Simple swaps for serious summer flavor

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Family Features – From burgers to barbecued chicken, many of the best grilled foods are served with condiments that often pack on calories and fat. Next time you’re ready to grill, experiment with new ways to create simple but robust flavors using fewer ingredients through simple swaps.

Rice vinegars offer a healthy alternative to fatty condiments when grilling. Keeping meals simple is easy with naturally gluten-free Nakano Rice Vinegar, which includes six or fewer simple ingredients with no artificial preservatives, flavors or ingredients, and no high-fructose corn syrup or MSG. The brand recently announced a clean-labeling initiative for all of its products, which now have easy-to-read labels with recognizable ingredients.

Dawn Jackson Blatner, star of ABC’s “My Diet Is Better Than Yours,” author of “Superfood Swap” and a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant for the Chicago Cubs, has created healthy dishes to heat up the grill this season.

Grilled Meatballs and Zoodles

Servings: 4

Meatballs

1  pound organic ground turkey or grass-fed ground beef

1  cup organic kale, finely chopped

1/2  cup crushed brown rice crackers

1  egg

1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Nonstick cooking spray

Salad

4 medium zucchini

2 cups organic cherry tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup Nakano Rice Vinegar - Natural or Nakano Organic Rice Vinegar - Natural

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Sea salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

Method

Heat grill to medium.

In large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, kale, crackers, egg, chili pepper flakes and salt. Use hands to form mixture into 12 balls. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes to help meatballs set.

Mist meatballs with nonstick cooking spray and place them on grill. Grill each side 3-4 minutes, using tongs to flip to sides that haven’t been browned yet. Meatballs should reach internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Using vegetable spiralizer, create zucchini noodles. Toss zucchini with tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Serve each zoodle plate with three meatballs.

Nutritional information per serving: 350 calories; 20 g total fat; 6 g saturated fat; 240 mg sodium; 14 g carbs; 3 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 32 g protein.

Grilled Veggie and Ranch Bowl

Servings: 2

8 ounces skinless chicken breast

2 ears corn, shucked

6 asparagus spears, trimmed

1 organic bell pepper, seeded and cut into 4 large pieces

1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Sea salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

4 tablespoons Cashew Ranch Dressing (recipe follows)

Method

Heat grill to medium.

Season chicken breast, corn, asparagus, bell pepper and zucchini with olive oil, sea salt and pepper.

Grill chicken 6-7 minutes per side, internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Grill corn 10-15 minutes, rotating after every pop, until corn is golden. Grill asparagus, bell pepper and zucchini 3-5 minutes per side, until tender.

Separate chicken, corn, asparagus, bell pepper and zucchini evenly into two bowls. Drizzle bowls with Cashew Ranch Dressing.

Note: Bowl leftovers can be refrigerated for up to four days.

Nutritional information per serving: 450 calories; 21 g total fat; 4.5 g saturated fat; 870 mg sodium; 31 g carbs; 6 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 38 g protein.

Cashew Ranch Dressing

Makes: 1 cup

1 cup raw, unsalted cashews

3/4 cup almost-boiling water

3 tablespoons Nakano Rice Vinegar - Natural or Nakano Organic Rice Vinegar - Natural

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon dried dill

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

Method

In food processor, puree cashews, water, rice vinegar, garlic, dill, oregano, salt and pepper 3-4 minutes, until creamy. For best results, drizzle water in gradually as food processor is running. Stir in chives.

Note: Leftover dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to seven days.

Nutritional information per tablespoon: 50 calories; 4 g total fat; 0.5 g saturated fat; 110 mg sodium; 3 g carbs; 1 g sugar; 2 g protein.

 

Tuna Stuffed Avocado

Servings: 2

1 ripe avocado

1 can (5 ounces) tuna packed in water, drained

1/2 cup finely diced celery

1/2 cup grated carrot

1/4 cup finely diced red onion

2 tablespoons Nakano Rice Vinegar - Natural or Nakano Organic Rice Vinegar - Natural

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

16 brown rice crackers

 

Method

Cut avocado in half, remove pit and scoop out flesh leaving thin wall of avocado. Dice avocado flesh and set shell aside for serving.

In small bowl, combine tuna, celery, carrot, onion, vinegar, oil, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix well. Stir in diced avocado.

Scoop mixture into avocado shells and serve with brown rice crackers.

Nutritional information per serving: 360 calories; 19 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 530 mg sodium; 26 g carbs; 9 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 22 g protein.

 

Food, summer,