Recipes

Delicious And Convenient—Pumping Up The Flavor—Not The Cost Or Hassle

Posted 4/29/2011

The Chef Culinary Council works together to develop delicious, convenient and cost-effective meals for people interested in losing weight.

(NAPSI) - Losing weight does not have to mean sacrificing taste or making complicated meals.

Ask the members of Nutrisystem’s celebrity Chef Culinary Council, a team of award-winning chefs who will support the company’s mission of providing great-tasting, high-quality food to its customers.

The Council will help guide the development of new foods and menu selections and provide its expertise on the latest ingredient and culinary trends. The result: more delicious ways to lose weight without hurting your budget.

Council members include:

• Tony Mantuano, chef/partner of the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago, Spiaggia; a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef of the Midwest; and a contender on “Top Chef Masters,” Season 2;

• Michael Solomonov, owner of Philadelphia’s award-winning restaurant Zahav, 2011 James Beard Award finalist and recent contender on “Iron Chef America”;

• Kent Rathbun, owner of Texas restaurants including Abacus, Jasper’s, Shinsei, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen and Zea Woodfire Grill; a former winner on “Iron Chef America”;

• Mark Estee, known for his awarded restaurants in Nevada and California and former personal chef to Britney Spears and Paul McCartney;

• Carmen Gonzalez, known in the culinary world for over 20 years as a talented and awarded chef, as well as for her creative Puerto Rican/American fusion cuisine; most recently known as a contender from “Top Chef Masters,” Season 2.

“When it comes to weight loss, a perception exists that dieting equals sacrificing meals you enjoy most,” said Mantuano. “This is not the case. You can still enjoy the foods you love, but moderation is critical.”

A good example of a tasty nutritious meal is Chef Tony’s Zucchini Pizza Roma, which can be made using a Nutrisystem Fresh-Frozen Margherita Pizza.

Chef Tony’s Zucchini Pizza Roma

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 serving
Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes in oven (preferred) or
75 seconds in microwave
1 Nutrisystem lunch entrée,
1 dairy serving,
unlimited vegetable serving,
1 free food

Ingredients:

Calorie-free Crisco Olive Oil-Flavored pan spray
1 Nutrisystem Fresh-Frozen Margherita Pizza
1 small zucchini, yellow, green or both
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp. chives, fresh, cut on a diagonal, ½-inch lengths

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.

2. To prepare, remove plastic wrap and place pizza with silver paper tray on a small cookie sheet sprayed with calorie-free olive oil. Slice lengthwise, 7 to 8 very thin ribbons of zucchini, using a sharp potato/vegetable peeler. Rotate the zucchini slightly as you slice each ribbon, retaining a colored edge on each ribbon.

3. Lay the zucchini ribbons across the top of the pizza, overlapping each slightly. Alternate green and yellow ribbons if using two colors of zucchini.

4. Sprinkle pizza evenly with Parmesan and then lightly spray the entire top with calorie-free olive oil.

5. Bake pizza in oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese has melted slightly, crust is crispy and the edges are light golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle the hot pizza immediately with fresh chives, releasing all the great oils and flavors in the herb.

6. Baking is preferred but for quick convenience, microwave the pizza, following the same prep steps. Leave pizza on silver paper tray and place on a microwave-safe plate. Cook on high for 75 seconds. Quickly sprinkle with chives and close microwave door. Allow pizza to “stand” in the microwave another 40 to 60 seconds.

Variations and Serving Suggestions:

The fresh chives create a nice spicy contrast to the zucchini. When chives are not available, substitute using a half tablespoon of finely minced green onion. This pizza is pretty when alternating colors of zucchini, but be assured, one color of zucchini is just as tasty! Create a second tasty pizza by substituting Nutrisystem Fresh-Frozen Roasted Vegetable Pizza for the Margherita Pizza variety.

For more information, visit www.nutrisystem.com/naps2011.