Mushroom Risotto, (non oily)

Well, after buying a kilo of cheap mushrooms from our local market and making a batch of soup there was still just so many left that I decided to make a local dish, but without all the oil.
Every time I visit Bulgarian friends for dinner or a party, this dish is on the table or dished up as a side.
My friend bakes hers and there is a lot of oil involved, this is not like that.
Another great cheap very fresh vegetable in the markets now is spinach. I love spinach, it always makes me think of Popeye. I grew up with Popeye and Olive Oil, his girl friend.  I always think of spinach as being really good for us, I always buy it when it is available, from the market.
Another easy dish also great for vegetarians

A bag of fresh Spinach, torn
2 Onions, chopped small, I use red.
250g Mushrooms, peeled and chopped small
175g Long grain Rice, washed
2 Carrots, peeled and chopped small
600ml Vegetable stock
Salt and Pepper
Low cal cooking spray
Spray a large pan with a low cal cooking oil or use a little sunflower oil. Cook the onion, mushroom, carrot and garlic till the onion is transparent. Add the rice to the pan, cook for a few mins, stirring frequently. Then add the stock a little at a time after each addition has soaked into the rice. Season, and cover the pan, simmer until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked to your liking. Add the spinach, cover the pan till the spinach is wilted down. I keep an eye on it at this stage as you don't want the rice to over cook. Once the spinach starts to wilt, stir it into the rice to speed it up. Stir it through the rice and serve.
Serve as a side dish or on it's own as a lunch.
Enjoy

Low fat, "Bob Chorba" a Traditional Bulgarian recipe for Green beans

This is a recipe for village Bob Chorba! Bob is the name for beans all beans and anything made with beans.  This recipe can be varied, if you like, by adding other veg or meat but never take anything away! It basically has infinite possibilities & we could probably write a whole recipe book just for Bob! I love it as it is.
I was shown how to make this by my neighbours when I first moved over here, I have omitted the half a frying pan of oil, to make a lighter version.
I do recommend this recipe as it is very filling but light. We have this as both a starter & also a main course with hunks of fresh uncut bread.

BOB CHORBA (Runner bean soup/casserole)

Bob, Green beans, (also white beans if you can get them, although I prefer Green myself)

3 x Carrots
1 x Red Pepper
2 x Tomatoes
Fry light (for a slimming recipe) or 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil, (which will still be healthy)
Salt, optional
Boiling water
1dsp ground Paprika Pepper
1dsp Flour
Parsley

Chop carrots very small, top tail & string beans if needed. Spray a fry pan with cooking spray/sunflower oil & add salt.
Heat oil & add beans, stir to coat with oil & salt. Stir in the carrots & cover with boiling water, boil for 20 mins.
Cut up the tomatoes & pepper into small pieces & add to the pan, cook for 5 mins, then turn down to a simmer, add a bit more water & for cook 10 mins.
Add Paprika pepper & stir.
Mix flour into some water & stir into Beans, add parsley cook 10 mins.
You can serve it immediately or re heat it later & serve with gorgeous bread of your choice You can serve this as a starter or a main course with grated low fat cheese on top. I prefer it as is.
Enjoy!

Green Bob with Marrow or Courgette. Omit carrots add 1 x Med Marrow or 4 x Courgette’s.