Last Updated on June 25, 2018 by Fiona Maclean
Back on the 5:2 Diet – Summer Cod with Shrimps and a Vegetable Medley:
Having hit my target weight at the end of 2013 with the 5:2 diet, I’ve lapsed.
This year so far I’ve been to Puglia (lots of fabulous buratta – literally buttered cheese and pasta), to Costa Barcelona (sounds healthy till you realise the quantity of Cava and the preserved meats involved), to Antigua (rum punch anyone) and to Sarlat in the Perigord Noir (say no more). I’ve also enjoyed some fabulous meals out in London. And I’ve been going around all of the Christmas press shows eating my fill of mince pies and more. At times I haven’t been at home to cook even one night of the week.
I hopped on the scales a week ago and was horrified. I was 3.5kg more than my all-time low. I’ve lost half a kilo now by doing two fasts during the week and cutting out any alcohol at home. Drastic action is clearly still needed though so, this weekend I’m fasting from Saturday morning to Sunday supper time. Only fasting in the 5:2 diet sense of the phrase – I had my 500 calories yesterday and today I will have a low-calorie lunch. I really enjoyed last night’s recipe of foil cooked cod with lemon, parsley and brown shrimps and a medley of summer vegetables. White fish makes a great option for a low-calorie meal – and cooking it in foil with just a tiny bit of oil and some lemon means that you don’t add calories to the dish unnecessarily.
The little brown shrimps are something that have only recently appeared in my branch of Waitrose. They remind me of my childhood by the sea when we’d set out with nets and buckets to go shrimping and come home with just a handful of tiny shellfish for supper. My mother used to make bread and dripping sandwiches and add the shrimps to that – the saltiness of the shrimps worked beautifully with the rich beef dripping. Be careful about when you add them to the dish, ideally you just want them to warm through as they are already cooked and will become chewy if you overdo it.
An easy and delicious diet recipe for one
- 100 g Cod loin fillet
- 10 g Brown shrimps
- 1 dash Olive oil
- 1 piece Lemon
- 1 handful Flat leaf parsley
- 1/2 Medium Courgette (Zucchini)
- 5 Cherry tomatoes
- 5-6 Asparagus tips
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
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Pre-heat the oven to 170C
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Season the fish with salt and pepper
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Drizzle a large piece of foil with olive oil. Place the fish on top and the slice of lemon over that, before sealing the package up
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Place the fish parcel in the oven on a baking sheet.
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While the fish cooks, dice the courgette into 1cm cubes, cut the tomatoes in half, trim the asparagus and peel the garlic
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Heat the remaining oil in a heavy based pan
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Soften the garlic for a minute or so, then add the courgette dice. Cook over a medium heat until it starts to brown
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Add the asparagus spears and cook for a further 1-2 minutes
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Check the fish and if it looks close to being cooked add the brown shrimps to the parcel before resealing and putting it back in the oven for 2 minutes
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Add the tomatoes to the vegetable mixture and cook for a further minute or so
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Serve the fish garnished with parsley and shrimps, with the vegetables on the side
By cutting out high-carb and high-calorie ingredients like potatoes, I could make a summer vegetable medley that not only complemented the fish but provided me with a substantial plateful of food. Again, just a teaspoon of good quality olive oil to gently fry the vegetables.
For more inspiration if you are dieting, check out my 5:2 diet recipe collection
And, if you are thinking of making this recipe – why not pin the post for later
The dish not only sounds delicious, but it is beautiful as well! I often wish we lived close to harvest fresh sea food. Last year we vacationed on an island for a couple of weeks and the sea food we ate was incredible. What a treat, and what wonderful memories you have! Thanks for sharing the dish and your stories. I can’t wait to try this treat.
I love the look of this thanks, never quite know what to do with fish to make it more interesting but this looks great x
Started the 5;2 diet today and love the look of you recipes. I love fish!
This colorful dish will make you feel full and satisfied. Lovely.
I totally understand what you are going through but this dish looks fabulous and should taste delish so that you don’t feel deprived! Good luck!
I could eat a whole plate of that vegetable medley.It looks so colourful.
I think it would great with something like a little grilled halloumi for veggies. Or those black bean burgers;)
This looks delicious although I’m not a fan of shrimps really. I haven’t really tried the 5:2 diet yet but I have heard so many good things about it though. Good luck in reaching your target x
what we call shrimps are different to US ones, they are tiny and, these brown ones are sweet and nutty. Definitely worth trying if you can get your hands on them
Beautiful dish and a very healthy recipe! Even though you were set back a little bit from your goals, that’s great you’re motivated to stay on track and make healthy food.
That looks delicious Fiona. I need to lose some weight too, but find fasting doesn’t suit me with all the travelling I do, but will certainly be looking at your 5.2 recipes to incorporate some into my eating.
My problem is that I eat out a lot, so a normal diet doesn’t work very well. And, fasting isn’t hard if I am working from home – I can’t imagine doing it if I was working in an office.