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Pork Chops with Rosemary, Apple and Balsamic Glazed Shallots paleo dinner recipe lunch primal pastured-min

Recipe: Pork Chops with Rosemary, Apple and Balsamic Glazed Shallots

Classic combinations really do work best, so it’s no wonder that the tried and tested combination of pork, rosemary and apple is a marriage made in heaven in this dish. Combined with the sweetness and tang of the balsamic shallots, this pork Chops recipe makes a fail safe supper for all the family. Great with sweet potato wedges or other root vegetables when it’s a little colder outside.

Pork Chops Ingredients:

  • 4 higher welfare, pastured pork chops
  • Olive oil
  • 4 – 6 medium shallots, sliced roughly
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 1 small red apple, cut into wedges
  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary

Pork Chops How To:

Season the pork chops with black pepper and sea salt

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan over a low heat. Add the shallots, and cook gently for around 5 minutes until soft. Add the balsamic vinegar and coconut sugar, and toss to coat the shallots. Continue to cook gently for a further 5 minutes, stirring often so they do not burn.

Meanwhile, heat another tbsp of olive oil in a separate frying pan to a high heat. Drop in the pork chops, and cook for 3 – 4 minutes each side.

Season the shallots with a little sea salt, and then add the rosemary to the pan.

Remove the pork from the heat, and separate on to serving plates. Garnish with the apple slices and the shallots on the side.

Pork Chops with Rosemary, Apple and Balsamic Glazed Shallots paleo dinner recipe lunch primal pastured-min

paleo recipe Curried Parsnip, Apple and Ginger Soup-min

Recipe: Curried Parsnip, Apple and Ginger Soup

This soup is such a welcome change from the norm. The fragrant curry spices work perfectly with the parsnips, and the sweetness of the apple adds a whole different dimension. The texture is very different too thanks to the grated apple. Try serving topped with some toasted flaked almonds – delicious!

Recipe: Curried Parsnip, Apple and Ginger Soup
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Soups
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • Thumb sized piece fresh ginger, crushed
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp coriander
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 8 cardomom pods, crushed
  • 4 curry leaves
  • 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
  • 750g parsnips, cores removed, diced
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • 2 apples (I used Gala)
Instructions
  1. Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan or a small stock pot. Add the onion and cook on a low heat for about 5 minutes until soft. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes.
  2. Add the spices to the saucepan and stir frequently, taking care to make sure that they do not burn. Cook for about a minute or so, before adding the parsnips and the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for around 40 minutes.
  3. Remove the soup from the heat. Remove the cinnamon stick and curry leaves, then blitz in your blender. Return to the heat.
  4. Grate the apples and add to the saucepan. Wait until the soup begins to simmer again before serving.

Do you often make soup? Which is your favourite paleo friendly soup? I quite often make a big batch of soup, freeze it and take it to work to reheat (I hate using microwaves, but figure this is a better option than relying on a very un-paleo food court!)

paleo recipe Curried Parsnip, Apple and Ginger Soup-min

Apple Cider Vinegar the health benefits paleo diet ACV ideas-min

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a tasty garnish which is a beneficial addition to your food on the Paleo diet. As part of your Paleo diet, you may like to try and incorporate Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in some when you can, as it is known to offer a wide range of health benefits. Instead of turning to anti-ageing lotions and potions, Apple Cider Vinegar is a good alternative as it is known to slow down the signs of ageing. The reasons for this are that it is high in minerals and potassium which are good for the complexion. Apple cider vinegar is also known to reduce and clear up problems with acne, whether taken orally or applied directly to the skin when diluted with some water.

If you are suffering from a nasty cough which is often the case during the winter, Apple Cider Vinegar is known to reduce the effects and clear it up. It is also beneficial for clearing up the sinuses, so if your immune system needs a bit of a boost, apple cider vinegar will really help. There are a number of other benefits to making apple cider vinegar a part of your daily diet, including the fact that it promotes digestion as it promotes healthy bacteria throughout the body. It can also help with menstrual cramps and act as a way of encouraging weight loss. These are the reasons why Apple Cider Vinegar is such a huge part of the Paleo diet.

Apple Cider Vinegar can also be taken to combat constipation, as it is known to improve the movement of the bowels. It is well worth introducing Apple Cider Vinegar at the start of your journey with the Paleo diet, so you can reap the benefits of it from the offset.

Apple Cider Vinegar the health benefits paleo diet ACV ideas-min

How To Add Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Diet

There are many ways in which you can incorporate Apple Cider Vinegar as part of the Paleo diet. As your diet will include eating a lot of salads and vegetables, it can act as a garnish to improve the taste of your foods and make them more enjoyable. It is a much healthier alternative to using mayonnaise as your garnish, as this won’t offer all the healthy benefits as Apple Cider Vinegar.

Another way to consume Apple Cider Vinegar is to add a drop of it to a glass of water to it in the morning. You will soon notice the benefits of it on your skin and how you feel. You only need to use a little of it on a daily basis, so even if you don’t particularly like the flavour of it, it shouldn't over-ride the taste of your foods.

If you want to achieve the best health benefits from your Paleo diet, stock up on loads of meat, fresh fish, vegetables and fruits the next time you do your weekly shopping. In addition, make sure Apple Cider Vinegar is on your list to make your foods tastier and include some seeds for eating as one of your snacks. If you can’t resist chocolate, make sure you choose dark chocolate as this is rich in anti-oxidants. There is no reason why you should be craving unhealthier foods on the Paleo diet and with the addition of garnishes such as the Apple Cider Vinegar; you will be much less likely to fall off the wagon.

Do you regular use Apple Cider Vinegar? I’d love to hear how you use it, please share in the comments below!