but it's perfectly filling enough.

I don't think I have ever made anything that isn't under 500 cal / serving. Avoid extra oil & fats when you cook. Grill / Bake things, have less rice/potato/pasta and instead bulk up the 'toppings' with veggies or meat.

Try Angel hair pasta, cook it al'dente - you can have a HUGE bowl + marinara sauce + shrimp/fish for under 500 calories. I had this last night, 85g of dry pasta cooks up to around 275 g - that's a massive portion. You will get less if you use heavier pasta (like fettuccine or penne)

Fish is great to cook also. Try Basa Florentine. I don't have the recipe off hand but it's very similar to this one http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/Recipes/Recipe/Greek-Fish-Florentine.aspx I use julienne carrots instead of tomato and mozarella instead of feta cheese.

I am also partial to roasts with baked root veggies and salad. If you don't overdo it on the gravy - or just skip it you can also have this for under 500 cal.

I make chili also - having that for lunch, 2 cups about 350 cal, can have cheese on it or even a bit of bread with it and still be under 500 (depends on your bread, or just have a little less chili)

Looking for deserts I have apple crisp, pie, cookies - all under 500

If you tell me what's in your house I can give you more ideas I don't use odd food though so don't expect I know anything about cooking tofu :P

This is well under 500 and more of a starter than an actual meal:

Mahi Mahi Ceviche (I put into the MFP data base.

Fresh Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish), 3 oz (Raw) 72 calories
Fresh - Lime Juice, 1 fl oz (31g) 8 calories
Celery - Raw, 0.1 cup chopped 1 calories
Onion, Red, Raw 3 oz (85g), 0.75 oz (85g) 8 calories
Fresh Cilantro - Chopped, 1/8 c 1 calorie
Peruvian Giant Corn, .033 cup 12 calories (any corn can be substituted)

Mix all ingredients except for corn into bowl, chill for one hour in fridge, top with corn and serve