Spicy Prawn Stir-fry is the perfect dinner for one. Really quick to throw together. But very healthy and filling too. Only 289 calories.

Busy busy busy in our house at the moment. I’ve got a list of things to do and buy as long as my arm. Even while I’m writing this, the other half of my brain is occupied with where on earth to find a dwarf costume for a very tall 8-year-old who doesn’t like dressing up!

So often when the pressures of every day life distract us, it’s all so easy to fall off the diet wagon. Especially with Christmas just around the corner and the delicious treats that we suddenly feel we’re entitled to!

This week there’s a lot going on and few, if any, family meals together. This is one of my little favourites when I’m cooking just for me and I’m short of time.

And to make it even easier, I’ll probably use a bag of stir fry vegetables – choose one with lots of crunchy multi-coloured veg for this one. Yes, the calories will vary slightly, but it is unlikely to go over 300 calories.

Spicy Prawn Stir-fry

289 calories

This is a quick and easy meal for one.

Serves 1 Ready in less than 15 minutes

½ garlic clove, peeled and crushed (2 cals)
½ tsp tamarind paste (6 cals)
1 tbsp dark soy sauce (4 cals)
150g (5oz) cooked king prawns (king shrimp) (148 cals)
½ tsp walnut oil (22 cals)
½ yellow (bell) pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips (21 cals)
½ red (bell) pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips (51 cals)
1 red chilli, deseeded and cut into fine rings (3 cals)
50g (1¾oz) beansprouts (16 cals)
50g (1¾oz) mangetout (snow peas) (16 cals)

• Mix the garlic, tamarind paste and soy sauce together in a bowl. Add the prawns (shrimp) and turn until they are coated all over in the dark sticky mixture. Leave to stand for 2 minutes while you prepare the rest of the stir-fry.
• Heat the walnut oil in a wok or large frying pan (skillet) over a high heat, add the (bell) peppers and chilli and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the beansprouts and mangetout (snow peas) and stir-fry for a further 2 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the prawns and marinade and stir-fry for a further 2 minutes until the prawns are warmed through. Serve immediately.