Seared Pork, Pear and Fennel Salad paleo lunch recipe-min

Recipe: Seared Pork, Pear and Fennel Salad

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This recipe is fresh, light, and oh so summery – perfect for an Al Fresco lunch or a light evening meal. I love how well the sweetness of the pear compliments the pork and the fennel; and I hope you do too!

Recipe: Seared Pork, Pear and Fennel Salad
 
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Ingredients
  • 75g watercress
  • 75g rocket
  • Small handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1 ripe pear, diced
  • 6 radishes, sliced
  • 2 pork chops
  • 1 bulb fennel, outer layer removed and chopped into slices 1cm thick
  • Olive oil
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Handful crushed walnuts
  • Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper
Instructions
  1. ) In a bowl, toss together the watercress, rocket, parsley, pear and radishes. Divide this between two salad bowls.
  2. ) Roll a rolling pin over your pork chops to flatten them to about 2cm thick. Drizzle with a little olive oil, and season liberally with salt and black pepper.3) Heat a cast iron griddle to a high heat. Place the pork and the fennel slices on to it at the same time, and sear for 2 / 3 minutes each side, until the pork is cooked through and the fennel nicely golden.
  3. ) Allow the meat to rest for 2 minutes, before cutting into strips with a sharp knife. Scatter the pork strips and the fennel slices over the salads. Finish with a good drizzle of olive oil, lemon zest, and a handful of crushed walnuts.

Seared Pork, Pear and Fennel Salad paleo lunch recipe-min

Brussels sprouts made nice paleo recipe bacon primal-min

Recipe: Brussels sprouts made nice

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Didn't think you liked Brussels sprouts? Hold back your judgement until you've tried this recipe!

Brussels sprouts are such an amazing source of nutrients packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and so much goodness, if you've not liked them so far it's definitely worth giving them another try.

This recipe is a great side to a meaty dinner, or perfect on its own, with a serve of cauliflower rice.

Recipe: Brussels sprouts made nice
 
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Recipe type: Sides
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Ingredients
  • 100g (3.5 oz) Brussels sprouts
  • Splash olive oil
  • 8 rashers bacon, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled & diced
  • Knob of butter (or use extra olive oil, if you don't do dairy)
  • Sea salt & black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped coriander (cilantro)
  • 1 tablespoon of hazelnuts, chopped
Instructions
  1. Peel the exterior leaves off the sprouts & remove the tough ends. Cut the sprouts in half & finely slice them.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the bacon for a few minutes. Add the carrots and cook for a further 5 minutes, making sure you keep stiring to prevent it from sticking.
  3. Add the butter (or extra olive oil) to the pan along with the sprouts, and stir for another five minutes. You need to keep heating until the sprouts have started to soften, but still have some crunch in their texture.
  4. Season and serve, garnishing with the coriander (cilantro) and hazelnuts.

Brussels sprouts made nice paleo recipe bacon primal-min

I'd love to hear how you cook Brussels Sprouts to make them taste amazing! Please share you secrets in the comments below!

Recipe Garlic and Tamarind Chicken Thighs-min

Recipe: Garlic and Tamarind Chicken Thighs

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If you’re looking for a ‘stir fry’ recipe with maximum flavour, look no further. This recipe is quick, easy, and comes with incredibly deep and complex flavours. Garlic, Tamarind, Mushrooms, Fish Sauce, Peppers, Shallots and Ginger all work in harmony and make this stir fry incredibly unique. As you’ll know if you've used tamarind before, it can be very sour – so if you’re cooking with it, you’ll need a little sweetness just to balance it out. I find a 1:1 ratio works well, but you may need to adjust this depending on your palate.

The key to this recipe is the gentle cooking. Don’t go mad and raise the heat too high, or the garlic will burn and turn bitter.

