Red Smoothie

This smoothie is packed with colorful veggies, and has juuuust enough sweetness to pass beets off to a non beet lover (namely, my DH).

For an added protein boost, add a scoop of unflavored collagen powder. A Tablespoon or two of peanut butter may also be either the best – or worst – idea ever. If you try it, let me know!

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, vegetarian, vegan

Red Smoothie

1/2 c. frozen spinach
1/4 c. frozen blueberries
1/4 c. cooked and peeled beets
1/2 banana
1/2 medium carrot
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
1 c. water

Whiz all ingredients together to make 1 smoothie.

Low Carb Instant Pot Bulgogi Bowls

We’ve been on a Korean kick lately – and it’s been delicious. This recipe comes together relatively quickly, can be eaten hot or cold, and can accommodate a bunch of different eating styles.

Gluten-free, paleo-ish, keto-ish

Low Carb Instant Pot Bulgogi Bowls

For the Beef

3 – 4 lb. chuck roast
4 Tbsp. ginger garlic paste (or the equivalent chopped fresh)
1 small apple or pear, cored (I used Granny Smith, but I’ve heard Fuji is closest to a pear)
4 Tbsp. gochujang
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1/4 c. tamari, soy or coconut aminos
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. avocado or other neutral oil
1 date, pitted

Whiz all ingredients but the beef in your blender. Cut the roast into bite sized chunks and marinate 2 hours to overnight.

To prepare, pressure cook 12-14 minutes.

Bowl Fixins

Baby asparagus (I lightly sauteed in sesame oil)
Enoki mushrooms (I lightly sauteed with the asparagus)
Green onion slivers
Shredded carrots
Fried eggs
Bowl filler – I tried to “rice” cucumber, which ended up with cucumber pulp – which was a hot mess, but wasn’t bad when drained — DH had sushi rice, which he also pressure cooks and makes in big batches. Cauli rice would be great here, as would broccoli rice. Zoodles would work, too

Bulgogi Sauce

1 Tbsp. gochujang
2 Tbsp. tamari, soy or coconut aminos
1 Tbsp. ginger/garlic paste (or equivalent)
2 Tbsp, sesame oil
3-5 drops stevia

Whisk together and drizzle over the top of each bowl.

Mango Kimchi Salad

Yeah – I know. Another seemingly weird flavor combination that I swear works. And is delicious.

This summer salad is quick to throw together, tastes great after hanging out for awhile in the event of some sort of potluck affair, and can stretch with a protein or bulk item like quinoa or blanched broccoli.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Mango Kimchi Salad

1 medium mango – I used the light green kind

1 medium cucumber

1/4 – 1/3 c. Kimchi – I used spicy but could have done with a shot or two more spice

Juice 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup pistachios

2 Tbsp. Fresh mint

Salt

Pepper

Curry powder

Garlic powder

Peel and chop the mango and add to a bowl. Chop the cucumber, kimchi, mint and pistachios and add to the bowl. Add the lemon juice and toss. Sprinkle with the spices and toss.

As written serves 1 for lunch – 2 if you stretch it with a protein (chicken, shrimp, beef, salmon or even canned tuna would work)

Okra Mango Hash

I know. Hang with me for a second. While this may sound like stoner or pregnant woman food, it strangely works.

Unbeknownst to me until relatively recently, the American South doesn’t actually corner the market in okra – okra curries are actually popular throughout India, and they’re delicious. Mango curries are also a thing that are delicious.

I had intended on including a couple spoons red pepper pesto to make a vaguely curries sauce, buuuuuuuut mine had molded. Oops. As did the miso butter I made months ago. So, no sauce but egg yolk and the taste I was thinking of turned out much more subtle than the original Chopped style concept (what can I say, I’ve been too lazy to go grocery shopping).

