Mediterranean Lamb Pizza
Serves 4; Preparation time: 15 minutes, cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
500g lamb mince (organic is yum!)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 brown onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1 x 400g can chickpeas or lentils, rinsed
200g spinach leaves
½ red capsicum, sliced into thin strips
½ green capsicum, sliced into thin strips
6 mushrooms, sliced
4 wholemeal mini pita breads
Extra tomato paste, for the base
For the yoghurt topping:
1/4 cup low fat natural yoghurt
2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Grease two baking trays and line with baking paper. Place two pita bread bases on each tray and spread with tomato
paste.
3. Heat oil in medium-sized fry pan, over med-high heat. Add onion and garlic and a pinch of salt, stirring until onion softens.
4. Add lamb mince to fry pan, breaking it up as you cook it. Once the lamb has browned, add cumin, cinnamon, tomato paste, and ¼ cup of water. Cook, stirring, until the liquid has reduced. Take off heat.
5. Add the lamb mixture and remaining ingredients (minus the yoghurt topping) to the pitas, arranged to your liking (perhaps, spinach on the bottom, then lamb, chickpeas and the rest).
6. Place the pizzas in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.
7. While the pizzas are baking, combine yoghurt, mint and lemon juice together in a small bowl.
8. When pizzas are cooked, drizzle the yoghurt topping over the top and serve with a fresh salad or some homemade baked potato chips.
Note: you can use store-bought tzatziki instead of making the yoghurt topping, and add/remove any ingredients you like from the pizza toppings – the main thing is just using lots of veggies! A diet high in vegetables is vital in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety and depression busters: Using wholemeal pitas again are better for maintaining stable blood-sugar levels and increasing vitamin B1 (Thiamin) levels. Low-fat yoghurt is also high in vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), also beneficial in combating depression and anxiety symptoms. Spinach contains folic acid, of which low levels have been associated with anxiety and depression. Lamb contains vitamin B12, reducing depression and irritability, and omega-3 essential fatty acids which play an important role in keeping depression and anxiety at bay. A recent study by the University of Melbourne also found people who ate more lean lamb (within national guidelines) were less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715239).
Serves 4; Preparation time: 15 minutes, cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
500g lamb mince (organic is yum!)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 brown onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1 x 400g can chickpeas or lentils, rinsed
200g spinach leaves
½ red capsicum, sliced into thin strips
½ green capsicum, sliced into thin strips
6 mushrooms, sliced
4 wholemeal mini pita breads
Extra tomato paste, for the base
For the yoghurt topping:
1/4 cup low fat natural yoghurt
2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Grease two baking trays and line with baking paper. Place two pita bread bases on each tray and spread with tomato
paste.
3. Heat oil in medium-sized fry pan, over med-high heat. Add onion and garlic and a pinch of salt, stirring until onion softens.
4. Add lamb mince to fry pan, breaking it up as you cook it. Once the lamb has browned, add cumin, cinnamon, tomato paste, and ¼ cup of water. Cook, stirring, until the liquid has reduced. Take off heat.
5. Add the lamb mixture and remaining ingredients (minus the yoghurt topping) to the pitas, arranged to your liking (perhaps, spinach on the bottom, then lamb, chickpeas and the rest).
6. Place the pizzas in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.
7. While the pizzas are baking, combine yoghurt, mint and lemon juice together in a small bowl.
8. When pizzas are cooked, drizzle the yoghurt topping over the top and serve with a fresh salad or some homemade baked potato chips.
Note: you can use store-bought tzatziki instead of making the yoghurt topping, and add/remove any ingredients you like from the pizza toppings – the main thing is just using lots of veggies! A diet high in vegetables is vital in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety and depression busters: Using wholemeal pitas again are better for maintaining stable blood-sugar levels and increasing vitamin B1 (Thiamin) levels. Low-fat yoghurt is also high in vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), also beneficial in combating depression and anxiety symptoms. Spinach contains folic acid, of which low levels have been associated with anxiety and depression. Lamb contains vitamin B12, reducing depression and irritability, and omega-3 essential fatty acids which play an important role in keeping depression and anxiety at bay. A recent study by the University of Melbourne also found people who ate more lean lamb (within national guidelines) were less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715239).
