The FastDay Forum

As the winter weather sets in I'm on a mission to find the best 5:2 friendly comfort food that's not soup (I'll be honest, as much as I love soup, sometimes you fancy something with a bit of stodge on a blustery day).

My first go is this cottage pie, it was really delicious, full of mushrooms which gave a lovely rich flavour but also bulk without the calories.

http://bigcooktinykitchen.blogspot.co.u ... ttage.html

Any other ideas for tasty and comforting food would be soooooo appreciated!

I can't help you here, all my comfort foods are 100% carbohydrate, but I hope someone else has some ideas, as I'm interested too!

Chickpea and apricot tagine with veg.

Dried apricots chopped 30g
Half tin chopped tomatoes 200g
Half diced onion 50g
Tinned chickpeas drained 100g
preserved lemon (I use my own, but Belazu do a good one)
teaspoon of ground coriander, cumin and Raz el hanout
half tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
few strands saffron
Fresh mint leaves
Veg of your choice - I use butternut squash 100g

Total 325 cals, courtesy of my fitness pal. I don't need to add any accompaniment and it satisfyingly fills me up!

Curried red lentils with onion, garlic, hot curry powder and tinned tomatoes. Swirl of yogurt on the top if you have enough calories left....

Chickpea and apricot tagine with veg.

Dried apricots chopped 30g
Half tin chopped tomatoes 200g
Half diced onion 50g
Tinned chickpeas drained 100g
preserved lemon (I use my own, but Belazu do a good one)
teaspoon of ground coriander, cumin and Raz el hanout
half tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
few strands saffron
Fresh mint leaves
Veg of your choice - I use butternut squash 100g

Total 325 cals, courtesy of my fitness pal. I don't need to add any accompaniment and it satisfyingly fills me up!

Are the ingredients for one potion ?

Spiced carrot and lentil soup, as per the BBC GoodFood webby....

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2089 ... entil-soup

Heart-warming on these chilly days.....

Chickpea and apricot tagine with veg.

Dried apricots chopped 30g
Half tin chopped tomatoes 200g
Half diced onion 50g
Tinned chickpeas drained 100g
preserved lemon (I use my own, but Belazu do a good one)
teaspoon of ground coriander, cumin and Raz el hanout
half tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
few strands saffron
Fresh mint leaves
Veg of your choice - I use butternut squash 100g

Total 325 cals, courtesy of my fitness pal. I don't need to add any accompaniment and it satisfyingly fills me up!

Are the ingredients for one potion ?

I think so....

I find the term 'comfort food' very ambiguous. Do you mean 'stodge'?

What I found good to eat on a winter's night, other than soup, is stews. Lots of vegies, some meat, stock. Low calories, warming and delicious. Also a good piece of fish, or chicken or steak with steamed vegies is good. I couldn't believe how delicious steamed cauliflower was, on a fast day. Everything is more yummy. Just go easy on high calorie items, like pulses, potatoes and sweet potato. I halved the pulses in recipes.