Posts

Get Well Soon Chicken Soup paleo recipe-min

Recipe: Get Well Soon Chicken Soup

Feeling a bit crummy? Chances are, you find yourself feeling under the weather much less than you ever did before you started eating Paleo – but on those rare days that you do, nothing says ‘get well soon’ like a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup. It’s the ultimate comfort food, and boiling the whole bird means it is chocked full of vitamins, minerals, and of course – gelatin. Even if you’re not ill, I highly recommend you make some of this!

Recipe: Get Well Soon Chicken Soup
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Soups
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 x 1.5kg chicken
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 onions, roughly chopped
  • 1 bulb fennel, roughly chopped
  • 6 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 4 bay leaves
  • Few sprigs fresh thyme
  • Few sprigs fresh rosemary
  • A large handful fresh parsley
  • Sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
  1. Wash your chicken, before putting it into your biggest stock pot. Fill the pot with cold water, just enough to cover the bird, before adding the red wine vinegar. Bring to the boil, then leave to simmer for 45 minutes. Skim the froth from the top, before removing the chicken.
  2. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred all the meat from the bird using a fork. It may not be completely cooked through yet – this is perfectly normal.
  3. Return the chicken carcass to the stock pot, and add the onions, fennel, carrots, garlic and herbs (except the parsley). Return to the heat, cover and simmer for another couple of hours.
  4. minutes before serving, return the shredded chicken back to the soup. When fully cooked through, serve in soup bowls garnished with the fresh parsley.

What's the secret to your favourite chicken soup recipe? Is it a dish you often make?

Get Well Soon Chicken Soup paleo recipe-min

Stuffed Capsicum paleo diet recipe bell peppers dinner lunch chicken-min

Recipe: Stuffed Capsicum

I usually only use green capsicum as they’re half the price of their red and yellow cousins, but when they were on offer this week, I thought it was high time to cook something capsicumy. What better than the classic stuffed capsicum? I’d usually make this with minced beef, but I fancied a change, so thought I’d give it a try with shredded chicken instead.

I always used to cut the tops of the capsicum, stuff them, put the lid back on, then cook them standing up. However, it’s not easy to find ones that will remain standing up and also I think they’re harder to eat and not so attractive on the plate this way. I served mine sliced in half lengthways and retained the stalk party to stop the stuffing falling out, and partly because it looks good! Unfortunately cutting them for this dish means I can't use my genius capsicum cutting technique.

I used mushrooms, carrots and a zucchini for the stuffing, but this is a great way to use up whatever vegetables you happen to have.

Hint: Take care choosing your capsicums! You’ll find the ones with 4 points at the base will sit far better in the oven than those with 3 points.

I was left with loads of stuffing left over, so froze this in individual portions and will enjoy them for many lunches to come!

Recipe: Stuffed Capsicum
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
This is a great winter dish served with cauliflower rice - or a simple salad.
Ingredients
  • 3 colourful capsicums (bell peppers)
  • Dash of coconut oil
  • 2 brown onions, diced into small pieces
  • 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
  • 1 bottle of pasata
  • 1 zucchini diced into small pieces
  • 6 mushrooms, diced into small pieces
  • 2 carrots, diced into small pieces
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tsp of chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Sea salt & black pepper to taste
  • Cooked shredded chicken
Instructions
  1. Cut the capsicums lengthways, ensuring the two halves will sit nicely, before making the cut. Deseed the capsicum and trim the insides and bottom of the stalk ensuring there is lots of room for them to be filled. Put the halves empty side up on a baking tray.
  2. Pre-heat the oven to 175C
  3. Fry the onions in the coconut oil over a medium heat, until the soften.
  4. Add in the tomatoes and pasata, then stir in the veggies
  5. Allow the mixture to simmer for 20-30 minutes, then add the herbs, spices and seasoning.
  6. Add in the chicken to heat up, and once the carrots have softened remove the pan from the heat.
  7. Spoon the mixture into the capsicum halves and push down with the back of a spoon, ensuring they are completely filled.
  8. Put the stuffed capsicums in the oven and cook until the capsicum has softened to your liking, ensuring they don’t burn! I should just take a few minutes.

