Guacamole paleo recipe dip sauce avocado primal-min

Recipe: Guacamole Dip

Guacamole is another one of those things that is definitely worth making instead of buying. That way, you can be sure what’s in it – and know that it won’t contain any nasties!

This is how I make mine.

Guacamole Ingredients:

  • 4 chillies, finely sliced
  • Small bunch coriander (cilantro), finely chopped
  • 3 tomatoes, finely diced
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1 red onion, finely diced
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 4 ripe avocados

Guacamole How To:

Use a pestle and mortar to grind together the chillies, coriander (cilantro), tomatoes, sea salt and onion, until you reach a paste consistency.

Add the lime juice, and a dash of water if required, to make the mixture more fluid. Finally, mash in the avocados, just before you’re ready to serve!

Guacamole is great with almost any Paleo meal, and a great dip for raw vegetables – particularly alongside some homemade Pâté!

Guacamole is one of those foods best made fresh. It will store in the fridge for a short time, but won't look as appealing! If you need to make it up in advance, using more lime will help it to keep that bit longer.

Do you make your own dips? I’d love to hear what your favourites are, in the comments below!

Guacamole paleo recipe dip sauce avocado primal-min

Recipe paleo hummus houmous chick peas legume free-min

Recipe: Paleo Hummus

Hummus (or houmous, if you prefer) used to be one of my go-to dips before I went paleo. With the main ingredient being mashed chickpeas – yep there’s no doubting that they’re legumes* – it’s most definitely not on the paleo menu. Which is a shame because this Middle Eastern sauce is great as an appetizer or a dip for raw veggies.

Besides, even if it were paleo – have you checked out the ingredients recently? These are the ingredients of two of the popular brands of hommus sold in my local Coles supermarket:

Savion Dairy Hommus Dip

Ingredients: Chickpeas (47%), Sesame Seed Paste (23%), Canola Oil (Antioxidant 320), Lemon Juice (Preservative 202), Water, Salt (Anti-Caking Agent 554), Food Acid (330).

Yumi's Traditional Hommus Dip

IngredientsChick Peas 45%, Water, Vegetable Oil, Sesame Seed Paste, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic, Citric Acid, Preservative (202, 211), Acidity Regulator (575).

Canola oil, vegetable oil and all of those additives and preservatives – no thanks.

Recipe paleo hummus houmous chick peas legume free-min

So what are the options for making a paleo hommus?

Well I've tried with both zucchini and cauliflower – and I like the zucchini best. And it’s great with kale chips.

Recipe: Paleo Hummus
Recipe type: Sides
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Hummus (or houmous, if you prefer) used to be one of my go-to dips before I went paleo. This recipe takes out the chickpeas (no legumes here!) and uses paleo alternatives to make this delicious hummus!
Ingredients
  • 3 small zucchini’s, peeled and roughly chopped
  • Juice of a lemon
  • 50ml (3 tablespoons) Tahini
  • 30ml (2 tablespoons) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Paprika or cut chives, to serve
Instructions
  1. Put the zucchini and lemon in your food processor and blend
  2. Add the tahini, olive oil, cumin, seasoning and garlic. Blend until smooth
  3. Put in the fridge for half an hour or so before serving
  4. Top with paprika or chopped chives, to serve

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*And what’s so wrong with legumes I hear you say? Well legumes contain phytates and lectins which are to be avoided as they inhibit nutrient absorption and cause inflammation.

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Herby Almond Nut Pâté-min

Recipe: Herby Almond Pâté

Almonds really do have to be one of the most versatile foods in the world, and are life savers for those following a Paleo diet. Whether you use them for Paleo baking as a replacement for flour, or enjoy as a dip for veggies, you may be surprised to know they make a delicious Almond Pâté! Great as a dip for crudités or just on its own as an appetiser.

Herby Almond Pâté Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw almonds, soaked overnight
  • 50ml olive oil
  • 40ml apple cider vinegar (or 20ml cider vinegar + 20ml lemon juice)
  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 1 cup fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp raw honey (optional)
  • Good pinch sea salt

Herby Almond Pâté How To:

Drain and rinse the almonds.

Add to the food processor along with all the other ingredients. Blitz until combined – around 30 seconds was plenty for me.

The flavours combined perfectly, but there was still a nice crunch to the Pâté. You could blend for longer if you would prefer it smoother!

