The Chinese New Year takes place on the 23rd January in 2012, and, as well as heralding the start of the Year of the Dragon, the most auspicious animal in the Chinese zodiac, it provides the perfect excuse for an oriental banquet.
Knowing that most WLS patients can only look at one course this is my bariatric-friendly recipe for Monday night. A wonderful Chow Mein recipe. This is a tasty noodle dish flavoured, in this instance, with ginger, chilli, garlic and a touch of curry powder. It’s ideal for celebrating this special occasion but will also make a good mid-week meal in the future but is also delicious packed up for lunch (to eat cold or reheat if possible at your place of work).
You can add prawns, diced cooked pork or chicken or beef strips to this dish to boost the protein if you like…it’s your choice!
Here’s wishing you well over the next Chinese New Year!
CHOW MEIN
Ingredients
Metric/US
250g/8 oz dried egg noodles
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 red pepper/capsicum, deseeded and sliced
100g/4 oz shitake mushrooms, sliced
75 g/3 oz magetout/snow peas
75g/ 3 oz spring onions/scallions, sliced
100g/4 oz beansprouts
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp medium curry powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp crushed dried chillies
11/2 tsp light soy sauce
11/2 tsp rice wine or dry sherry
Method
1. Prepare the noodles according to the packet instructions then drain and rinse.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan, add the pepper/capsicum, mushrooms, mangetout/snow peas, spring onions/scallions and beansprouts. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, curry powder, ginger, chillies, soy sauce, rice wine or sherry and cooked noodles. Toss well and heat through for 2 minutes then serve at once.
SERVES 4
WLS PORTION: 1/2
V suitable for Vegetarians
Calories per portion: 297
Protein: 10.7g
Carbohydrate: 51g
Fat: 6.5g
Image courtesy of Schwartz
mandi says
I’m still trying to work out the WLS portion on the recipes. When you say serves 4, wls portion 1/2 what does that mean???
Carol says
Mandi, the portion size refers to those who eat a normal size portion (not a weight-loss surgery portion) so it might be a partner, friend, family member etc. The WLS portion is what is considered to be the average amount eaten by a weight-loss surgery patient, and is usually about half a normal portion. This varies according to what stage you are at after surgery…early days you might only eat 1/4 of the portion and then go on to 1/2 normal portion. There are many variables but this is my recommendation and advice based on personal experience. Hope this helps. Carol
mandi says
Ahh now I get it! thank you 🙂