Three Low Calorie Vegetarian Meals – Part 1

Hey guys!  How are you? Are you guys being good little boys and girls and avoiding the holiday cornucopia of sweets and goodies? I’m not/haven’t! If avoiding sweets is a matter of being “good” or “bad,” I better learn to weave a pretty pattern, ‘cuz I’m going to hell in a hand-basket!

Ok, get ready for the food porn because I’m going to give the first recipe of three of my new favorite low calorie and healthy vegetarian dishes.  These would all make great Thanksgiving entrees if you are cooking a vegetarian meal or even if you need a side dish that’s “all eaters” approved.

“Tofu, Meet My Boyfriend” Enchiladas

Can you see the melted cheese on the left? C’mon that’s freakin’ foodgasmic!

Ingredients

• One package 14-oz package firm tofu
• 1 cup of corn
• One small green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup white onion, chopped
• One 12-pack of corn tortillas — I used Trader Joes’
• One large can of enchilada sauce
• 2 cups spinach
• 12 ounces low-fat mozzarella cheese (I bought Trader Joes’ low-fat mozzarella slices – as each slice is one ounce and 80 calories)
• Salt, pepper, paprika, seasoning salt, to taste

Directions

• Drain the tofu; place all of the enchilada sauce in a wide, shallow bowl; place raw, washed and dried, spinach in a small bowl
• In a saucepan, saute the onion, bell pepper and corn over medium heat for about 2 minutes then add the block of tofu
• Break up the tofu while sauteing as you would if you were making a ground meat dish
• Add seasoning and cook until the veggies are translucent, turn off heat
• Heat the tortillas one by one, both sides, over an open flame — carefully! (*sings “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…*)
• Immediately after the tortilla is heated, dip it in the enchilada sauce (both sides — yes, this is messy!), fill with some tofu mixture, a few leafs of spinach, and one ounce of cheese then fold tightly and place seam down on a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Repeat with all tortillas.  Top off enchiladas with remaining enchilada sauce, to taste.
• Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for about ten minutes.  You can sprinkle some shredded cheese on top before you bake – for presentation’s sake — but make sure to add those calories to the nutritionals I provide below!
• Give one to your carnivorous boyfriend and watch him chew with delight
• Nutritional information for one enchilada: 183.8 calories, 8.4g fat, 446.0mg sodium, 20.0g carbs, 3.3g fiber, 13.5g protein (Calculated with Sparkpeople Recipe Calculator and did not include seasoning in calculations, and inflated the use of enchilada sauce in the case you used the entire can)
• To make even more low-cal — Use only half-an ounce of cheese.  That’s what I did — but I figure I’m abnormally stingy in my cheese use…

What to look forward to for part 2:

Holy Mother of All that is Sweet Potato Enchiladas

How are you faring in terms of happy eating this holiday season?  What’s on the menu for Thanksgiving?

<3, The Cranky One

p.s. Did you enter my give-away? I might throw in a little something fun for the winner!

p.p.s. My boyfriend thinks all my food photos look like food that’s already been eaten…lol.  So, I’m especially sorry if the blown up photo of tofu vomit made you lose your appetite!

Tags: low calorie meals, meals under 200 calories, thanksgiving meal options, vegetarian cooking, vegetarian meals