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Herby Almond Nut Pâté-min

Paleo pizza sauce recipe tomato basil oregano

Recipe: Pizza Sauce

The secret to a good paleo pizza is in the pizza sauce! This combination of onion, garlic, oregano and basil is super easy to make and creates a perfect base for your toppings. No one will ever suspect your pizza isn't made the conventional way with gluten heavy flour! Find out how to make my grain-free paleo pizza base here

Recipe: Pizza Sauce
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Ingredients
  • 200g tomato paste
  • 250ml water
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon basil
Instructions
  1. mix the ingredients together thoroughly with a whisk
  2. spoon the pizza sauce out onto the pizza bases as required

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I've seen a few brands of tomato paste with added herbs – make sure the one you use is plain, with nothing added.

You don't need to cook the pizza sauce, as you'll be cooking it with the pizza. But if you want a thicker sauce, you'll want to heat and stir it until it thickens up. This is great to freeze in small pizza-size batches, so it's ready to go whenever you fancy a home-made paleo pizza! Frozen, it should last for up to three months.

chili seasoning mix powder recipe paleo herbs spices primal how to rub

Recipe: Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix

What to do with used glass jars and bottles? How about making up seasoning mixes to give for gifts, or to keep in your own pantry. Stored in a cool dry place, these should last for up to six months.

The chili seasoning mixes in my local supermarket do contain the ingredients you’d expect, like paprika, chili, cumin, oregano, pepper and garlic, but they also contain “Spices” (why not specify which spices? Seems a bit suspicious to me) and” Anti-caking Agent (551)”. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not consume anti-caking agent.

As well as using better ingredients, it’s also far cheaper to make your own and you can experiment to find your favourite blend.

I’m growing a few different types of pepper in my veggie bed, so when these are ready, I’ll be dehydrating them and adding them to this recipe. In the meantime, I buy ready dried peppers. I’ve got an Indian shop and a much larger Asian supermarket near me, so I tend to try this with a few different varieties of chili peppers. I’ve seen so many varieties – Cayenne, Serrano, Cascabel, Habanero, Tabasco, Poblano, Guajillo, Jolokia, Chipotle, Ancho, Ayenne, Bullseye and Bullhorn – so see what’s available near you and try a few different blends.

Recipe: Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 6-8 whole dried peppers of your choice
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregeno
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked)
Instructions
  1. In a hot pan, toast the chili peppers for a few minutes, taking care not to allow them to burn. When the smell starts to release, remove them from the pan and allow them to cool.
  2. Toast the cumin seeds in the same pan, again stirring constantly to ensure they don’t burn.
  3. Remove the seeds from the chilli peppers to be used in another recipe. If you want your seasoning extra hot, you may like to add in a few of these seeds.
  4. With a pestle and mortar (if you’re old school, if not, try a blender) grind up the chilli peppers and cumin seeds into a powder.
  5. Add in the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  6. Make sure you store in an airtight container (like a jar) to keep it dry.
  7. Shake the container before using to ensure thoroughly mixed.
  8. Note: If you want to use fresh chili’s, dry them thoroughly in a dehydrator first, then roast them. It’s essential you ensure they are fully dry first, otherwise your mixture could go mouldy.

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Tomato & Chilli Relish Paleo diet recipe sauce dip

Recipe: Tomato & Chilli Relish

What better way to finish off a paleo burger, than with a generous serving of home-made relish? This relish is tomato and chilli – but unlike most relish recipes, I've used medjool dates instead of sugar to add some sweetness.

If you like your relish hot, add some more chillies to your mixture.

Recipe: Tomato & Chilli Relish
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 white onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely diced
  • ½ eggplant (aubergine)
  • 3 medjool dates, diced
  • 80ml red wine vinegar
  • 4 chillies, chopped (try a mixture of red and green)
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds
  • ½ tsp coriander seeds
  • 250g cherry tomatoes
  • celtic sea salt & ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a low heat
  2. Add the onion and garlic, and fry until they start to turn soft & translucent
  3. Add in the eggplant and dates, and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often
  4. Pour in the red wine vinegar and reduce the temperature to a simmer. Simmer until the liquid has reduced to approximately half its original volume
  5. Add in the chillies, fennel, coriander and tomatoes, the reduce the heat to a low setting and stir regularly
  6. After about half an hour, season, then remove from the heat. Allow to cool before serving.

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Tomato & Chilli Relish Paleo diet recipe sauce dip

Tuna Celery salad paleo network-min

Recipe: Tuna & Celery Salad with Tartar Dressing

If you're eating the same old salad day in, day out, it's time to change it up! This Tuna and Celery Salad is a personal favourite – and the homemade dressing finishes it off nicely.