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian

Okra Mango Hash

1/2 – 1 c. okra, cut into 1/4 inch thick rounds

1 small mango – I used the yellow kind

2 ounces leftover chicken – I used curried breasts I’d bulk cooked earlier in the week

2 tsp. fat of choice

2 eggs

1 tsp. butter or other egg cooking fat

Salt, pepper & your favorite curry powder

In a large pan over medium-high heat, bring the 2 tsp. fat to temperature. Add the okra, hit with the spices, and cook, stirring frequently, until the okra is browned a bit.

While that is working, shred your chicken and peel and chop the mango.

When the okra is done, add the chicken and mango and cook, stirring frequently, until the mango gets a kiss of brown.

While that is working, cook your eggs to their desired doneness after sprinkling with the spices.

To serve, top the hash with the eggs.

Serves 1 because DH is 1000% not into anything about this dinner

Weeknight Hash with Chive Pesto

This pesto is bright, zingy and addictive. It’s great with rice and rotisserie chicken, with zoodles and shrimp, and of course with my absolute favorite – a nice weeknight hash.

Weeknight hash: because breakfast is *always* the right answer.

Gluten-free, paleo

Weeknight Hash with Chive Pesto

For the pesto:

1 bunch chives
2 cloves garlic
Juice 1 lemon
Couple glugs good olive oil
A little water if needed
Salt & pepper

For the hash:

Sweet potatoes
Onions
Fat of choice
Salt & pepper

Protein toppers:

Leftover chicken
Eggs

First, wash and chop your potatoes. Cut the onion into chunks. Toss with fat of choice, salt & pepper and bake at 180/200C until cooked to your desired doneness. Alternately, cook in a large pan on the stovetop.

While the potatoes are working, make the pesto by combining all ingredients but water in a blender. Drizzle in a little water if needed to move better. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed – you’re looking for tart and bright.

Grab your proteins and you’re ready to roll. To serve, spoon up some potatoes, top with your protein, and a couple Tablespoons pesto.

Pesto serves 4 or so – the hash depends on how much you make

Roasted Mustard Veggies

This dish was exactly what I was picturing when I picked my bottle of mustard oil up.

It’s simple, quick, keto, pantry-friendly and delicious. Plus: it can be dressed up a million different ways. I served with 2 fried eggs for a low-effort dinner one night.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo

Roasted Mustard Veggies

10 ounces frozen veggies (I used a mixture of cauliflower, broccoli, and romanesco)
2-3 Tbsp. Fat of choice (I used coconut oil)
1 Tbsp. Mustard oil (can be found in Indian or middle-eastern groceries)
1/4 c. Slivered almonds
Sprinkle nutritional yeast or Parmesan (optional)
Salt & pepper

Preheat your oven to 200C.

While your oven is heating, line a baking sheet with tinfoil and spread your frozen veggies on top. Sprinkle with the oils and hit with salt and pepper.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until browned to your liking.

While the veggies are roasting, dry toast the almonds over high heat in a large pan. Set aside.

To serve, top the veggies with the almonds.

Makes a hearty main (with something light like eggs) for 1 or decent side for 2

Persian-ish Cauliflower Rice

This recipe came about because I’ve been diving deep into Persian and Arabic cuisine, trying to wrap my head around what flavors are consistent and what ones are more regional – aaaaaaand I needed to use up a few stock ingredients before purchasing more fresh.

So – with this dish, we take the tomato, pomegranate and pistachio from this region, the parsley and onions found pretty much everywhere, cauliflower rice from the US (or you could probably go for India here – they have cauli, but riced is an American thing to the best of my knowledge), and blueberries from the US/Europe.

This makes a nice light side for basic chicken or beef (I first ate it with curry chicken breast), or alone and chilled as a salad.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto (watch your carbs from tomatoes, nuts and berries)

Persian-ish Cauliflower Rice

1 small head cauliflower, riced about 4 cups (I used some I had frozen and thawed)
1/2 yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp. fat of choice (I used coconut oil)
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. onion powder
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, divided
10 cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup parsley
1/4 cup pistachios
Salt & pepper

Dice the onion and garlic. Heat your fat in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sautee until translucent.

While the onion and garlic is working, gather the rest of your ingredients.

