Low-Carb Lesson #09: Fish Almandine, Wax Beans, & Mandarin Spinach Salad

Written by Di Bauer August 31, 2001, Updated by Andrew DiMino February 5, 2020

Low Carb Cooking 101

This week’s menu features a simple fish dish (Fish Almondine), a cooked vegetable, and a side salad. Notice the variety of colors (white fish sprinkled with green parsley and red paprika), yellow waxed beans, and a dark green spinach salad with splashes of red and orange. Imagine what this meal would look like if mashed cauliflower were substituted for the waxed beans and coleslaw were substituted for the spinach salad. While all the dishes might taste good, the lack of color would be so boring that your eyes would cross. And I can guarantee that your kids wouldn’t eat it. Never underestimate the visual aspects of the meals you prepare!

You may also notice that there are a variety of textures and flavors in this meal. The fish is soft, but the slivered almonds add a delightful crunch. The waxed beans are soft but interestingly silky. The spinach salad is cold and crisp and is a nice combination of not-too-sweet (from the mandarin oranges) and tangy (from the onions and the vinaigrette salad dressing). This is not a meal that is going to bore you!

Wax beans are no more ‘carby’ than regular green beans, coming in at just 4 grams of carbohydrates for a ½ cup serving. I have included them in the menu for a couple of reasons. One reason is the color, of course, but I could have used crookneck squash, which is also yellow. The primary reason is that very few people are familiar with waxed beans any more, and using them is a good way to expand the number of vegetables we can eat while low carbing.

The mandarin oranges in the salad echo but don’t duplicate the citrus flavor of the fish. Mandarin oranges are not as high in carbohydrates as are regular oranges. They would be too high in carbohydrates if you sat down and ate a whole can of them, certainly, but they are used in the salad as a garnish, not as the main ingredient. A one-eighth cup of mandarin oranges has 5 carbs, and I use less than that on my salad, usually just 4 to 6 segments, while the non-low carbers get more.

Here are This Evening’s Low-Carb Recipes

• Fish Fillets Almondine
• Buttered Wax Beans

• Mandarin Spinach Salad

Here’s The Gameplan

• If you’re using frozen fish, take it out of the freezer the night before and put them in the refrigerator to thaw.
• About 45 minutes before you want to serve dinner, preheat the oven to 350° F. Take the fish fillets out of the refrigerator and follow the preparation instructions in the recipe.
• While the fish is baking, go on and make the salad.
• Set the table or preferably bully someone else into doing it.
• Put the salad plates or bowls on the table along with the salad dressing, and fill the glasses with both ice and water.
• About 5-10 minutes before the fish is done, begin cooking and preparing your beans.
• Take the fish out of the oven, place the fish and beans on the dinner plates, and sit down to a well-deserved, relaxing meal.
• Get someone else to do the dishes.

Here’s why our Low-Carb Cooking Lesson series is worth checking out

• Learn to Cook Healthy Meals: The series is designed to teach you how to cook healthy, low-carb meals that are both delicious and nutritious. You’ll learn how to prepare a variety of dishes that are perfect for anyone looking to eat healthier.
• Improve Your Health: Low-carb diets have been shown to have many health benefits, including weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
• Save Money: Cooking your own meals can be a great way to save money, and our Low-Carb Cooking Lesson series will teach you how to prepare delicious meals without breaking the bank.
• Easy to Follow: The lessons are easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips and tricks to make cooking low-carb meals a breeze.
• Variety of Recipes: Our series offers a wide variety of low-carb recipes, from appetizers and snacks to main courses and desserts, so you’ll never get bored with your meals.

Overall, our Low-Carb Cooking Lesson series is a great resource for anyone looking to improve their health, save money, and learn to cook healthy, delicious meals. Whether you’re a beginner cook or an experienced chef, our series has something to offer everyone.

Return to Low Carb Cooking 101: Low Carb Lessons from CarbSmart.