Light & Cheesy
Mac and cheese, cream soups, enchiladas, pizza … these comfort food favorites often come with calorie and fat counts that are anything but comforting. That’s because they were created by cooks unconcerned about calories or fat, who probably figured that if 1 cup of shredded Cheddar tasted good, then 2 cups would taste better.
But you don’t need a whole stick of butter or half a pound of cheese to make these dishes rich and delicious. Read on for recipes that’ll tempt you away from full-fat favorites, plus the scoop on the secret ingredients that help make them so satisfying.
March 2009 p.42get the recipes
Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Panko breadcrumbs are the secret ingredient in this dish. The crunchy breading often used in Japanese fried foods gives baked dishes a crispy topping similar to broiled cheese. Garlic and onion powder add zing to the cheese sauce here without compromising on creaminess.
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Broccoli and Cheese Soup
The secret ingredient in this soup is nutritional yeast. This health food store staple has a nutty, fermented flavor that works as a cheese booster in recipes, or can be used to replace cheese altogether in vegan dishes. Try adding 1 to 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast to cream
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Caramelized Onion and Broccoli Raab Pizza
Secret Ingredient: aged cheese Because aged cheeses, such as Parmesan, are relatively pungent, you don’t need much to pump up the cheesy flavor of a lower-fat variety such as mozzarella. This pizza is great for entertaining because everything can be prepared ahead, then assembled just before baking. Since it’s just as easy
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Enchiladas Verdes
With only a fraction of the calories of part-skim ricotta or queso fresco, rinsed and drained cottage cheese makes an ideal replacement in Mexican dishes, lasagnas, and pizzas. Using it in enchiladas helps reduce the sodium while boosting the creamy texture. Serve with Chopped Black Bean–Avocado Salad and
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at a glance
