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Paleo Network Recipe SPINACH, MACKEREL RED CAPSICUM FRITTATA-min

Recipe: Spinach, Mackerel and Red Capsicum Frittata

Eggs really do make the best breakfasts, but sometimes it’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut by cooking them the same way every morning. Mix things up by giving this frittata a try – it's quick, nutrient dense and super tasty. A perfect way to start your day; with a delicious combination of protein, healthy fats and brightly coloured vegetables!

I’ve used baby leaf spinach in this recipe because I love its mild, creamy flavour – but any kind of spinach will do. I’ve also gone for smoked mackerel, but fresh would be equally delicious if you’re not in a rush.

Paleo Network Recipe SPINACH, MACKEREL RED CAPSICUM FRITTATA-min

Red Capsisum Frittata Ingredients:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • ½ red pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 handful baby leaf spinach
  • 1 fillet (roughly 80g) smoked mackerel
  • Salt and pepper

 Red Capsisum Frittata How To:

1)    Beat the eggs in a large bowl and set aside. Preheat your grill to high.

2)    Heat the coconut oil to a medium heat in a heavy based frying pan. Throw in the diced red pepper and fry for a minute or two until softened. Add the spinach to the pan and cook for 30 seconds – just enough to wilt it – before transferring the contents of the pan into the bowl of beaten eggs. Mix well, before flaking in the Mackerel and adding a little seasoning.

3)    Return the pan to a high heat, then add the frittata mixture. Cook for 3 – 4 minutes on one side, before checking the bottom with a spatula to make sure it’s a good colour underneath.

4)    Now is the crucial part to gain that fluffy ‘soufflé’ like texture that is so important in a good frittata. Place the whole pan under the grill for a couple of minutes, so that it starts to rise. When it stops bubbling and is well risen, turn off the grill, remove the pan and fold over the frittata. The result? The crispest yet fluffiest omelette you will ever have eaten.

Steamed Red Curry Salmon paleo recipe dinner Indian fish-min

Recipe: Steamed Red Curry Salmon

In my opinion, there is no better way to cook salmon than gently in the oven, covered with foil. It circulates all the flavour, and the fish stays beautifully moist as the condensation returns to the roasting dish. This Thai inspired recipe is both spicy and fragrant, and makes a wonderful, quick and easy midweek supper.

Steamed Red Curry Salmon Ingredients:

  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 2 red chillies, de seeded and chopped
  • 1 x 400ml can coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp Thai red curry paste (watch out for additives)
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 4 kaffir lime leaves

Steamed Red Curry Salmon How To:

1) Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4. Arrange the salmon in a roasting dish, skin side down.

2) In a non stick saucepan, mix together the curry paste with the chillies and 1tbsp coconut milk, skimmed from the top so it is at its thickest. Heat gently until it starts to bubble and become fragrant. Add the remaining coconut milk and stir well.

3) When it starts to boil, pour evenly over the salmon. Drizzle over the fish sauce and sprinkle with the coconut sugar, then cover the dish with foil. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

4) Remove from the oven, and serve garnished with some fresh basil or coriander.

Steamed Red Curry Salmon paleo recipe dinner Indian fish-min

Grilled Trout with Ginger and Coriander paleo fish dinner recipe-min

Recipe: Grilled Trout with Ginger and Coriander

The meaty, Omega 3 rich trout is a highly versatile fish, and one I often use as an alternative to Salmon. In this recipe, it perfectly compliments the punchy flavours of the Ginger and Chilli. Goes great with a side of courgette (zucchini) pasta and a wedge of lime.

Grilled Trout Ingredients:

  • 4 whole trout, cleaned, skin left on
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 5cm cube fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp fresh coriander
  • 2 fresh green chillies, deseeded and chopped
  • Pinch sea salt
  • Pinch turmeric
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil

Grilled Trout How To:

1) Preheat the grill to medium. In a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and ginger with a pinch of sea salt. Add a tiny splash of water to form a paste.

2) Add the coriander, chillies and turmeric to the mortar. Grind together until everything is combined into a smooth paste.

3) Using a sharp knife, slash the trout diagonally on both sides 3 – 4 times.

4) Brush the trout both sides with a generous amount of coconut oil – use extra if desired. Rub the spice paste into the fish with your fingers, especially in the slashes.

5) Align the fish in a roasting dish and place directly under the grill. Cook for 7 – 8 minutes each side, until the skin is lovely and crisp. Serve immediately.

Grilled Trout with Ginger and Coriander paleo fish dinner recipe-min

Curried Tilapia in Coconut Sauce fish paleo dinner recipe lunch-min

Recipe: Curried Tilapia in Coconut Sauce

I love Tilapia, but this recipe also works great with halibut, monkfish, mullet, or any other sustainably caught, meaty white fish. Serve with a heap of cauliflower rice and fresh veggies.

