Last Updated on February 4, 2021 by Fiona Maclean
5-2 diet recipe for Toad in the Hole and low-calorie recipe planning:
I think it is much easier to diet when the weather is good. At this time of year, I really want comfort food, warm starchy things that fill me up with a kind of internal heating system. And if I wasn’t following the 5-2 diet and doing alternate fasting days, I would doubtless be eating beans on toast, hearty stews with dumplings and steamed puddings every day. Toad in the Hole isn’t the sort of thing you imagine eating as part of a diet, but with careful planning it’s perfectly possible to come up with a reduced calorie Toad in the Hole. And then all you need to do is skip the mashed potato – and make sure you avoid adding butter to the greens!
As it is, I’m keeping to the 5-2 diet because it is something that does seem to work for me. Although I’m not losing weight rapidly, I am definitely getting back to what I regard as a normal, healthy size. And that is despite my indulgences and review meals. So, for me, it does seem to enable me to have my cake and eat it (on non-fast days).
Having said that I am intrigued by the idea that a lot of recipes can be adapted to reduce the calories down to a sensible level. Part of that is simply reducing the portion size. Then, using low-fat meats, reducing the amount of fat used in cooking and avoiding serving calorific vegetable dishes as well. So, for example, you might prefer to make this toad in the hole using reduced-fat pork sausages. But, I love venison and it is naturally low-fat meat, so 2 venison sausages are about 160 calories.
If you are not dieting, simply use your favourite sausages – and add an extra egg to the batter if you’d like a richer mixture.
delicious reduced calorie toad in the hole using venison sausages and served with green vegetables
- 2 Venison Sausages
- 75 ml Half fat milk
- 75 ml Water
- 1 Egg
- 125 g Plain Flour
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Sunflower Oil
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Make the batter by sifting the flour into a bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour and add the egg and oil
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Pull the flour into the egg and oil mixture and gradually add in milk and water stirring all the time till you have a batter about the consistency of single cream. Season with salt and pepper, then leave to stand, covered and out of the fridge, for at least 30 minutes
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Pre heat the oven to 180c
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Put the sausages in a small baking tray and pierce with a fork. Roast in the oven for about 10 minutes until the sausages are just starting to caramelise
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Pour about a third to half the batter around the sausages and put the oven up to 220c. Return the pan to the oven. The remaining batter can be used for Yorkshire puddings or savoury pancakes (by adding a little milk)
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Bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes till puffed up and golden brown. Do not open the oven door until the mixture has risen and browned. Serve with steamed green vegetables and onion gravy
I’ve served this with an onion gravy made with a little beef stock (knorr touch of taste) and a caramelised onion to thicken the gravy and with steamed cabbage with caraway seeds. The only catch with making this dish for one person is that I can’t find any sensible way to make a single portion of batter. One egg and 125g of flour really does make enough for 2 to 3 people. So, you might use the leftover batter the next day for savoury pancakes or Yorkshire puddings, or if you prefer, only season half the batter and keep the remainder for sweet pancakes or fritters.
My 5-2 fast day today comprised this meal in the evening and a large bowl of cauliflower and Jerusalem artichoke soup for lunch. I used about half the batter to make the toad in the hole, but then found there was really too much batter, so ended up eating about a quarter to a third of the recipe quantity. That would make the toad in the hole around 300 calories, with around 30 calories for my onion gravy and 50 for the cabbage. And, it felt like a proper meal for a winter’s day despite being a 5-2 fast day friendly recipe.
Want to try this yourself? Why not pin this post for later
Pop over to The Frugal Flexitarian for a traditional recipe for toad in the hole to serve two people.
Oh nice might try this
Wow! Looks delusional never would if thought that it was possible to make a diet toad in the hole! Amazing 😉
This might be better with a dash of Tabasco!
I’ve never tried venison sausage, but it sounds like a lower cal, lower fat alternative to pork or beef sausage. I will have to give this a try! Thanks for the tip 🙂
It is – and it is lower cholesterol too.
What a great idea. I love toadie but my boyfriend makes huge unhealthy portions of it!! I actually find it easier to eat healthy in the winter. During the summer, I crave ice-cream and cold ciders and spend way too much time in pub gardens!
I was thinking about doing a skinny Yorkshire pudding, which, I did this weekend, but this is also a brilliant idea Fiona!
I think I needed the oven a little hotter, it’s a while since I’ve made toad in the hole!
Totally agree that it’s easier to eat healthy during the summer months. During the winter I definitely crave heavy pastas and filling breads more…this looks like a nice alternative!
Thanks! I do find game works well for me
venison sausages.. that’s unusual for the US. Is it typical of what you have in the UK?
we can buy them from game butchers or suppliers, or larger supermarkets.