A Spring Lamb Saute for the 5:2 Diet
I’m the proud owner of a brand new Saute Pan from Swiss Diamond. And, although I am only home for a few days before I set off on my travels again, I was itching to try it. Swiss Diamond pans are, by reputation, excellent quality. And for those of us trying to follow the 5:2 diet they have the advantage of being capable of frying without any additional oil or fat. Perfect for a 5:2 diet recipe like this spring lamb saute I thought!
Now, having been following the 5:2 diet on and off for the last seven months, I’ve learnt a few things about how to cook and prepare low calorie healthy dishes without compromising on taste.
- If you are using meat, use very good quality, lean meat and reduce the quantity you might normally anticipate needing by about a third. Add in plenty of green vegetables to bulk up your dish (in this case fennel and asparagus)
- Avoid too many high GI ingredients. That includes white rice, potato, white bread, pasta and dishes with a high sugar content. It’s not just about the calories. If you eat a rice or potato based meal as part of your 5:2 fast day, you will feel hungry faster because the food causes sugar spikes (please excuse my very non-scientific explanation). Of course that doesn’t mean NO rice or potato, just that you should consider the proportion of any high GI food to the other ingredients. There’s a very good explanation of why this might matter on the NHS site
- Avoid sugar, oil and fat where possible as they will simply ramp up the calorie content of your dish.
So, the idea of a pan that allows you to fry without oil is great for 5:2 diet recipes! You can see my rather messily trimmed shallots and fennel gently caramelising without a drop of oil in the pan!
This particular dish did come about partly because of a yearning for lamb. In my case, there were some tiny cutlets on special offer, but I think this 5:2 diet recipe would also work with lamb fillet cut into fine ribbons. Of course once you add in the meat there is a little fat, but, by using the saute pan without any extra oil this whole dish came in at well under 300 calories a portion
Spring Lamb Saute for the 5:2 Diet
Print recipe
| Serves | 2 |
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 20 minutes |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish |
| Misc | Serve Hot |
Ingredients
- 1 Lemon
- 1 handful Fresh Rosemary (or Thyme)
- 200g lamb fillet (or four small lean cutlets)
- 2 Shallots (peeled and finely sliced)
- 250g Asparagus (trimmed)
- 50ml Dry white wine (substitute stock or bouillon if you prefer)
- 1 head Fennel (trimmed and sliced finely)
Directions
| Step 1 | Dry fry the shallots and fennel over a low heat until the edges start to caramelise and the vegetables are softened |
| Step 2 | Add in the lamb and seal on all sides |
| Step 3 | Add in the white wine and lemon juice and cover the saute pan |
| Step 4 | Cook for 8-10 minutes on a gentle heat |
| Step 5 | Add the asparagus, cover and cook for a further 2 minutes |
| Step 6 | Serve |
On a non 5:2 diet fast day or even if I was very hungry and had some spare calories I might add in some new potatoes (77 calories for 100g – two or three of the tiny ones), but, I found this perfectly filling without. And those flavours of fennel, asparagus and lamb just sum up spring and early summer for me.
Are you still following the 5:2 Diet? Do you have any great tips to help us all along? Do leave me a comment and let me know. And remember you can win one of the Swiss Diamond Saute pans in my giveaway.
You should have been on Masterchef (USA) season 4, episode 3 for the lamb challenge. 🙂
I love lamb.. (some might not like me for saying that) . it’s not always easy to cook but this looks great!!
This does look like a great saute pan! It’s amazing how having a GOOD pan can make such a difference in the cooking experience…I had been using cheap ones for years, and finally upgraded to a nice NON-STICK pan that made my life SO much easier:-)
The recipe looks fab.
And the pan amazing … I am still using my grandmother’s Swiss NSN pans. They are 60 years old !!! Unfortunately NSN no loungers exist.
I am on the lookout for some great new pans as good as my old ones.
It’s amazing how lamb never comes to mind when you think of a recipe like this, we’ve become so ingrained to think beef or chicken. I feel like the victim of a marketing plot! It does look delicious.
The Swiss diamond saute pan would be perfect for this
Wow, this sounds delicious. I love lamb, it has to be my favourite meat.
This sounds brilliant! 🙂 This would work great in the pan
Yum! this is what I’d cook in my pan if I win thanks!
This looks very tasty.
This does sound very nice. I do like lamb and to be able to fry without oil is brilliant!
this recipe looks amazing! if i won the pan i definitely would have to try this. im salivating as i type
My husband would love this dish, Lamb is his favourite meat
Ive never thought of putting lamb with asparagus – looks delicious though! xoxo
This lamb is making me soooo hungry!
Watch out lambs – I’ll cook this if I win!
This would be ideal for your giveaway.
This would work well in the Swiss Diamond Saute Pan
I love that this recipe is so quick and easy to make. It looks fab.
easier if you had the Slica! for the finely sliced shallot and fennel
What a lovely way to do my Lamb, I am a kiwi and always looking for new lamb dishes 🙂
This sounds like a really tasty recipe that is also very healthy for the whole family. 🙂
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