Recipe: Garlic and Tamarind Chicken Thighs
 
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Recipe type: Dinner
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Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 4 skinless and boneless chicken thighs, diced
  • 3 fat garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 3cm chunk root ginger, finely chopped
  • 4 shallots, finely sliced
  • 1 green pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • 1 red pepper, deseeded and slices
  • 8 mushrooms
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 2 tsp tamarind paste
  • 2 tsp raw honey
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
  • Handful fresh coriander, finely chopped
Instructions
  1. ) Gently heat the coconut oil in your largest wok. Add the chicken thighs, garlic, ginger and shallots, and cook gently for around 10 minutes, until the chicken is browned and the shallots start to caramelise. Add the peppers and mushrooms and cook for a further 5 minutes.
  2. ) Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a saucepan. Add the tamarind, honey, fish sauce and sesame, and mix together until thoroughly combined. Keep on the heat for a few more minutes, until it starts to reduce down. Taste, and adjust to your liking.
  3. ) Check the chicken is thoroughly cooked through. Add the tamarind sauce to the pan, and toss the ingredients together. Serve garnished with a little fresh coriander.

Next on my list is using fresh tamarind fruit, rather than the paste. I’d love to know if you've ever tried it, and how it turned out!

Recipe Garlic and Tamarind Chicken Thighs-min

Bacon coleslaw paleo recipes-min

Bacon Coleslaw

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Trust me, you've not had coleslaw until you've had bacon coleslaw!

Bacon Coleslaw
 
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Ingredients
  • ½ a green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 grated carrots
  • 3 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
  • 4 rashers of bacon*, cooked until crispy, then finely sliced
  • For the dressing:
  • 150ml (1/2 cup) paleo mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • sea salt & black pepper, to taste
  • *Use a good quality organic bacon for best results
Instructions
  1. First, combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl thoroughly.
  2. Add in the vegetables and bacon, and mix together well. Season to taste and serve.

 Bacon coleslaw paleo recipes-min

Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes paleo recipe-min

Recipe: Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes

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Chermoula is a North African flavour blend traditionally used for fish, but it’s zingy and fragrant flavours mean it is also the perfect accompaniment for roast chicken. My chicken recipes are always popular, so I thought I'd create a chicken version. Both the chicken and the vegetables rely on the cumin, which makes this dish wonderfully earthy and aromatic. The chicken is best if marinated overnight, but it’s not essential.

Recipe: Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes
 
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Recipe type: Dinner
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Ingredients
  • 2 large chicken legs
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ small white onion
  • 1 large handful coriander
  • 1 large handful parsley
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 4 medium beets, chopped into quarters
  • 1 large red onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice half lemon
  • 2 tbsp cumin seeds
  • Salt and pepper
  • 10 – 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
  1. Lightly toast the cumin seeds until fragrant. Grind them in a food processor, before adding the garlic, onion, coriander, parsley, lemon, pepper and paprika. Spoon the marinade (chermoula) over the chicken and massage it in. Leave to marinade for as long as you can – preferably overnight, but a couple of hours will do.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, heat the oven to 180C / 375F. Transfer the marinated chicken to a foil lined roasting dish, and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, basting once or twice.
  3. Meanwhile, combine the beets and onion in a roasting dish. Toss in the olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkle over the cumin seeds, salt and pepper. Roast for 40 minutes, before adding the tomatoes for the final 10. Serve alongside the chicken.

Have you tried many North African recipes, like this Chermoula? I'd love to hear how you got on, and which are your favourite flavours!

Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes paleo recipe-min

Paleo recipe simple salsa-min

Simple Salsa

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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
 
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Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
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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

Recipe Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges paleo diet-min

Recipe: Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges

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Who doesn't love pork belly!? It’s such a juicy, flavoursome and indulgent cut of meat. In this recipe, however, the vegetables are the star of the show. The wedges are everything they should be; crisp on the outside, soft and gooey in the middle, and seasoned to perfection. The beauty of using three different root vegetables is the contrast in flavours you get – no two wedges are the same!

Recipe: Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges
 
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Recipe type: Dinner
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Ingredients
  • 1.25kg organic pork belly
  • 1 tbsp lard
  • Sea Salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 swede
  • 4 medium parsnips
  • 2 tbsp ghee / coconut oil (melted)
  • Sea salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 240C / 475F. Score the pork belly across the skin with a sharp knife, and then massage in the lard. Season well with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
  2. Place the meat skin side up in a large roasting dish. Place on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes, until the skin starts to bubble and is golden brown. At this point, lower the heat to 180C / 350F, and set the timer for an hour and a quarter.
  3. Peel the vegetables, and remove the core from the parsnips. Chop into wedges about 2cm thick – and don’t be afraid to leave jagged edges, as these will go lovely and crispy. Arrange them all in a roasting dish, and toss in the melted ghee / coconut oil. Season well with the salt, pepper and garlic powder, and transfer to the bottom shelf of the oven when there are 40 minutes left on the timer. Toss once or twice during the cooking time.
  4. When the time is up, remove the pork from the oven and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Carve the meat, and remove the wedges from the oven to serve alongside.

