Tag: side dishes

Chipotle Lime Slaw

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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

Vegan Not-Yo Cheese Breakfast Bowl

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HaHaHaHa. I crack myself up. Nacho cheese … not. yo. cheese. … I’m way too easily amused.

This past weekend, the DH was out of town and I was craving Taco Bell. Luckily for my stomach, Taco Bell is inordinately hard to get to from the comfort of my couch (srsly, I only know where 1 Taco Bell is in the city, and I was in zero mood to travel 1:15 and deal with whatever weekend train shenanigans NYC wanted to throw at me just for a meal that was bound to make me sick afterward), so I stayed in and scrounged what I had.

Lucky for me, that included cauliflower and cashews.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, keto


Vegan Not-Yo Cheese Breakfast Bowl

1 cup raw cashews
1 cup water
1/2 – 1 cup almond milk
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tablespoons fat of choice (I used ghee and coconut oil; you do you)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1.5 – 3 Tablespoons garlic powder
4 – 5 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 – 3 Tablespoons ground mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Juice 1 – 2 lemons
1 chipotle chile in adobo, chopped
Salt & black pepper

First, put your cashews into a large glass measuring cup with 1 cup of water. Microwave on high or heat in a pan on the stove until boiling. You could also soak the cashews overnight like you’re “supposed” to, but I had zero forethought or capacity for patience, so I went the lazy route. Lazy ftw.

When your cashews are done, blitz in your blender with the almond milk.

A quick note here about consistency: I first tried blitzing in the food processor, but my cheese was starting off way too chunky and I was disturbed. I switched to my Vitamix, blended the shit out of the nuts, and life was much better. If you do not have a high-powered outboard motor of a blender, you may want to run your cheese through a strainer after completed.

Dice and add your onion and garlic to a smallish pan with your fat of choice. Sautee over medium until the onions are translucent.

While you are waiting, grab all your spices and a spoon – you’ll be tasting things and adding ingredients quickly.

When your alliums are translucent, add the cashew mixture, along with the cumin, paprika, half the garlic powder, half the mustard powder, half the nutritional yeast, the chili powder, the apple cider vinegar, half the lemon juice, and 1/4 cup almond milk. Whisk or stir aggressively to combine.

Add a big pinch of salt and some pepper. Stir and taste. Add more salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and almond milk until your desired consistency and taste is achieved.

Some taste notes: Mustard powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast and acid are what makes the “cheese” taste here. Err on the side of aggressive seasoning.

When you have what you want taste and consistency-wise, drop the cheese in your blender and whiz to make smooth.

To make the pictured breakfast bowl, pour over some roasted cauliflower (I roasted mine in grass fed buffalo ghee with turmeric, which is why it looks weird) and top with a couple fried eggs. Or whatever vegans eat instead of eggs.

Also great over roasted brussels sprouts with taco-seasoned ground beef and scallions.

Dilled Kale Salad

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This summer salad utilizes fresh baby greens and an unusual ingredient in salad – fresh dill. Makes a great dish to bring to a potluck on short notice.

gluten-free, paleo, whole30, vegan, vegetarian, keto


Dilled Kale Salad

Roughly 1/2 a pound baby kale

1/3 c. avocado oil mayo (I use Sir Kensington’s)

1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard (Maille is my favorite)

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill

2 big cloves garlic, grated

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Juice of 1 lemon

Sea salt & black pepper

1/3 c. toasted pine nuts

1/4 c. shaved parmesan (optional)

In a large bowl, combine: mayo, lemon juice, dill, grated garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Hit with salt and pepper – taste. You’re looking for a robust dressing – something bright and acidic (maybe a hair too acidic, it’ll tone down when you add the kale).

Add the kale and toss to coat, taking care to massage the dressing into the leaves so it really soaks in.

Add the pine nuts and cheese if you’re using.

Serves 4 as a nice side; makes a good potluck dish

Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice

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This side makes a great counterpoint for a bowl of Kaluah Pork, a nice sesame chicken, or a burger patty.

