Eating healthy is not often talked about alongside indulgence.
But with a little bit of creativity and research, you can find food that tantalizes the taste buds while still being good for you.
Healthy meals can be found all over the world, and many of the most flavorsome dishes from abroad can be easily recreated at home.
Here are some healthy meals from cuisines around the world that can bring variety and flavor to your meal plans.
Kimchi as a healthy meal
The dish originates from Korea and is a staple accompaniment to many Korean dishes.
The mixture of fermented vegetables and seasoning is packed full of healthy bacteria that is good for the gut and digestion.
Kimchi also helps boost your immunity, which is useful in the colder months.
Learning how to make kimchi is easy and takes only 30 minutes.
Once you have mastered the basic recipe, you can season and add different vegetables to keep the dish fresh and exciting.
Ful Mudammas
In Egypt, a bean breakfast is an excellent way to start your day off right.
Healthy breakfasts should set you up with energy for the day ahead, and a dish of ful mudammas does just that.
Ful Mudammas is made from fava beans, which are full of fiber, and tahini, which is full of health benefits.
The dish has almost no cholesterol either.
If the beans aren’t filling enough on their own, consider adding a hard-boiled egg on the side.
Soba Noodle Bowl
The Japanese are famous for their healthy diet and soba noodles have a big part to play in this reputation.
Soba noodles can be eaten alongside vegetables in a broth, but they are also eaten raw in Japan.
Soba noodles make a good alternative to rice as they contain all eight essential amino acids.
These acids are not found in rice, and neither is thiamine, which is also plentiful in the noodles.
Kasha
If you suffer from high blood pressure, then this buckwheat dish from Russia is great for lowering it down.
Kash is an accompaniment rather than the main meal but this means you can be inventive and add it to your favorite healthy dishes.
The boiled buckwheat is great for bulking out a salad or soaking up other flavors from spices and seasoning.
Tom Yam Soup
Tom Yam or Tom Yum soup is often called a miracle soup because of its nutritional value.
The soup from Thailand has many ingredients that have been known to fight cancer.
Galangal is one of the most flavorsome spices in the soup that is also known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Discovering healthy meals
Whatever your palette, try to explore and create meal plans that are exciting and full of variety.
There are plenty of dishes out there.
Use a map and a pin, and you will be sure to find a dish from a country that you have never tried before.
Lookup a recipe online and give it a go.
With any luck, the dish will be tasty and healthy too.
Asian Meatballs Over Rice
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp Rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
For the meat
- 1 lbs ground beef or ground raw turkey
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 3/4 tsp Worchestershire sauce
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 3 Tbsp milk less if using turkey
- 1/2 Tbsp Olive oil
- Sliced scallions for garnish
For the Rice
- 2 cups Long-grain white rice prepared as per box instructions
- 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
Instructions
For the Sauce
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
For the Meat
- Combine all the meat ingredients together in a large bowl, until well combined. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 1/2 Tablespoon of olive oil.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the prepared meatballs, in a single layer.
- Keep turning the meatballs and brown on all sides. No need to cook them all the way through at this point.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs and gently turn the meatballs to coat all sides with the sauce.
- Continue to cook, bringing the sauce to a boil.
- Once boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Stirring the meatballs occasionally.
For the Rice
- Prepare white rice according to package instructions.
- In a small bowl, break the two eggs and whisk until combined.
- Heat a small skillet on medium heat till hot. Add 1/2 Tablespoon of butter to the skillet and melt. Once melted, add the whisked eggs and cook until almost done, stirring constantly.
- Once the rice is done, add 1 Tablespoon butter to the rice and add eggs. Stir until combined.
- Serve cooked meatballs over hot rice and garnish with chopped scallions.
