Light, Easy Diabetic-Friendly Recipes For Summer

While thick, creamy and hearty soups and stews are perfect for the fall and winter months, they’re not so great when the hot weather rolls around. It can be difficult to decide what to prepare for dinner during summer, but here are some lighter, healthier versions of some of your favorite dishes. Plus, we even threw in a couple desserts so you could have something delicious to look forward to after dinner besides a sugar-free Popsicle.

Budget-friendly Salmon Burgers

Serves 6

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• ½ small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
• 1 pound skinless salmon, cut into chunks
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup cilantro
• 6 iceberg or bibb lettuce leaves
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Place the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and Thai curry paste in a large food processor and blend until smooth.
3. Add the salmon and puree until smooth. Add the egg and cilantro and puree until incorporated.
4. Scoop the mixture in ½ cup portions onto the baking sheet and press lightly to form a patty. Repeat to make 6 patties.
5. Spray the top of each patty with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Serve each salmon burger in a lettuce leaf and top each with 1 tablespoon sliced scallions.

Source: [American Diabetes Association]

Butternut Squash Cajun Fries

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 pound butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and cut into thick French fries
• 1 pinch salt to taste
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Blot any moisture from the butternut squash fries with paper towels, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper and Cajun seasoning.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and tender, 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.

Source: [AllRecipes.com]

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

Warm Apple Cinnamon Cobbler

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 4 apples – peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup fructose
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup granola oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ cup low-fat buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F ( 190 degrees C).
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the apples, water, cinnamon, cornstarch and fructose. Cook until apples are soft and mixture is thickened, about 10 minutes.
3. Pour the apple mixture into a casserole dish.
4. Prepare biscuit dough by combining the whole-wheat pastry flour and baking powder. Add the oil and stir until well mixed. Add the honey and buttermilk; stir with a fork until flour mixture is moist. Add additional milk if necessary.
5. Drop biscuit dough by tablespoons on top of apples. Bake for 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Serve warm.

Source: [AllRecipes.com]

Banana Oat Bars

Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup raisins
• 1 cup mashed potatoes
• ¼ cup skim milk
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix together bananas, egg whites, milk and vanilla. Beat all together.
3. Bake in a 9 x 13 inch pan which has been sprayed with non-stick spray for about 35 minutes. Cool and cut into bars. You may sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, if desired.

Source: [AllRecipes.com]

For more great articles and recipes, click here.