7 Healthy Mardi Gras Recipes
Who says your Fat Tuesday menu has to be loaded with fat? Or with ridiculously high calories? Or take hours and hours to cook? We found a few lighter-fare Mardi Gras recipes so you can enjoy the traditional Cajun and Creole flavors, without making compromises on nutrition:
Farro Vegetarian Jambalaya With Okra
Serving as a tasty meat substitute, okra is nutrient-rich and improves heart health and cholesterol levels. Recipe from Food Network.
Cajun Scallops
Scallops are a delicious source of vitamin B12 to fortify your nerves and red blood cells. The shellfish also provides omega-3 fatty acids that help counter depression, lower cholesterol and reduce arthritis pain and stiffness. Recipe from Health.com.
Dirty Rice
This version of the famed spicy dish substitutes lean chicken sausage for chicken liver and uses whole-grain Wehani rice. Recipe from Eating Well.
Crab and Vegetable Gumbo
Fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth and vitamin-packed vegetables keep this hearty gumbo on the eating-well list. Recipe from MyRecipes.com.
Creole Blackened Chicken
A fast-prep recipe that uses little added fat. One serving on the Diabetic Exchange List equals 5 lean meat and 1 fat. Recipe from Taste of Home.
Catfish Étouffée
Making this classic Cajun stew with reduced-fat sour cream and stewed tomatoes lowers the fat and calorie counts. Recipe from Eating Well.
New Orleans Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce
Instead of heavy cream and whole milk, this recipe uses low-fat milk and reduces the quantity of eggs and butter. Recipe from MyRecipes.com.
Which healthier Mardi Gras recipes are favorites of yours?
An award-winning journalist who has documented stories in nearly 20 countries, Beth Lueders is an author, writer and speaker who frequently reports on diverse topics, including aging and health issues for both U.S. and international corporations.