Gluten-free, Paleo, vegetarian, vegan


Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice

2 cups pre-steamed riced Cauliflower (or cauliflower-broccoli mix – I bought a steamer bag in my grocer’s freezer section)
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
1/2 inch ginger
Hand full cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup crushed pineapple in juice
2 Tbsp. coconut aminos
Fat of Choice
Salt & pepper

Dice your aromatics – shallot, ginger and garlic. Add to a large pan with 2 Tbsp. of your favorite fat. Sautée until just starting to color.

Add the riced cauliflowers, pineapple, coconut aminos and lime juice. Sautée until the liquid has evaporated and everything is starting to caramelize.

Taste and hit with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cilantro. Sautée until your desired brownness is achieved (or your patience runs out).

Serves 2 – top with a fried egg & pulled pork and call it dinner

Brussels & Kale Caesar

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This is a recreation/improvement on a salad I bought from Dean & Deluca last week. This version is eeeeeerrrrything I wanted that version to be – and then some (so good, in fact, that I got distracted while tasting it and putting my rings back on the wrong hands). The D&D version was good – but not Hannibal Lecter good (lost? explanation coming). Fine to smash at 9pm while waiting for the Ferry, but not what one would unpack ceremoniously from a fine box while going someplace.

I remember the first time I saw Silence Of The Lambs – the movie was great and all, but what *really* struck my little food nerd of a preteen heart was the end scene where Hannibal Lecter unpacks a Dean & Deluca picnic spread with great relish while on a plane. That spread (minus the brains, of course) set some life goals in place immediately (namely to shop there, live in NYC so I can shop there at will, and get one of those picnic packs). I also mailed away for a subscription to their quarterly catalog and kept that subscription going until I went away to college. Never ordered anything, but I drooled and dreamed.

While I’ve achieved two of those goals, I’m sad to say I have not gotten a picnic pack – mostly because while I love Dean & Deluca in theory, in practice most of the freshly made food I’ve gotten from D&D isn’t as amazing as I want it to be – and I’m not spending a Quintilian dollars on plane snacks when I can make my own. Possibly also because preteen me’s love of fancy packaging and tiny food is a tall order to live up to, and those packs always feature a bunch of stuff I’m not excited about – like gummy bears and other candy. Note to self: make my own tin-based travel pack packed with stuff I *do* like.

Gluten-free, paleo


Brussels & Kale Caesar

2 cups roasted Brussels sprouts halves (I roasted mine in some bacon grease on 400 for 25/30 minutes until deeply nutty brown)
3 cups baby kale
1 large clove garlic, smashed in a mortar & pestle
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 big pinch sea salt
Black pepper
1/2 tsp. lime juice (lemon would be more classic, but all I had was a bottle of my favorite Key Lime juice)
3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp. rice vinegar
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 raw egg
1/2 cup raw almonds, chopped
1 anchovy, minced

To make: Roast the Brussels. While roasting, assemble the dressing.

Put two of your eggs in a small pot and cover with a couple inches water. When the water is boiling, lower a third egg down in a ladle so it is covered by the water but you still have a hold of it. Boil 1 minute and remove, immediately running under cold water or dunking into an ice bath. Let your other eggs go until you whisk the dressing, cover the pot and kill the heat, let sit until you’re done with the rest of the salad.

Crush the garlic in a mortar and pestle; add to a large bowl. Mince the anchovy and add. Add the coddled egg, Worcestershire, citrus juice, salt, a bunch of pepper, olive oil, and vinegar. Whisk to combine.

Chop the almonds and set aside.

When the Brussels are finished browning and have cooled until mostly not hot, add to the bowl with the dressing. Add the kale and almonds; massage to combine thoroughly.

Peel the 2 hard boiled eggs and chop. Fold in gently.

Serves 2 – 3 as a nice lunch or dinner side

Yuzu Sesame Slaw

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This quick and easy side makes a bright, spicy counterpoint to a sweeter meat main or the Thai meatballs I posted last week.

gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, vegetarian, vegan


Yuzu Sesame Slaw

2-3 cups tricolor slaw mix (broccoli slaw would also be great)
2 Tbsp. yuzu hot sauce
1 jalapeno or serrano
1/2 bunch scallions
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 tsp. grated ginger

Slice the scallions and chop the peppers; add to a large bowl with the slaw mix.

In a small bowl, whisk together the yuzu hot sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and grated ginger.

Pour the dressing over the slaw and massage to combine.

Great served with my paleo Thai meatballs, bacon and avocado, or a nice salmon burger.

