Healthy homemade chinese food recipes?

lifeisahighway
lifeisahighway Posts: 490 Member
in Recipes
I totally just posted this in a different section of the forums before noticing this recipes section, so am reposting it here. My biggest weakness (other than chocolate) is chinese food. I have swapped out other things I crave for healthier, homemade options, and need to figure out how to swap out the takeout chinese for some healthy stuff I can make. Does anyone have any recipes to share? My favorites are sweeet and sour chicken, general tsos chicken, cream cheese wontons, and the coconut shrimp. All horrible and fattening. Hoping there are some healthy options.
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Replies

  • ashiggins
    ashiggins Posts: 144 Member
    I really like sweet and sour chicken too. I made this recipe for "crock pot pineapple chicken" last week (see link below). I cut the chicken into chunks and served it over brown rice. If I make it again, I would add more veggies--peppers, broccoli, etc. You could probably tweek the recipe to your liking :)

    http://lowcaloriecooking.about.com/od/chicken/r/crockpotpinchk.htm
  • krunchykat
    krunchykat Posts: 158 Member
    I'd be interested in seeing some recipes too. I love chinese food but not all the calories, grease and sodium.
  • sweetbeckymarie
    sweetbeckymarie Posts: 144
    I just made this "lighter sesame chicken" the other night. The chickens flavor is AMAZING. So sweet and tender.
    100MEDIA_IMAG0782.jpg

    I got the recipe here: http://www.alidaskitchen.com/2012/02/lighter-sesame-chicken.html and made personal alterations. But stuck to the sauce and chicken from the recipe. It's wonderful :)
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
    I will look at this later. My sister ordered Chinese take out today and I didn't want all the sodium...now i have OPTIONS ;-) Thanks
  • Mompanda4
    Mompanda4 Posts: 869 Member
    Can't wait to try them...thanks for sharing.
  • lauragoat
    lauragoat Posts: 197 Member
    Bump.cant wait to see what gets posted!!!
  • piercedanatomy
    piercedanatomy Posts: 28 Member
    I have a weight watchers fast food favorite recipe book that has a whole section on Chinese food favorites. I love the spicy orange chicken.
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    I will look at this later. My sister ordered Chinese take out today and I didn't want all the sodium...now i have OPTIONS ;-) Thanks

    MMarvelous,
    What happened to Janet's pants? lol
  • Hernandeak11
    Hernandeak11 Posts: 351 Member
    My boyfriend and I LOVE chinese food, and this Sesame Chicken recipe is fantastic: http://www.food.com/recipe/sesame-chicken-44321

    However, as with most chinese food, the sodium count is high..but definitely calorie-friendly
  • Lindz2323
    Lindz2323 Posts: 261 Member
    Saving for later, very interested to see what everyone's tried! =)
  • 2dayirun4me
    2dayirun4me Posts: 336 Member
    I eat stir fry 2 or 3 times a week! I buy 2 bags of frozen stir fry vegetables, and a packet of sun-bird stir fry seasoning mix for meat I use shrimp or chicken and have it over brown rice. And it's all under 400 calories:drinker:
  • kappyd
    kappyd Posts: 199 Member
    will have to try some of these.
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    Thanks for the Sesame Chicken Recipe. AMAZING recipes on that site. I saved a ton of them.
  • smcolton
    smcolton Posts: 78
    bump
  • cjtescher
    cjtescher Posts: 4 Member
    Here is a link for crab rangoons: http://www.weight-watchers-recipes.net/points-plus-baked-crab-rangoon.html. I actually just made these last night and you can skip the crab if you want cream cheese wontons.
  • pa_jorg
    pa_jorg Posts: 4,404 Member
    bump
  • JayPeazy
    JayPeazy Posts: 89 Member
    Bump-skies!
  • lynniesue42
    lynniesue42 Posts: 33
    :laugh: I cant wait to check back and see what everyone has posted...Chinese food is one of my favorites and I miss it dearly! =)
  • skinnymeinaz
    skinnymeinaz Posts: 384 Member
    I just made this "lighter sesame chicken" the other night. The chickens flavor is AMAZING. So sweet and tender.
    100MEDIA_IMAG0782.jpg

    I got the recipe here: http://www.alidaskitchen.com/2012/02/lighter-sesame-chicken.html and made personal alterations. But stuck to the sauce and chicken from the recipe. It's wonderful :)

    ooooohhhh looks so yummy!!
  • shaparra
    shaparra Posts: 32 Member
    bump :)
  • Bopit2009
    Bopit2009 Posts: 5
    Here is a link for crab rangoons: http://www.weight-watchers-recipes.net/points-plus-baked-crab-rangoon.html. I actually just made these last night and you can skip the crab if you want cream cheese wontons.

