Can you make this less calorific for me?

[Psolomon]

Wild rice pilaf with butternut squash, cranberries & pecans Even halving the cranberries & pecans brings each serving out at 374 calories!

The olive oil comes out at a nasty 715 cals

[annandale]

The only answer I can see is to have just a small spoonful of it and fill up the rest of the plate with vegetables.

TBH I would make something else if you are trying to lose weight.

[theclick]

Well olive oil is a good fat. So it's ok to use it.

[Heratnumber7]

How much oil are you using?? Sounds like a lot.

[ErrolTheDragon]

It looks unpleasantly greasy to me. The recipe serves 8, but even so, 'quarter cup plus 2 tbsp' sounds excessive. The 1tbsp to coat the squash is about right, I'd use less than 1tbsp to fry an onion, and I'd use a lot less oil in the dressing. You could maybe do that but serve with extra oil available if anyone prefers more?

[Psolomon]

Yes, the oil is ridiculous. I ought to abandon this recipe but it just feels so...impressive to prepare and eat

I'm in dire need of recipe inspiration for filling, low GI meals.

[toffeeboffin]

Well, I'm guessing the cranberry is for aesthetic /to add sweetness, so maybe add a teaspoon of honey to the butternut squash and skip them?

Skip the nuts too. Maybe use a quarter cup of dry toasted pine nuts instead of the pecans.

[toffeeboffin]

Or add dry toasted chickpeas if you want filling and low GI.

[Psolomon]

Ooh, toffee, I found a recipe for leek, chickpea & parmesan soup and it's sublime. Only 275 cals per serving (nicked from The Midlife Kitchen).

[Goldfishjane]

IT looks incredibly oily.....

[toffeeboffin]

Hmm, that sounds good, I love leeks and I also love soup!

I'll check it out.

[Psolomon]

Goldfish, it really doesn't taste that way; it's delicious

toffee, from where do you source low-cal recipes?

[RedSandYellowSand]

Cut back the dressing. If you make 1/3 of the dressing amount, that should save over 50 cal per portion.

[Psolomon]

Thanks, Red, just less oil in the dressing, then, but same cumin, cinnamon, Orange juice etc? Or cut back on the lot?