When the onion and garlic mixture is translucent, add the cauliflower rice, a hit of salt & pepper, stir, and let cook 3 – 5 minutes.

While the cauliflower mix is working, cut the tomatoes in half and chop both the pistachios and parsley.

Add the garlic powder, onion powder, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, pomegranate molasses, half the lemon juice, and tomatoes. Stir to combine and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Cut the heat and add the blueberries, parsley and pistachio. Taste and add salt & pepper if needed – add the rest of the lemon juice here if desired. I wanted mine extra zingy, so I did. It would have been fine without.

Serves 4 as a side

Red Curry Miso Sauce

This is one of those sauces that came about because I had expensive ingredients to burn before they went bad.

I’m glad I had the space to dick around in the kitchen – this Sauce is fantastic. I served it with roasted butternut squash and chicken breast for a quick & easy dinner. It would also be delicious with any sort of potato or pasta, toasted hazelnuts, and any roasted veg. I’m thinking: baked potatoes topped with toasted hazelnuts, fry dip, hash sauce, shrimp zoodle pasta with pistachios, swirled around roasted broccoli, or slathered on a nice juicy steak.

Gluten-free, vegetarian, keto

Red Curry Miso Sauce

2 tsp. Thai red curry paste
1 tsp. yellow miso
1 tsp. ginger garlic paste
1 Tbsp. minced shallot
2 Tbsp. Ghee

Mix all ingredients together. Spoon over or toss with something (see headnote) for a flavorful dinner.

Makes enough for 1 – maaaaaybe 2, depending on what you make and how strong you like your flavors. Doubles or triples nicely.

Dilled Butternut Squash

This sounds like a whole bunch of weird in one dish, but it’s freaking delicious. I ate both servings in one day – and was suuuuuuuuuuper sad when I didn’t have enough for leftovers the next day.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Dilled Butternut Squash

Small butternut squash
3 Tbsp. fresh dill
2 tsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. cumin powder
2 tsp. cayenne powder
1/4 c. tahini
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses
2 Tbsp. water
Fat of choice
Mustard oil (optional – this ingredient is Middle Eastern/Indian and is freaking delicious with roasted veggies and meats)
Salt & pepper

Preheat your oven to 200C/400F. Chop your butternut squash into 1/2 inch chunks, and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with your favorite fat (I used coconut oil) and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Drizzle with a little mustard oil as an accent – I used about a Tablespoon (think of it like sesame oil in Japanese food) and I think that was the right amount.

Bake 25 minutes or until soft.

Note: I don’t peel my squash and don’t mind the skin – you may want to peel yours; you don’t have to. 

While your squash is roasting, combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl into a thick paste. Whisk in the water slowly until you reach your desired consistency.

When the squash is done, add to the bowl and toss to combine.

Serves 2 as a side dish

Thai Coconut Beef Curry

This dish is quick to throw together, takes a minimal amount of effort, and makes enough to last a few days.

gluten-free, paleo, keto

Thai Coconut Beef Curry

2 – 3 Tbsp. your favorite oil
1 medium onion
1 lb. ground or sliced beef
5 – 7 cloves garlic
1 inch piece ginger
13 ounce can coconut milk (full fat is best)
10 ounces shredded cabbage
1 orange bell pepper
5 Tbsp. Thai red curry paste
1 c. frozen spinach
Juice 1 lime
Salt & pepper

Chop the onion. In a large steep-sided pan or pot, add the oil and heat to medium. Sautee the onion until softened.

Add the beef, hit with some salt and pepper, and cook through.

While the beef is working, chop the garlic and ginger and bell pepper and cabbage. Add the ginger and garlic to the beef mixture and cook 1 – 2 minutes or until fragrant.

Add the veggies, coconut milk, 1 can of water, curry paste, and another hit salt & pepper.

Bring to a boil, add the frozen spinach, knock the heat down and let simmer 10 – 15 minutes or until the coconut milk has reduced to the consistency you want.

Turn the heat off, add the lime, and taste for seasoning. Add more salt/pepper/acid if needed.

Serves 4