Dairy-free Low Carb Beef Stroganoff

For those of you that have been reading for awhile, I bet you can take a wild guess who is out of town. 🙂

We are a split household on the subject of mushrooms – they are one of my absolute favorite foods; something I can happily eat a pound or so of by myself on the regular. DH? Not so much. He likes the taste, but the texture weirds his mouth out.

I’m also too lazy to make a good pot of butter garlic mushrooms very often, so mushrooms are a sometimes treat food — mostly the second DH goes out of town. Mushrooms, shrimp (which I had for dinner yesterday) and asparagus (which I have not yet seen in stores here).

This version has been mostly caged from a good Nerd friend (shoutout to Fonzico) on her fourth? fifth? Whole30 who raves about this recipe. I’m starting a second pass at keto, so thought it was the perfect time to try.

gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto

Dairy-free Low Carb Beef Stroganoff

1 lb. stew beef
1/2 head green cabbage
1 lb. sliced button mushrooms
8 ounces crimini mushrooms
1 can full-fat coconut milk
2 Tbsp. ghee
1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (check labels)
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos or worcestershire sauce (check labels)
2 c. bone broth or stock
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme + a few extra sprigs
Salt & pepper to taste (I used Himalayan pink salt)
Extra butter or ghee if you need more fat for serving

First, get your aromatics going. Mince the onion and garlic, de-stem about 2 Tbsp. thyme and chop. Add to a large pot with 2 Tbsp. ghee. Sautee on medium-low while you prep the rest of the ingredients, stirring occasionally so you don’t burn the mixture.

While your aromatics are going, cut your cabbage into ribbons, wash your mushrooms, and gather the rest of your ingredients.

When your ingredients are ready to go, add the aminos/worcestershire, tomato paste, and fish sauce to the pot. Stir to combine.

Add the whole mushrooms. Stir.

Add the beef, sliced mushrooms, coconut milk, stock or broth, cabbage and a few thyme sprigs. Stir. Kick the heat up to medium-ish, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.

Uncover and simmer 45 minutes or until the liquid is halved.

Serve up, salt as needed, and add more fat if your macros call for it.

Serves 2 for dinner + 1 for lunch

Keto Pad Thai

Mmmmmmm … pad Thai. Oh, how I love thee. Buuuuuuuuuuut, my waistline is saying no to all the carbs. So, a compromise. This isn’t authentic by any means, but it’s delicious. And low carb. Check and check.

Pad Thai comes together in a flash – be forewarned before you start adding things to the pan: prep your veggies, get your liquids ready in a dish, and crack your eggs.

Gluten-free, paleo, keto

Keto Pad Thai

1/2 small head cabbage
1/4 cup frozen peas (optional if you don’t have the carb budget)
shrimp (I used 6 ounces pre-cooked canned shrimp)
2 tsp. tamarind paste (check your labels!)
1 tsp. shrimp paste (optional, check your labels!)
2 Tbsp. + sesame oil
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (check your labels!)
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar (again with the labels)
Juice of 1 lime
1 Tbsp. sambal olek (labels!)
2-4 eggs
1/2 inch ginger
2 cloves garlic
1 small shallot
1 green onion
1-2 Tbsp. fresh basil (optional)

First, prep all your stages.

Stage 1: peel and mince the ginger, garlic and shallot.

Stage 2: in a small dish, combine the tamarind paste, lime juice, rice vinegar, fish sauce, shrimp paste, and sambal olek.

Stage 3: add to a large bowl the cabbage shredded into ribbons, peas if you’re using, and shrimp.

Stage 4: crack your eggs into a small bowl.

Stage 5: chop the green onion and basil if you’re using.

After your stages are prepped, add 2 Tbsp. sesame oil to your largest pan over high heat.

Add stage 1. Stir frequently and cook until softened.

Add stage 2. Stir to make sure the shrimp paste is broken up.

Add stage 3. Toss to combine and let cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is softened and the mixture kind of dries out. Hollow out a well in the center of the mixture, pushing the cabbage and stuff to the sides.