When buying canned tuna make sure you get a good brand. Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna is a good go-to brand as it's wild and line caught. You'll need to refer to my paleo mayonnaise recipe too, but don't worry, it's so simple you'll never buy shop mayonnaise again!
paleo_network_recipe_lunch_tuna_celery_salad_tartar_dressing-min

Recipe: Tuna & Celery Salad with Tartar Dressing
Recipe type: Salads
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • Juice ½ lemon
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
  • 1 x 130 g (4.5 oz) can tuna in brine, drained
  • ½ red capsicum (bell pepper), seeded & finely diced
  • 1 stick celery, finely sliced
  • 4 iceberg lettuce leaves
  • 2 tbsp paleo mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp finely chopped capers
  • Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl. Add the tuna, capsicum, celery and some seasoning and combine.
  2. Arrange lettuce leaves on a plate and the tuna mixture on top. Mix mayonnaise and capers together in a small cup and drizzle over the tuna. Finish with olive oil, salt and pepper.

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Tuna Celery salad paleo network-min

Recipe paleo ranch dressing sauce dip-min

Recipe: Paleo Ranch Dressing

A ranch dressing is great to go with crudités of raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber and broccoli. Unfortunately ranch dressing is usually not paleo thanks to all of the dairy, as it's typically made with buttermilk – or sometimes yoghurt or sour cream. The other problem is the shop bought stuff. Yuck! Have you seen the ingredients?

Recipe paleo ranch dressing sauce dip-min

This is the list of ingredients in the popular Paul Newman brand of ranch dressing:

Soyabean Oil, Water, Vinegar, Buttermilk Powder, Whey Powder, (Milk), Garlic (2.0%), Salt, Egg Yolk, Cane Sugar, Onion Powder, Food Acid (Lactic), Lemon Juice (0.1%), Natural Flavour (Vegetable Gum [ Acacia]), Parsley, Vegetable Gum (Xanthan), Spice.

Soybean oil, sugar and all of those “additions”, no thanks. So best to make your own, don't you think?

Recipe: Paleo Ranch Dressing
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Another great paleo friendly sauce to have up your sleeve!
Ingredients
  • 250ml (1 cup) paleo mayonnaise
  • 250ml (1 cup) coconut milk
  • Half a lemon, juiced
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch of paprika
  • Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (or half this quantity dried)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (or half this quantity dried)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives (or half this quantity dried)
Instructions
  1. Mix together the mayo, coconut milk and squeeze in the juice from the lemon
  2. Add in the garlic and dried ingredients thoroughly
  3. Mix in the fresh herbs
  4. Try with raw vegetables, or served with chicken wings.
Cajun Spice Marinade paleo recipe-min

Recipe: Cajun Spice Marinade

There's nothing like a simple marinade to spice up an otherwise simple steak or fish dinner.

This is a really easy marinade to put together; make it up in advance and store in in a jar in the fridge so it's ready to use.

Cajun Spice Marinade paleo recipe-min

Recipe: Cajun Spice Marinade
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Prep time: 
Total time: 
This spice marinade will spice up whichever meat you rub it on!
Ingredients
  • 2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 2 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 3 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Ground black pepper
  • 1 Garlic clove, minced
  • Sea salt (I use pink Himalayan)
Instructions
  1. It couldn't get simpler than this! pound the ingredients with a pestle and mortar until it becomes powdery and evenly distributed.
  2. Rub the mixture over the meat or fish and allow it to marinate for 2 - 3 hours if you can (but if you're in a hurry, 30 minutes will just about do it!)

 

Paleo recipe simple salsa-min

Simple Salsa

What to do when you have too many tomatoes? Make salsa of course! Salsa is a great dip and I often serve it with my home-made burgers. This recipe plays it safe, but for an extra kick, add some finely chopped fresh chilli to the mixture!

Simple Salsa
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • Handful fresh coriander, chopped
  • 1 red onion, diced finely
  • 3 large ripe tomatoes, diced
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Splash of olive oil
  • Sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. It couldn't get much simpler - mix the ingredients together & season to taste. I immediately transfer into a jar that I can serve from.
  2. The jar should last for a few days in the fridge, make sure it's air tight.

How do you make salsa? I'd love to hear your secret ingredients and tips!

Paleo recipe simple salsa-min