Healthy New Year’s Recipes To Try In 2022

Ring in your new year with some celebratory food that’s both tasty and healthy. These new year’s recipes are easy-to-make and help you set the tone for a healthy year ahead. So, it’s time to incorporate a few of these nutritious recipes to help you begin the year feeling fresh and well nourished.

Snacks

The new year wouldn’t be complete without some fun and delicious finger foods. You can assemble a few of these recipe ideas for a quick and classy assortment of appetizers.

Cheese Board

Eliminate the need for any cook time with a tasty cheese board. Assemble a variety of cheeses like sheep, cow, and goat cheese on a serving tray or board. Then, place an assortment of healthy sweet and salty snacks alongside to bring out the rich flavors of the cheese. Include items like dried fruit and roasted nuts for a healthy source of protein.¹

Shrimp Cocktail

Few things say celebration like a 5-star shrimp cocktail. This classic party dish requires very little effort and is sure to please guests. Plus, shrimp are a low-calorie snack full of nutrients and vitamins.² If you have the time, you can also easily make your own cocktail sauce, too.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. shrimp in the shell
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 4 tsp prepared horseradish
• ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 splashes of hot sauce

Instructions

1. For the shrimp, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the shrimp, and turn off the heat. Let cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they turn pink. Remove the shrimp from the water and cool in the fridge.
3. Make the cocktail sauce by combining the rest of the ingredients in a serving bowl.
4. Remove the shrimp from the fridge. Peel off the shells, and remove the vein across the top curve.
5. Serve the shrimp on a platter with the cocktail sauce in the center.

Spinach And Artichoke Dip

Finger foods don’t need to be unhealthy. For example, this spinach and artichoke dip swaps out traditional ingredients like sour cream, cheddar cheese, and mayo for yogurt and cottage cheese. Using greek yogurt instead of sour cream will provide the dish with extra protein and probiotics.³

Ingredients

• 1 cup artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 2 cups cooked or frozen spinach
• 1 ½ cups greek yogurt
• ½ cups cottage cheese
• 1 cup cotija cheese
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl, and stir until well incorporated.
3. Place the mixture into a heat-safe, glass or ceramic baking dish. Place in the oven, and cook for 25-30 minutes.
4. Remove and serve hot with crackers, veggies, or chips.

Dinner Ideas

Flavorful and satisfying food doesn’t need to be unhealthy food. These healthy recipes for the new year strike a great balance between bold flavors and nutrition.

Wine-Braised Chicken With Wild Mushrooms

This elegant dish is perfect for celebrating the new year. It is refined and sumptuous without being fatty or decadent. Plus, it doesn’t demand hours and hours of work. That means more time enjoying the company of friends and family before the big meal.

Ingredients

• 3 ½ bone-in chicken parts (like thighs and legs)
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced thin
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2 cups chicken stock
• ½ cup parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Place a dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add half the butter and olive oil to the pan, and cook the chicken until brown. Remove and set aside.
2. Add the rest of the butter and oil, and cook the onions and garlic. After the vegetables are golden brown, add the wine. Stir, and let the liquid reduce by half.
3. Return the chicken to the pot and pour in the chicken stock. Cover the pot, and cook on low for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.
4. Remove from heat, and garnish with parsley. Serve directly in the dutch oven, or transfer to a serving tray.

Fennel-Rubbed Leg Of Lamb With Lemon Pan Sauce

Impress all your guests with elegant comfort food like this leg of lamb. The lemon and garlicky flavor balance extremely well with the rich meat and earthy fennel flavors. You can also use pork chops as an alternative to lamb.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp fennel seeds
• 2 tsp red chili flakes
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 boneless leg of lamb, rolled and tied
• 1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine 3 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, fennel seeds, chili flakes, and garlic in a mixing bowl to make the rub. Apply the rub to the lamb leg.
3. Place a skillet or heavy metal pan over medium heat. Add the remaining oil, and then sear the lamb until golden brown all the way around. Reduce the heat, and remove the leg of lamb from the pan, being careful not to splash any oil.
4. Put the seared leg of lamb on a roasting tray, and place in the oven. Cook for 80-90 minutes or until the center reads 135 degrees with a meat thermometer. Remove, and let rest.
5. Return the skillet to low heat, and add the lemon juice. Cook for one minute, and then drizzle over the finished lamb.

Delicious Side Dishes

Elevate your new year’s dinner with a few traditional and healthy side dishes.

Braised Southern-Style Turnip Greens

If you’re looking for some new year’s slow cooker recipes, then look no further than these southern-style turnip greens. A few hours in the slow cooker turn those tough greens into soft bites full of extra flavor. You can also use collard greens or mustard greens instead.

Ingredients

• 2 bunches of turnip greens, stems removed and cut into small pieces
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Remove the stems from the greens, and rip them into small pieces. Add to the slow cooker.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Put the lid on, and cook on high for 3-4 hours. Serve alongside other great new year’s recipes.

Hoppin’ John Soup

Black-eyed peas stew is a common new year’s side dish. Some claim that black-eyed pea recipes bring good luck in the new year. This recipe is a vegan version of the traditional dish. It will still bring all the good luck, plus the added bonus of a healthy start to the year.

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cups black-eyed peas
• 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Heat a dutch oven or deep pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and then the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook until soft for about 6-8 minutes.
2. Add the spices to the veggies, and cook for one minute. Then, add the tomatoes, and cook for 2-3 minutes to cook out some of the liquid.
3. Pour in the stock and black-eyed peas. Bring the liquid up to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium.
4. Simmer for 60-90 minutes, or until the peas are soft. Serve immediately, or cover to keep warm.

Celebrate The New Year With (Healthy) Elegance

Mark the start of a fantastic new year with some simple and amazing dishes. These healthy recipes for the new year are easy to put together, but plenty sophisticated for any type of get together. Plus, a few of them may even bring a dash of new year’s good luck. So, try a few for yourself to enjoy a healthy and tasty start to the upcoming year.

Learn More:
-Must-Try Protein Cookies Recipe
-What Are Functional Foods And Should They Be In A Healthy Diet?
-Tips, Tricks, And Definitive Steps To Eating Healthy This Year: Eat The Right Foods In Your Diet

Sources
1 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/protein#protein-foods
2 https://www.health.com/nutrition/calories-in-shrimp
3 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-yogurt-good-for-you/