Discover Pinch of Nom's Delicious Light Bites: All Under 500 Calories and Perfect for the Air Fryer!

AS the sunshine has now made an appearance, it’s time to switch up meal times and go for something lighter – especially if you’re planning on slimming down for summer.

Pinch of Nom – AKA Kate and Kay Allinson – have a new cookbook out that’s perfect and full of simple, calorie-counted recipes that can all be cooked in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Light And Easy (Bluebird) is the must-have follow up to their bestseller Air Fryer book, this time with recipes that are all under 500 calories.

Have a go at making the viral Cloud Pancakes for breakfast, delectable desserts or hit up the delicious dinners, like this cheat’s biryani below.

All the recipes in Pinch Of Nom’s new cookbook are under 500 caloriesCredit: MIKE ENGLISH

We’ve selected three recipes for you – each only taking around half an hour from fryer to fork!

And they’re all perfect for your Friday-night fakeaway.

Quick and delicious, make this tonight’s dinnerCredit: MIKE ENGLISH

Hoisin Pork With Noodles

Serves: 4
Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 16 mins
Cals: 450
Carbs: 50g

Ingredients:
*500g 5% fat pork mince
*6 spring onions, trimmed and sliced
*2tsp sesame oil
*4cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated
*2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
*1tsp Chinese five-spice
*1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
*1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
*200g dried egg noodles
*100g hoisin sauce
*2tbsp soy sauce
*Juice 1/2 lime

Method:
1. Remove the basket from the air fryer drawer, or use a silicone liner or cake tin that fits inside the drawer.
2. Add the pork, spring onions (reserve some green parts for garnish), 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil, the ginger, garlic and five-spice and mix well. Air-fry at 200°C for 8 minutes, stirring and breaking up any large clumps.
3. Toss the vegetables in the remaining sesame oil and add to the air fryer, but don’t stir them into the pork mince yet. Air-fry for a further 5 minutes.
4. While the vegetables cook, make the noodles according to the pack instructions – usually 4 minutes in a pan of boiling water. Drain well, then add to the air fryer with the hoisin sauce, soy sauce and lime juice. Stir well and air-fry for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle over the spring onions and serve.

Unwrap at the table for maximum aromaticsCredit: MIKE ENGLISH

Asian-style Fish Parcels

Serves: 2
Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 12 mins
Cals: 127
Carbs: 8g

Ingredients:
*2 x 100g skinless, boneless firm white fish fillets, such as haddock, cod or sea bass
*1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
*1/2 courgette, cut into matchsticks
*2 spring onions, cut into matchsticks
*1 pak choi, thickly shredded
*Handful fresh coriander, chopped
*1tbsp dark soy sauce
*2cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated
*Juice 1/2 lime
*1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
*1/2 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
*Pinch granulated sweetener

To serve
*125g cooked basmati rice (+173 cals per serving)

Method:
1. Cut out two 50 x 37cm rectangles of non-stick baking paper. Fold in half across the width to make a centre crease. Open out and place one fish fillet on one half of each paper sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the carrot, courgette, spring onions, pak choi and coriander.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the soy sauce, ginger, lime juice, garlic, chilli and sweetener, until the sweetener has dissolved. Pour over the vegetable mixture and stir.
4. Divide the vegetable mixture between the two parcels, on top of the fish.
5. Fold the non-stick baking paper sheets over the fish and vegetables and make small, tight folds around the edges to make two semi-circular pasty-shaped sealed parcels.
6. Carefully place the parcels in the air fryer basket (use a fish slice to help) and air-fry at 200°C for 10-12 minutes, depending on how thick your fish is.
7. Transfer each parcel to a plate using a fish slice. Open the parcels at the table and eat immediately.

A cheat’s take on a classic, this turkey biryani is healthier than any takeaway curryCredit: MIKE ENGLISH

Biryani-style Turkey

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 25 mins
Cals: 461
Carbs: 56g

Ingredients:
*Low-calorie cooking spray
*4 whole cloves
*1 cinnamon stick
*4 cardamom pods
*1 medium onion, peeled and finely diced
*4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
*1tsp garlic granules
*1tsp ground cumin
*1tsp ground coriander
*1tsp chilli powder
*1tsp paprika
*2tsp garam masala
*1/2tsp ground turmeric
*1/2tsp ground ginger
*350g 2%-fat turkey mince
*100g frozen peas
*2 x 250g pre-cooked microwaveable rice pouches, or 500g cooked rice
*100g fat-free Greek yoghurt
*1tbsp mango chutney
*40g pumpkin seeds
*40g dried cranberries

Method:
1. Remove the basket from your air fryer and spray the drawer with low-calorie cooking spray. Alternatively, use a silicone liner or tin that fits inside your air fryer basket. Add the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, onion and garlic and air-fry at 180°C for 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic granules, cumin, coriander, chilli powder, paprika, garam masala, turmeric and ginger and mix well, then add the turkey mince and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up the large pieces of turkey mince.
3. Add the peas and rice and stir well. Cook for a further 10 minutes until the rice and peas are heated through and the turkey is cooked.
4. Meanwhile, add the yoghurt and mango chutney to a bowl and mix well.
5. Remove the cloves, cinnamon and cardamom pods from the rice. Sprinkle over the pumpkin seeds and cranberries and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a drizzle of the mango yoghurt.