Curried Tilapia Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 4 curry leaves
  • 2 x 400ml cans coconut milk (or 1 can coconut milk and 400ml water)
  • 4 large tilapia fillets, each cut into 2 / 3 palm sized pieces

Curried Tilapia How To:

1) Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy based pan. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes until golden. Add the garlic and fry for a further 2 – 3 minutes. Turn the heat down low.

2) Add the cumin, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon and fry for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Add the cardamom pods and lightly toast for 30 seconds, before pouring in the coconut milk. Add the curry leaves, and simmer for 15 minutes.

3) Add the tilapia to the pan and stir well. Turn the heat up to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the fish is completely cooked through. Serve with a heap of cauliflower rice.

Curried Tilapia in Coconut Sauce fish paleo dinner recipe lunch-min

http://paleo.com.au/recipe-monkfish-and-sweet-potato-skewers/

Recipe: Monkfish and Sweet Potato Skewers

If you’re primal and allow yourself dairy, one of the best choices you can make is full fat, probiotic Greek yoghurt. It works perfectly as part of a marinade for these Monkfish skewers – however if you don’t do dairy, I’d be interested to know if you can think of any alternatives to use in place of it here – let me know what you think in the comments, below.

Monkfish Ingredients:

  • 500g sustainably caught Monkfish tail, diced into 2 – 3cm pieces
  • 2 large sweet potatoes, cut into 2 – 3cm wedges
  • 2 large onions, cut into wedges
  • 5cm fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • Juice 1 lime
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • Good handful fresh coriander
  • 3 tbsp full fat Greek yoghurt / equivalent alternative (i.e goats milk)
  • 6 – 8 bamboo skewers

Monkfish How To:

Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4. Arrange the sweet potato wedges in a roasting dish, drizzle with a little olive oil and season. Place in the oven for around 30 minutes, or until cooked. Leave to cool.

In a food processor, combine the ginger, garlic, lime, turmeric, coriander and yoghurt to make a marinade.

Place the Monkfish and onion wedges into the roasting dish with the sweet potatoes. Pour over the marinade and coat well.

Arrange the skewers by alternating between the fish, sweet potatoes and onions. Aim to fit around 2 / 3 of each item on to each skewer.

When ready to cook, either place on the bbq and keep turning until cooked through, or grill for 2 – 3 minutes either side.

Do you cook with Monkfish? I'd love to hear your favourite fish recipes – and where you source your fish from. Leave me a comment, below!

Monkfish and Sweet Potato Skewers paleo recipe barbecue dinner lunch fish bbq-min

Griddled tuna steaks with coriander and capers paleo recipe fish dinner lunch-min

Recipe: Griddled Tuna Steaks with Coriander and Capers

When cooking tuna steaks, only the best will do. Buy ‘Sushi Grade’ tuna, which you can effectively eat raw, and cook it to medium. This way, the fish will do the talking, and you won’t need overpowering sauces or marinades to make it palatable.

Griddled Tuna Steaks Ingredients:

  • 2 sushi grade tuna steaks
  • 1 small handful fresh coriander, roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp capers, rinsed and dried
  • Juice and zest of 1 lime
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 spring onions, trimmed and chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Griddled Tuna Steaks How To:

Heat a griddle to a very high heat, and brush with a little olive oil.

Whizz together all the ingredients, bar the tuna, to form a light dressing. Set aside.

When the griddle is really, really hot and the oil is smoking, throw on the tuna steaks. Sear for 1 and a half minutes each side, so still pink in the middle. Remove from the heat, and drizzle with the dressing.

Griddled tuna steaks with coriander and capers paleo recipe fish dinner lunch-min

What Has Fukushima Got To Do With You radiation contamination paleo diet natural health-min

What Has Fukushima Got To Do With You?

I'm sure you’re aware of the Fukushima disaster that hit Japan in 2011 – but you might be wondering what it has to do with you?

Following a big earthquake, a tsunami followed, which destroyed the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant. This result in almost unimaginable levels of radiation. Whilst a clean up operation is underway, with the levels of radiation, the clean up effort is a drop in the ocean. Several deaths have already occurred due to the radiation that came from the disaster.

What exactly has radiation from the Fukushima disaster done to the food chain, especially fish? Is what you are eating healthy?

Scientists have been tracking the effect of the radiation in fish since the disaster. Radiation has been discovered in fish as far away as California.

What Has Fukushima Got To Do With You radiation contamination paleo diet natural health-min

What are the risks of eating fish with traces of radiation?