Add stage 4. Let the eggs cook halfway through. Stir to break the yolks and make large curds. Cook until eggs are firm.

Top with stage 5 and serve.

If you’re keto, also top with a teaspoon or so of additional sesame oil to increase the fat ratio.

Serves 1-2 for dinner — 1 if you’re alone in the house and like to eat; 2 if you’re not

Beet & Potato Mash with Pistachios

This side was inspired by some of the new spices I’ve encountered in my new home. Plus, it’s a great shade – so that’s hard to resist.

Gluten-free, vegetarian

Beet & Potato Mash with Pistachios

2 small potatoes
1 small roasted beet
1/2 cup creme fraiche or cream cheese or crema
3 Tbsp. zaatar
1/4 cup pistachio meat
3 – 4 tsp. dry lemon powder or sumac or some preserved lemon
2 Tbsp. butter
Salt & pepper to taste

Peel your potatoes and chop into small pieces. Boil 8 – 10 minutes (or until soft) in a pot of salted water.

While the potatoes are working, chop the beet fairly finely and add to a large bowl with half the creme fraiche, the butter, a hit of salt and pepper, and half the spices.

Drain and mash the potatoes when they’re ready. Add to the bowl and mash – taste – add the other half of the creme fraiche and spices. Taste, salt & pepper and adjust to your taste.

In a dry pan, brown your pistachios. Chop and add to the top of the potato beet mixture.

Serves 2 for dinner + 1 for lunch

Thai Chicken Burgers

This burger comes together quickly, and brings a hint of Thai flavors to dress up what can otherwise be a boring weeknight staple meal.

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto

Thai Chicken Burgers

1 lb. ground chicken or turkey
1 green onion
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (Red Boat is Whole30 compliant)
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos or soy (coconut aminos are Whole30 compliant)
1 tsp. lime juice
1/2 inch fresh ginger
1 Tbsp. sambal olek (spicy garlic sauce – check your labels of Whole30 or keto!)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 an avocado per person
Fat of choice
Salt & pepper to taste

Mince your green onions, garlic and ginger. Add to a large bowl with everything but the avocado and fat of choice. Mix, form into 4 burger patties. Hit with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat the fat in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry your burgers about 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through.

Serve over sliced avocado.

Makes enough for 4 burgers

Spinach Berry Smoothie

Yay, it’s (hopefully) back to the smoothie life over here – and I made a great one this morning. This smoothie is tart, not too sweet, low-ish in carbs and hit the spot for breakfast. Even with the crappy blender I’ve been saddled with (R.I.P. and get lots of in your new home, Vitamix).

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30-ish

Spinach Berry Smoothie

Big hand full of spinach
1/2 a medium Haas avocado
Big squirt bottled lime juice (or the juice of 1 fresh lime)
1/3 – 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries (I used a blend of strawberries, raspberries, currants, and blueberries)
Slack hand full of fresh mint (roughly 2 Tbsp.)
Enough water to make the mixture blend

Blend and enjoy – makes enough for a nice-sized smoothie cup or a small glass + sidecar.

Serves 1

Thai Red Curry Meatballs

Yay! Back to cooking – and hopefully back to regular recipe-posting.

This move has been rough, and it’s really taken a toll on my desire to cook, eating habits, and creativity in general. I’m hoping this first “real” dinner in the new place is a start in the right direction health and blog-wise.

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 if you source your ingredients right

Thai Red Curry Meatballs

1 pound ground chicken
1/2 small red onion
Juice + zest of 2 limes
1/2 inch fresh ginger, peeled
Big pinch chili powder (hot chili – red pepper flakes would do)
2 cloves garlic
Hand full baby carrots
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos or soy sauce
Big pinch ground cumin
Salt & pepper to taste

For the sauce

1 can coconut milk
2 Tbsp. red curry paste
2 Tbsp. nut butter (or a hand full of nuts, a sprinkle of salt + 2 tsp. coconut oil)
Juice of 2 limes
2 cloves garlic

First, make the meatballs by combining all meatball ingredients in a blender or food processor (minus the chicken) and process to a mush. Mix in half to 3/4 with the chicken and form into ping pong to golf ball sized balls. Warning: this mixture will be a bit wet. It’ll firm up in the oven.