WANT ME TO EMAIL YOU THIS RECIPE?

Enter your details and check your email!

Stuffed Capsicum paleo diet recipe bell peppers dinner lunch chicken-min

paleo network which type onion use yellow brown sweet red white shallot-min

Which type of onion should you use?

So you’ve got some red onions left over and no time to pop out to buy yellow ones – can you use them? Well onions aren’t all made the same, whilst it’s not the end of the world if you use the “wrong” type, for best results you’ll appreciate selecting the most appropriate type of onion for each recipe.

paleo network which type onion use yellow brown sweet red white shallot-min

Firstly, how to pick a good onion?

Make sure there are no obvious bruises or softness that may indicate the onion is old. They should feel heavy, firm and not have too strong-an onion odour before you peel them.

Brown Onions

Also known as yellow onions. These are the work-horse of the onion family and for me, the type I use most frequently. They can be used in many different dishes and are fairly sweet. The longer you cook them, the sweeter they'll be.

White Onions

Cook these exactly as you would brown onions, but you'll find them less sweet and with a sharper flavour. They'll hold their texture far better on cooking than the brown onion. If you're going for a raw recipe like a salsa, these would be my preference.

Sweet Onions

Whilst these may look similar to yellow onions, they are, as the name might suggest, even sweeter. These are another good option to eat raw in things like salads.

Red Onions

These taste similar to the brown onion, but won’t become as tender. They’re great for dishes requiring vibrant colour. The flavour can be toned down by soaking them in water before use, making them great to add to colourful salsas and salads.

Shallots

These are a lot milder and great for more delicate recipes where you don’t want a strong onion flavour to take-over.

What type on onions do you use in which dishes? Do you eat them raw?

Recipe paleo egg muffins-min

Recipe: Paleo Egg Muffins

Egg Muffins are a win for quick and easy breakfast options. When I make them I make a big batch and keep them in the fridge.

I use whatever vegetables I have left over, so you can go as plain or complex as you like.

Paleo-Recipe-Egg-muffins--471x1024-min

Recipe: Paleo Egg Muffins
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Ingredients
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • Large spoon of coconut oil
  • Broccoli, diced
  • Handful of Mushrooms, sliced
  • Large bowl of spinach
  • 6 Eggs
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Handful of grated cheese (if primal, completely optional)
Instructions
  1. Fry the onions in some coconut oil over a medium heat
  2. When the onions soften, add in the broccoli, then the spinach
  3. Meanwhile beat the eggs and season
  4. Arrange the muffin cases and spoon the vegetables into the bottom of each case
  5. Add a pinch of grated cheese to each case (if desired, otherwise leave out)
  6. Spoon in the egg mixture
  7. Bake in the oven at 175C (350F) for about 45 minutes
  8. Enjoy or store in the fridge to enjoy for breakfast tomorrow

 

Recipe Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup paleo-min

Recipe: Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup

Ever tried Kielbasa? Biala Kielbasa is a Polish smoked sausage traditionally made with pork, and seasoned with garlic and marjoram before being smoked. If you can find it – and it sticks to its traditional Polish routes, chances are it will be paleo – but make sure you check the ingredients. This is a really flavoursome soup- and completely paleo!

Recipe Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup paleo-min

Recipe: Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Soups
Ingredients
  • Drop of coconut oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
  • 120g (1/4 lb) Kielbasa (or substitute with another smoke sausage)
  • 5 tomatoes, chopped
  • ½ shredded cabbage
  • ½ litre (2 cups) chicken stock
  • dash of apple cider vinegar
  • pinch paprika
  • bay leaf
  • Ground pepper & sea salt
Instructions
  1. ) Put the coconut oil in a pan, and over a medium heat cook the onion, carrots, garlic and sausage. You'll want to cook these until the onions start to soften.
  2. ) Add in the tomatoes, cabbage, chicken stock and apple cider vinegar
  3. ) Cover the pan and bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. If it gets too dry, add more stock or water.
  4. ) Add in the paprika, bay leaf and seasoning and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
  5. ) Remove the bay leaf, serve and enjoy.