Unfortunately this is not an easy question to answer. Nuclear power and environmental health expert Rosalie Bertell said “Should the public discover the true health costs of nuclear pollution, a cry would rise from all parts of the world, and people would refuse to cooperate passively with their own death”.  She also said “Claiming nuclear production of energy is ‘clean’ is like dieting, but stuffing yourself with food between meals”.

One of the problems with quantifying the dangers of radiation like this, is that the half life is so long, the damage will be done for years and years to come. It’s hard to predict today, how much damage the disaster will cause over the next few generations.

How Can You Stay Safe?

It’s really important to know exactly where your food comes from. So much frozen fish is imported from overseas – and unfortunately with the labelling laws in some countries, it can be very difficult to identify which country the fish comes from. Try to buy your fish local – and wild caught if at all possible. When buying seaweeds, make sure you know where they came from. Maine is supposed to be a good place to source seaweed from.

Are you concerned about where your food comes from? How do you avoid eating potentially harmful food like this? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and on the Fukushima disaster, in the comments below.

Thai Salmon in the Bag paleo recipe fish dinner lunch foil poached-min

Recipe: Thai Salmon in the Bag

Packed with heart healthy fats and omega 3, as well as vitamins D and B12, Salmon really is much more than just protein. This recipe is fragrant and fiery, and steaming it in the ‘bag’ locks in all the goodness. Did I mention its easy too?

Thai Salmon in the Bag Ingredients:

  • 4 organic, wild salmon fillets
  • 1 scotch bonnet chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • Small handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, trimmed and chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt and black pepper

Thai Salmon in the Bag How To:

Heat the oven to 180C / 350F / gas mark 4

Pop each salmon fillet onto a square of tin foil, season with a little salt and pepper.

In a bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Transfer to the foil, and seal tightly. Make sure there is at least a 4cm ‘ceiling’ at the top to allow the salmon to steam.

Place the parcels on to a baking tray, and bake for 15 minutes. Serve with a healthy green salad.

Thai Salmon in the Bag paleo recipe fish dinner lunch foil poached-min

Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad paleo diet recipe primal lunch dinner ideas-min

Recipe: Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad

Quick, light and zingy, this tropical inspired tuna and mango salad is perfect for Al Fresco dining. When buying tuna steaks, always select sushi grade and enjoy the full flavour the meat has to offer when cooked rare.

Tuna and Mango Salad Ingredients:

For the tuna

  • 2 medium tuna steaks
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 3cm fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • Juice ½ lime
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt and black pepper

For the salad

  • 1 large handful Asian greens, i.e. rocket / mizuna
  • 100g fine green beans
  • 1 small, ripe mango, peeled and chopped into cubes
  • 8 – 10 small cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Small handful fresh coriander, torn

Tuna and Mango Salad How To:

In a small bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients. Rub into the tuna steaks, and leave to marinade for at least half an hour.

Meanwhile, toss together all the salad ingredients and divide into two salad bowls.

Heat a griddle to a very high heat. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wait until it starts to smoke, then throw the tuna steaks on. Flash fry for 1 minute each side, so still pink in the middle. Dice and divide into the two salad bowls.

Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad paleo diet recipe primal lunch dinner ideas-min

Roasted Spiced Salmon Fillets with Tomato and Mint Salsa paleo diet recipe fish-min

Recipe: Roasted Spiced Salmon Fillets with Tomato and Mint Salsa

Drawing inspirations from the Middle East, the spices in this recipe compliment the salmon without overpowering it, which is absolutely essential when cooking a high quality piece of fish. The salmon goes lovely and crispy on the outside, but still moist in the middle – just as it should be.

Spiced Salmon Ingredients:

  • 4 thick fillets of wild, organic salmon
  • 1 clove of garlic, crushed
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • A pinch of nutmeg

For the salsa:

  • 6 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Spiced Salmon How To:

1)     Chop the tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds. Roughly chop, then combine with the mint and parsley. Drizzle over the honey, balsamic and olive oil, and whizz together. Set in the fridge to chill.

2)     Preheat the oven to 200C / 400F / gas mark 6. Add the oil and lemon juice to a roasting dish, stir, and allow to heat up with the oven.

3)     When the oven reaches the desired temperature, remove the roasting dish from the pan. Add the crushed garlic and spices, and whizz together to create a fragrant oil. Whilst the oil is still hot, throw in the salmon, tossing it in the oil to evenly coat. Return to the oven skin side down, and roast for 10 minutes.

4)     Remove the salmon from the oven – the outside should be nice and crisp, but the inside still moist. Serve with the salsa.

Roasted Spiced Salmon Fillets with Tomato and Mint Salsa paleo diet recipe fish-min