Is this a healthy meal?

[SushhhhNow]

The family are loving roasted vegetable curry at the moment and I make it at least once a week.

Roast the veg for around an hour in a dash of olive oil (onion, carrot, parsnips, potato, cauliflower, broccoli), chuck in a pan with a couple of tablespoons of curry paste, some coconut milk, simmer for 10-15 mins, and it's done. Usually serve with rice or naan bread.

My question is, is this a healthy meal (and I can feel all virtuous) or will I have nuked all the goodness out of the veg after all the cooking? I'm guessing the curry paste is probably quite salty, and the coconut milk high in fat. So maybe it's not a healthy meal at all. It doesn't 'feel' healthy (like when you have a plate of lightly cooked fresh veg) but it must have some goodness in it doesn't it?

It might be lacking in protein, maybe add some ground almonds or chickpeas or paneer cheese. The fat is not a problem - olive oil and coconut and good.

Just cause something has fat in it doesn't mean it's unhealthy! Avocado is bloody full of it for example.

I agree with maybe a few chickpeas

Try lentils too as they are packed full of protein.

How about making a tomato based sauce as opposed to the coconut cream? Or alternatively add yoghurt?

Sounds good to me. Agree you could add chickpeas or lentils or cashew nuts and I would top with toasted coconut.

Might have to try this myself

I agree about adding some protein in the form of chickpeas and/or lentils.

A tomato based sauce is a good idea too, although you might find it less filling then as it'll be lower in fat.

It definitely doesn't need to be lower in calories!
Don't ditch the coconut milk - with a tomato based sauce it will be far too low calorie to be a 'healthy' meal for the family (great for if you want to do the 5:2 diet though).
I also suggest adding chickpeas or lentils and serving with some plain yoghurt for extra goodness.

Thank you! I'm relieved I can continue making it with a clear conscience!

Love the chickpea and cashew idea - will definitely be giving that a try.

Sounds delicious. I will try this as well.

A tin of chickpeas and it would be very balanced.

I'm going to try it too, perhaps with cashews for texture

Yup sounds lovely.

You don;t need to get mega het up about protein - there is protein in rice anyway. But some cashews or chickpeas would both go very well and bulk it out a bit.

Other ways to add protein:

Bake tofu with the veg.

Ground almonds or small amount of protein powder, add frozen peas near the end, or any tinned beans.

mall amount of protein powder

I would be pretty upset if DH was adding protein powder to a veggie curry! Just use real food!

Just watch the volume of naan. But the curry itself sounds perfect.

Sorry, naan comment is because I'm perpetually weight-watching. If that's not your issue carry right on.