Bake at 400f for 20 mins. Flip; bake an additional 15 mins. or until cooked through. Note: Since the mixture is so wet when it goes into the oven, perfect balls aren’t happening, but they’re still damn tasty.

While your balls are a-cookin’, make the sauce by blending all ingredients together and adding to a large pan. Simmer until the meatballs are ready.

When the meatballs come out of the oven, add to the simmering sauce to combine.

Serve with mixed veg of your choice.

Serves 2-3 for dinner with a hearty side of veggies. 

Rosewater Roasted Carrots

This side was inspired by the rosewater carrots at Dig Inn. Their version was a bit on the drab side but a fascinating concept, so I kicked the acid profile up a bit.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

 

 

Rosewater Roasted Carrots

 

1 bunch small carrots
Sprinkle of your favorite roasting oil
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon rosewater
Juice of 1 lemon
Couple good glugs extra virgin olive oil
Sprinkle cardamom
Sea salt & black pepper
3 Tablespoons hemp seeds

First, toss your carrots in your favorite roasting oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast until browned – 35 minutes or so on 375F.

While your carrots are working, whisk together the rest of the ingredients to form the dressing.

Toss the carrots with the dressing and serve.

If you want to flesh this side out a bit, toss in half an avocado and a big hand full of arugula.

Serves 2 as a side, or you can spread it out to 4 by adding a little bulk 

Lemon Rose Pea Shoot Salad

I made this easy, Summery salad as a side dish/taco topper for my DH’s going away party. It was a big hit.
Gluten-free, Paleo, vegetarian

Lemon Rose Pea Shoot Salad

1 cup chopped red cabbage
2 cups chopped pea shoots
Zest and juice of 1 small lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon rosewater
1 teaspoon grainy mustard (Maille, FTW)
1 small clove garlic, grated
1 Tablespoon lime basil, chopped

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, honey, rosewater, mustard, grated garlic, a big pinch sea salt and a few grinds black pepper. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss.

Serves a bunch as a taco topper/side dish

Chipotle Lime Slaw

I made this side as one of two salads to accompany a big batch of our favorite pulled pork for the DH’s going away party.

Gluten-free, primal, vegetarian

Chipotle Lime Slaw

1 cup chopped red cabbage
1/3 cup crema
2 teaspoons adobo sauce (the sauce canned chipotles come in)
The juice of 2 limes
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 scallions, chopped
2 Tablespoons lime basil, chopped
3 cups coleslaw mix
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt & pepper

Whisk together the crema, adobo, lime juice, cumin, a big pinch sea salt and a few grinds black pepper in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss.

Taste. Add more acid or more salt as needed.

Serves a bunch – makes a great potluck side as part of a make-your-own taco bar

Banana Milk Faux-meal

I recently heard of something that's taken Instagram by storm (apparently, I don't follow enough millennials or food bloggers) – banana milk.

I thought this sounded too ridiculous to pass up, and couldn't resist giving it a try.

And you know what … wasn't half bad. A little carbier than I usually like to go, but not bad at all. If you've ever had banana as a smoothie base, you'll know what I mean – this fruit blends well.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Banana Milk Faux-meal

1 banana
1 cup water
Pinch salt
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
2 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut
1/4 c. berries (I had frozen cherries)
Sprinkle cinnamon
Sprinkle nutmeg
Dash maple extract (optional)

Blend the banana, water and a pinch of salt.

Add half a cup of the banana Milk to a bowl. Top with the rest of the ingredients.

Stir to combine. Let sit 2 – 3 minutes before enjoying like oatmeal.

Serves 1 for breakfast