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!)

 

Recipe paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Coconut Veggie Stew-min

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Coconut Veggie Stew

Despite having bought a far too small slow cooker (seriously, why make enough for one meal, when for the same effort you could have enough for several freezer meals?), I've recently been using my slow cooker a lot more. I love being able to put in a bit of effort in the morning, then coming home to smell a delicious dinner ready and waiting. I've found with this one it’s best to wait until right at the end of cooking to add in the coconut cream, but even so, it’s still next to no effort to have a nutritious dinner cook itself for you!

Serves 4 (but if your slow cooker is big enough make as much as you can and save the extras for later!)

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Coconut Veggie Stew
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 3 organic free range chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 2 parsnips, diced
  • 500g (1 lb) celeriac, peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 30ml (2 tablespoons) olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 30ml (2 tablespoons) minced fresh ginger
  • 15ml (1 tablespoon) curry paste*
  • 5ml (1 teaspoon) ground turmeric
  • 5ml (1 teaspoon) ground chilli
  • Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • 300ml (1/2 pint) chicken stock
  • 200ml (7 floz) coconut cream
  • Chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the chicken until brown and cooked through.
  2. Put the parsnips, celeriac and carrots in the slow cooker
  3. Meanwhile, add the onion, garlic and ginger to the pan, and cook for a further five minutes, stirring until they soften.
  4. Into the pan, stir in the paste, turmeric, chilli and seasoning.
  5. Add the stock to the pan, and bring it to the boil, stiring occasionally.
  6. Transfer the contents of the pan into the slow cooker, and with the lid on, cook on a low heat for 6-8 hours.
  7. In the last hour add in the coconut cream to add the creaminess to the dish
  8. Just before serving, add the coriander garnish.
  9. *This is so easy to make instead of buying – I’ll type up my recipe and link to it – watch this space!

Recipe paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Coconut Veggie Stew-min

Recipe Sticky Chilli Apricot Salmon Sautéed Sesame Collards paleo network-min

Recipe: Sticky Chilli and Apricot Salmon with Sautéed Sesame Collards

Looking for a recipe that's a little different? This recipe for Sticky Chilli and Apricot Salmon with Sautéed Sesame Collards is certainly that! The apricots and chilli create a great hot but sweet combination – this will be a huge hit with whoever you decide to cook it for!

Recipe: Sticky Chilli and Apricot Salmon with Sautéed Sesame Collards
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 8 ripe apricots
  • 100ml orange juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped
  • 2cm fresh root ginger, minced
  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 onion, finely sliced
  • 6 – 8 large collard leaves, shredded
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
  1. Dice the apricots and place them in a saucepan, taking care to retain all the juices. Combine them in the pan with the orange juice, honey, vinegar, coconut aminos, garlic, chilli and ginger. Bring gently to the boil, and simmer for 10 minutes or so until it reduces by about half.
  2. Heat your oven to 180C. Place the salmon fillets on parchment paper, and spoon over half of the apricot glaze. Tightly wrap the parchment paper, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, gently heat the sesame oil in a wok. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or so, until soft. Add the collards and stir fry until tender, before tossing in the sesame seeds.
  4. Remove the salmon from the parchment paper, and serve on top of the sesame collards. Drizzle with the remaining glaze and a handful or so of fresh coriander.

Recipe Sticky Chilli Apricot Salmon Sautéed Sesame Collards paleo network-min

Bacon coleslaw paleo recipes-min

Bacon Coleslaw

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

Bacon Coleslaw
 
Author: 
Prep time: 
Total time: 
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