    jkbfskjdgbfdksjgbf! I want to try this later this week.
    Thanks! :D
  • pdworkman
    pdworkman Posts: 1,342 Member
    Google is your friend:

    http://www.food.com/recipe/extreme-low-fat-sweet-and-sour-skillet-chicken-78288
    http://kitchensimplicity.com/healthier-general-tsos-chicken/
    http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/recipes/cream-cheese-wontons-good-bad
    http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/01/baked-coconut-shrimp.html

    Haven't tried any of these, as I'm veg.
  • marilou0511
    marilou0511 Posts: 591 Member
    How about EGG ROLLS, baked not fried, and still crispy @ 79 calories each! Saw it in a "Cooking Light" magazine and actually prepared it. Was delicious and crispy without all that soaked frying oil.

    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-egg-rolls-10000000665199/

    Enjoy!
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    Homemade fried rice with shrimp:

    2 cups cooked jasmine rice (cooled)
    2 Tbsp olive oil
    1 lagre carrot finely shredded
    1 small onion finely shredded
    1 clove of garlic minced
    1/4 cup tyling sesame sauce/marinade
    1/4 cup lower sodium soy sauce
    12 large shrimp, steamed or boiled (tails removed)
    Salt and pepper to taste

    In a deep skillet or wok add oil and heat over medium heat, sautee onion and garlic until onion turns transparent. Add carrot and continue to sautee over med heat stiring frequently. once carrot begins to soften begin adding the rice 1/2 a cup at a time and stiring well to incoperate the rice and vegetables. Mix soy and sesame sauce and slowly add to rice still stiring to incorporate into the rice and vegetable evenly coating rice and turning it a brown color continue to cook for a few minutes stiring often so all the flavors can meld. Add shrimp and toss remove from heat.

    Serves 2-3 people

    If you are not a seafood fan you can easily substitute shrimp for chicken,beef or pork. or add additional veggies to make it a vegetarian meal :)
  • emfilomena
    emfilomena Posts: 120
    Oooo! Bumping for recipe ideas later C:
  • marilou0511
    marilou0511 Posts: 591 Member
    About the SESAME CHICKEN recipes submitted above.

    I could not find the Nutritional info at Alida's Kitchen. At food.com the calorie for Sesame Chicken is 259 versus 195 calories at Calorie Count! The difference - food.com recipe includes 1/2 cup Honey and 1/2 cup Soy Sauce. Calorie Count does not have honey, and uses only 2 TBSP Soy Sauce not 1/2 cup.

    http://caloriecount.about.com/sesame-chicken-recipe-r67896 has the SESAME CHICKEN for 195 calories.

    Enjoy!
  • marilou0511
    marilou0511 Posts: 591 Member
    SORRY - I tried to DELETE this duplication but could not. I'm a newbie (joined about 2 weeks ago) and don't know many things. Sorry.

    About the SESAME CHICKEN recipes submitted...

    I could not find the Nutritional info at Alida's Kitchen. At food.com the calorie for Sesame Chicken is 259 versus 195 calories at Calorie Count! The difference - food.com recipe includes 1/2 cup Honey and 1/2 cup Soy Sauce. Calorie Count does not have honey, and uses only 2 TBSP Soy Sauce not 1/2 cup.

    http://caloriecount.about.com/sesame-chicken-recipe-r67896 has the SESAME CHICKEN for 195 calories.
  • Alexandrea22
    Alexandrea22 Posts: 37 Member
    My brother and I made this. We are Chinese food connaisseurs haha. This recipe was great! The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavourful it is. It makes six servings. Enjoy :)

    INGREDIENTS:

    1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
    2 tbsp raw honey
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
    1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
    1 1/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts), chopped into 1-inch pieces
    1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 1 cup)
    1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 1 cup)
    1 small yellow onion, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
    1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 3/4 cups)
    12 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
    1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice, optional

    INSTRUCTIONS:

    In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes. Place chicken in a large shallow dish. Pour soy sauce mixture over chicken, tossing gently. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
    Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and marinade and sauté for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Add bell peppers and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables are slightly tender. Add pineapple and cook for 2 more minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately over rice for a complete meal, if desired.


    Nutrients per serving (1 1/4 cups chicken mixture; not including rice): Calories: 161, Total Fat: 1.5 g, Sat. Fat 0.25 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.25 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5 g, Carbs: 17 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 13 g, Protein: 21 g, Sodium: 404 mg, Cholesterol: 48 mg
  • Alexandrea22
    Alexandrea22 Posts: 37 Member
    Also, to type it in on MFP, just type in "clean eating sweet and sour chicken" and it's there!
  • ladyjeanne57
    ladyjeanne57 Posts: 39 Member
    bump

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