To reduce the calorie intake of a dish, condiments and cooking methods can be more decisive than the ingredients themselves. Here are 5 tips for lighter recipes, without sacrificing any flavour!

Very often when we hear people talking about delicious, flavourful foods, we immediately think of dishes with a high fat content and, consequently, with too many calories. And yet, condiments and cooking methods are good ways to balance meals and the nutritional properties of ingredients themselves.

Here are 5 tips for lighter recipes, without having to sacrifice any flavour:

1. Steaming is undoubtedly one of the healthiest and most nutritious methods around: this is why we recommend it for preparing potatoes. By using multi-tier steamers, you can save time and energy, while also reducing the amount of calories. Compared with boiling, steaming has the advantage of not having to immerse the tubers in water.

Recipe - Ravioli stuffed with potatoes and spinach

2. Boiling is similar to the previous cooking method. In this case, instead of being fried, the potatoes are usually immersed in boiling water, thereby guaranteeing a dish low in fat. On the other hand, this method releases a large part of the nutrients found in food into the cooking liquid, starting with minerals.

Recipe - Potato gnudi with creamy squash and mushroom soup

3. Frying is one of the most loved and popular cooking methods, because it makes foods crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, while on the one hand, fried foods have an irresistible smell, on the other hand, this cooking method puts on weight and is not recommended all the time. To make up for the fact that there is no cooking method that keeps the same flavour, texture and nutritional properties of fried dishes, and at the same time reduces their calorie content, air fryers have now come onto the market: square or oval appliances that let you “fry” a wide variety of foods, including potatoes.

Recipe - Alouette potatoes in the air fryer

4. Another tip is to cook without adding any oil or animal fats. Among the main advantages of cooking without oil, alongside a lower fat intake, we get even cooking and, in general, a more balanced diet. In the oven, just arrange the potatoes on a sheet of baking paper and season them with salt, pepper, spices or fresh seasonings.

Recipe - How to make crispy roast potatoes

5. Finally, we recommend immersion or sous-vide cooking. For this last method, you need to put the potatoes – with your chosen condiments – into special bags, making sure you seal everything properly, and then cook them by immersing them in water at a constant temperature ranging between 70°C and 85°C.

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