Eating a healthy balanced diet as part of your health and fitness goals can be tricky when there’s so much temptation around us. It’s even trickier when you have a social calendar full of parties and gatherings where food is involved, right?
Whether you’re taking a plate over to your loved ones’ place or hosting yourself, not to worry. We’ve found some of the most mouth-watering low carb, low calorie party foods and appetisers that will satisfy cravings without compromising on flavour.
Ready? Let’s dive right in!
7-Layer Black Bean Dip
Low-fat and gluten-free, the 7-layer dip is an appetiser that originated in Texas. The recipe has many variations with Cotija cheese as a staple, which is salty, crumbly Mexican cheese. If you’re struggling to find Cotija cheese, just substitute it with queso fresco or even feta.
Credit: Eating Well
This recipe serves around 18 people:
- 1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium refried black beans
- 1 medium avocado, diced
- ½ cup finely chopped tomato
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco
- 2 tablespoons diced pickled jalapeño
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 grated garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Method
The prep time for this recipe only takes around 15 minutes.
- Add beans, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and lime juice to a shallow bowl and microwave on High for about 1 minute.
- Mix into a smooth layer and top with avocado, tomato, onion, cheese, cilantro and pickled jalapeño.
- Cover and put in the fridge for up to 3 hours.
You can then serve the dip with tortilla chips or raw veggies like cucumbers and sliced bell peppers.
Chickpea and Aubergine Balls
Another low carb, low calorie recipe, this easy vegan canapé alternative is tasty and healthy when served with harissa yoghurt.
Credit: BBC Good Food
The following ingredients can make around 20 balls for all your friends and family:
- 3 large aubergines halved and scored on cut side
- Spray oil
- 400 grams of drained chickpeas
- 2 big peeled garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons of gram flour
- 3 tablespoons of polenta
- 2 teaspoons of coriander
- 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds
- Half a lemon zested and juice
- Half a lemon cut into wedges to serve (optional)
You can use 1 tablespoon of harissa combined with 150 grams of coconut dairy-free yoghurt to make a delicious dip. Chill before serving.
Prep time for this recipe is about 20 minutes, whereas, cook time takes approximately 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spray aubergine halves with oil and put them cut-side up in a roasting tin with the garlic, cumin seeds and coriander. Season with salt and pepper before roasting for 40 minutes. The aubergine should be completely tender and then set aside to cool.
- Scoop out the aubergine flesh and put it into a bowl. Scrape the spices and garlic into the bowl before adding chickpeas, gram flour, lemon zest and juice. Mash everything together.
- Create 20 balls out of the mixture and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Put the tray in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Spread the polenta onto a plate and roll the balls in it to fully coat them. Put them back on the tray and spray each one with oil before roasting in the oven for 20 minutes. They should be hot, crisp and golden when done.
Let the balls cool and then serve with the dip and lemon wedges.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Pizza is a fan favourite at any party, but it’s very carb-heavy and calorific. These yummy zucchini cheese and tomato bites are a healthier option for when the pizza craving strikes.
Credit: Taste of Home
The great thing about this recipe is that you can make as many pizza bites as you like depending on how many zucchini slices you have! Try to find the widest zucchini so you can fit the most toppings on your bites.
- Zucchini
- Pizza sauce
- Mozzarella cheese
- Basic
- Pepperoni slices (optional depending on whether you want to make them vegetarian-friendly)
The total time to make zucchini pizza bites is only 20 minutes.
- Cut your zucchini into chunky slices and place them on a greased baking tray. Broil the zucchini three to four inches from the heat for one to two minutes on each side. If they’re crisp-tender, they’re done.
- Sprinkle the zucchini with salt and pepper. Top each slice with sauce, cheese and pepperoni.
- Broil the zucchini pizza bites for about one minute until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with the basil as a final step.
It’s as simple as that!
To sum up, these 3 low carb, low calorie appetisers will help you elevate your party spread without too much effort. They’re ideal for those watching their waistlines or just looking for lighter options to balance out the indulgences.
Which one are you excited to try first? Share with a friend by clicking the link below.
