After I posted my recent Easy Burrito Bowls Recipe (which I posted to help you get excited about creating healthy homemade take out), CTV news asked me to come on the show and do a segment on more healthy, homemade take out ideas.
Many of you are trying to eat healthier food or have food sensitivities and allergies that make take-out a non-option. And I know that you care about food quality in terms of where your meat comes from and what oils are used in cooking...all of which are out of your control when you get take out.
Now, don't get me wrong. Homemade take-out totally defies the purpose of take-out. It is not convenient at all...it takes time. Birthday parties or having company over are often the only way to get me to work this hard to make dinner:-).
I suggest that you break up the prep my making sauces like guacamole, garlic sauce and pico in advance. Chop your veggies the day before and marinade your meat in advance. All of this will make less work the day of and it will allow you to enjoy an even better version of your favourite takeout at home for about 1/3 the price.
Here are the recipes that I demo'ed in on the segment.
- Indian Butter Chicken (dairy free)
- Chipotle Burrito Bowl (mexican)
- Eggplant & Tapioca Starch pizza crusts
- Orange Chicken with cauliflower rice (Asian or Chinese)
- Shawarma with homemade garlic sauce
Below are links to the recipes I use and I have suggested some changes that you can make so that you are not only have "better than take out" meals...but healthier and better.
Changes to the recipe:
- Omit the flour and cornstarch.
- Sprinkle the chicken with about 1/3 cup tapioca starch or arrowroot flour before frying.
- You only need to use enough oil to cover the bottom of your pan to fry/brown the chicken.
- Double the Sauce ingredients.
- Omit the water, sugar and white vinegar. Instead, use a juice box of orange juice.
Changes to the recipe:
- Rice and beans are optiona, not optimal.
3. Pizza (gluten & grain free)
Changes to the recipe:
- None
Changes to the recipe:
- I use avocado or olive oil in place of the unhealthy canola oil.
- You can substitute almond milk for the cow's milk.
- You can even use yogurt in place of the eggs!
4. Indian Butter Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
Changes to the recipe:
- None
Here is a dairy free Butter Chicken recipe that has received rave reviews from my personal chef clients.
Changes to the recipe:
Use a Tandoori spice mix to save time if you like (President's Choice has a nice mix).
If you really prefer rice with this dish, go for white rice. It doesn't have any nutrients (which is why I recommend Cauliflower Rice) but it is easily digested.
Here is the Cauliflower Rice recipe.
5. Shawarma with homemade garlic sauce
Changes to the recipe:
- None
Here is the garlic sauce recipe (so easy! from jocooks.com)
Garlic Sauce
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 egg white*
- 1 tsp salt
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, it should take 1 to 2 minutes. This recipe will make about 1½ cups of sauce, refrigerate leftover sauce. *You can make the sauce without the egg white. Just put your oil in the freezer for an hour or so before you make it!
For more simple By Design recipes why not pick up your copy of the Eat By Design Cookbook. I’ve created it in the form of a 28-day meal plan (plus grocery lists!) so you don’t need to think about what’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the next month. Or you can grab the first 7 days FREE by clicking here.