Recipe Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges paleo diet-min

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake

Paleo Birthday Cake

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Who said you can't have birthday cake now you're eating paleo?




My Mum is very careful to avoid all grains and sugars, so was both delighted and horrified when I presented her with this cake for her birthday! I didn't own up to the contents until she cut into it – she hadn't been expecting to cut into a melon!

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake

Birthday Cake Ingredients:

  • A large watermelon
  • Double cream (use coconut cream if you don't do dairy)
  • Flaked almonds
  • Summer berries

Birthday Cake How To:

1) The key is in cutting the watermelon into a good shape. Cut the top and bottom off the melon (at the widest part). Cut the edge off carefully, making sure your cut is straight. There will be a lot of wastage in pursuing the perfect cake shape – so save it all for a fruit salad!

2) Whip up the cream (use coconut cream if you can't tolerate dairy) and spoon it onto the melon cake, arranging it to cover the whole cake.

3) Sprinkle the almond flakes onto the sides and top of the cake and decorate with fresh berries.

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake slice

You can also use other types of melon or pineapple – or even tier them to make a layered cake. Have you had a go at making a paleo birthday cake? I'd love to hear how you made yours!

Cajun Kale Chips paleo recipe crisps-min

Recipe: Cajun Kale Chips

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Kale chips have to be one of the easiest, tastiest, and most fun ways to eat copious amounts of this green superfood. They are really easy to make; they just require a little patience and delicate seasoning. They can be enjoyed sweet (I’ve made both cinnamon and chocolate kale chips, both of which were delicious!) and savoury, but in this recipe I’ve gone for a smoky, slightly spicy, Cajun seasoning. You're going to love my Cajun Kale Chips!

A quick note – If you’re using salt, sprinkle it on AFTER the kale chips are cooked. Otherwise, it will attract water to the kale and make them soggy. Also, don’t use olive oil, as the kale chips will have a bitter taste. Avocado and macadamia oils are both excellent choices.

Recipe: Cajun Kale Chips
 
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Recipe type: Snacks
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Ingredients
  • 4 bunches kale
  • 2 tbsp macadamia nut / avocado oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 160C / 300F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. Chop the kale. If you need to wash it, make sure it is COMPLETELY dry before you take any further steps. A bit of dirt never hurt anyone, so I skipped the washing stage.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the kale leaves in the oil. Mix the spices together, and massage them onto the kale.
  4. Place the kale onto the baking parchment, leaving space in between each soon to be chip. You may need to roast them in batches. Transfer to the top shelf of the oven, and bake for 20 minutes – do not open the oven at all in this time!
  5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.

Cajun Kale Chips paleo recipe crisps-min

Cucumber marigold pickle edible flowers recipe paleo-min

Recipe: Cucumber Marigold Pickle

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Ever tried eating flowers? Not just any flowers of course, but so many are edible. I love marigolds in the garden, so thought I'd experiment with them in the kitchen. Turns out they have a bit of a citrus flavour, which went really well with the quick cucumber marigold pickle I made.

Recipe-Paleo-Diet-Cucumber-Marigold-Edible-Flowers-Pickle-Primal-680x450-min

Recipe: Cucumber Marigold Pickle
 
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Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
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Ingredients
  • Half a cucumber
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Petals of 1 marigold head, washed
  • ½ red onion, finely sliced
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • Splash extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Slice the cucumber and add the salt in a bowl, to draw the liquid out. Put the bowl in the fridge for an hour.
  2. Remove from the fridge and drain off all excess liquid.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine and serve in a jar. This is a great side to take along to a picnic or barbecue.

Have you cooked with edible flowers before? I'd love to hear what you made and which flowers you used in the comments below.