Serves 2 as a salad base

Springy Honey + Olive Salad

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This crowd-pleaser is perfect for an early Spring potluck when you’re stuck between that ‘Yay! Winter citrus!’ and ‘All I want are fresh greens’ stage of life. This salad has enough going on that it will impress your foodie friends, is user-friendly enough that you *should* be able to convince everyone to be on board with olives, and can be tweaked just a bit to satisfy your vegan friends.

Gluten-free, vegetarian, primal 


Springy Honey + Olive Salad

4 – 6 cups cut kale
1/2 head red radicchio, chopped
Zest + flesh (supremed and chopped) of 1 sumo or other orangey/grapefruity citrus
1/3 cup nice olives, chopped
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans
Juice 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp whole grain mustard
2 tsp honey
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt & black pepper

Add the kale to a large bowl. Zest the citrus on top. Chop the radicchio and add.

Toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, mustard, salt & pepper. 

Pour the dressing over the greens and massage by hand to work the dressing into the leaves.

Chop the olives and add. Toast the pecans, chop and add. Supreme the citrus, chop and add. Crumble the goat cheese and add. 

Toss gently to combine.

Serves a crowd 

Sesame Brussels (keto)

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This is a delicious little side dish to serve with pretty much everything – you could turn it into a stir-fry by adding some chicken or beef cubes (or some ground meat), it would go well alongside a burger patty, fish would be good – as would steak. This goes with everything.

gluten-free, vegetarian, paleo, keto, Whole30


Sesame Brussels

2 c. shredded brussels sprouts
2 Tbsp. unsalted grass fed butter
4 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. fish sauce (Red Boat is W30 compliant)
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos (also W30 compliant)
Pinch red pepper flakes
Pinch salt
Black pepper

In your largest skillet, heat the butter and sesame oil over medium-high. Add the garlic and fry until browned.

Add the brussels sprouts, fish sauce & coconut aminos and stir to combine.

Add the sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste and keep stir-frying until the brussels are wilted and turning brown in spots.

Serves 2

Nutrition: 273.5 calories, 7.58 grams net carbs, 4.5 grams protein, 24 grams fat

Cauliflower Rice Pilaf (keto)

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This side dish is decadent and delicious. It makes a fantastic accompaniment to a lighter protein like a nice piece of fish or some simple baked chicken.

gluten-free, vegetarian, paleo (watch your oils), keto, Whole30 (watch your oils)


Cauliflower Rice Pilaf

1 head cauliflower
4 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp. unsalted grass fed butter
2 Tbsp. fat of choice (I used olive oil)
1 shallot
4 cloves garlic
16 ounces bone broth (I used chicken)
1/2 cup almonds
Salt & pepper
Hand full parsley (optional)

Chop the almonds and dry toast in your biggest pan over medium-high heat. Remove and set aside.

While the almonds are toasting, chop the garlic and shallot.

Add 4 Tbsp. of the butter + the fat to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and melt. Add the shallot & garlic when melted and cook until translucent.

While the aromatics are working, rice your cauliflower.

Add the cauliflower to the pan when done, along with 2 big pinches salt and some pepper. Add the bone broth and stir. Cook until all the liquid has been absorbed.

To serve, finish with the rest of the butter, the almonds and a hand full of chopped parsley if desired.

Serves 6

Nutrition: 259.33 calories, 7.11 grams net carbs, 4.60 grams protein, 21.46 grams fat

Japanese Sesame Greens

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This quick and easy side dish makes a great light dinner with a little protein. Inspired by a recipe made on one of my favorite YouTube channels: Texan In Tokyo (RIP).

gluten-free, paleo, whole30, keto, vegetarian, vegan


Japanese Sesame Greens

1 bunch bok choy (about 1 cup chopped)
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos
2 drops stevia

In a medium pan, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy and cook, stirring frequently, until softened.

Meanwhile, bash the sesame all to hell in a mortar & pestle until it resembles sand.

When the sesame is done, add the coconut aminos & stevia and stir to combine. Let cook a minute or so. Add the bashed sesame seeds, stir to combine, and pull off the heat.

Serves 1 as a side dish

Nutritional Breakout: 430 calories, 7 grams net carbs, 8 grams protein, 40 grams fat