Count the calories
IT SEEMS KIWIS just can’t get enough of Dr Michael Mosley and his revolutionary approach to weight-loss. The Fast 800 has been the a popular diet book here since its publication in 2019 and now there’s an additional companion cookbook on the shelves.
The Fast 800 Easy by Dr Clare Bailey — GP, and Dr Mosley’s wife — and acclaimed food writer Justine Pattison includes 130 new, quick and simple recipes to help you through your 800-calorie fasting days, as well as eight weeks of calorie-counted meal plans.
As well as making mealtime fuss-free, there are options to adapt meat dishes for vegetarians, and the other way round; plus easy additions to enable you to boost recipes either for non-fast days or for feeding the whole family.
Following is a recipe from the book:
LOW-CARB PORTOBELLO ‘PIZZAS’
Serves 2 Prep 10 mins Cook 10 mins This is adapted from a particularly popular recipe in our Fast 800 online programme. With a wide Portobello mushroom as a base and a delicious tomato and mozzarella topping, it has all the flavour of a traditional pizza, but only a fraction of the calories.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 tsp dried oregano, plus some fresh oregano leaves (optional), to serve
4 Portobello or large flat mushrooms (each around 90g)
3-4 Tbsp tomato pure´ e
6-8 cherry tomatoes, sliced
100g ready-grated mozzarella
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C (fan 180C/Gas 6) and lightly grease a baking tray.
Mix the olive oil, garlic and oregano in a small bowl.
Place the mushrooms on the tray, stalk side up, and spread each one thickly with the tomato puree. Top with the sliced tomatoes and drizzle with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and season with a little salt and plenty of ground black pepper. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and has started to brown.
Serve sprinkled with fresh oregano leaves, if using, and lots of green vegetables or a large salad.
Cook’s tip
Add extra protein by topping each mushroom with anchovy fillets, chorizo or salami. But don’t forget to add the extra calories.