Tag: side dishes

Chipotle Pumpkin Soup

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Faced with an unexpected CSA prize – an adorable pumpkin – I set out to find something fitting to do to this noble squash, aside from sitting it on the edge of my counter so I could ogle it daily, luxuriating in the little bit of Fall brought into my daily line of sight.

I researched pumpkin recipes high and low, got frustrated because it seems everything calls for canned pumpkin or butternut squash (because let’s face it: pumpkins are fickle, unpredictable bastards and a crap item to use in baking), or is a soup. I *always* make pumpkin soup.

That’s because pumpkin soup is delicious.

I settled on the flavors from one soup married to the flavors from another, with the cooking method of a third – and lo and behold, this soup was born. It’s hands-off lazy girl cooking at its finest, utilizing the crock pot and nothing else. And it smells divine while burbling away on the countertop all afternoon.

Note: As written, this soup is on the liquidy side. If you like super thick soups, you could probably get away with halving the stock or maybe omitting altogether.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian and vegan if you use vegetable stock, Whole 30

 

Chipotle Pumpkin Soup

1 2 – 3 lb. pumpkin
1 small onion
2 chipotles in adobo
13.5 ounce can full-fat coconut milk
1 c. broth (I used some leftover bone broth stashed in the freezer for just such an occasion)
2 – 3 cloves garlic
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
Kosher salt
White pepper
The juice of 1 – 2 limes

Peel and chop your pumpkin into chunks. Add to a crock pot. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Add. Chop the chipotle and add. Add the coconut milk, broth (mine was still frozen), cumin and oregano. Hit with 2 big pinches salt.

Cook 4 hours on high.

When cooked and cooled a bit, blend (be careful – need I remind you that piping hot liquid + a blender is a recipe for disaster if one is not really really careful?). Taste. Add the juice of 1 lime and a couple pinches salt. Taste. Add more lime and/or salt as necessary. I used 2 limes + 6 big pinches salt and a smattering of white pepper.

Serves 2 – 4, depending upon how large your servings are.

Silky Eggplant Puree

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This is a primal riff on a Middle Eastern classic, and is the perfect accompaniment to broiled lamb steaks.

Gluten-free, primal

  

I swear. On day 1 this lumpy glob was silky and smooth. Even bumpy, this purée tastes amazing.

Silky Eggplant Puree

1 large eggplant
2 Tbsp. grass fed unsalted butter
1/4 c. sheep pecorino
Kosher salt
Optional: lemon juice and pepper

Set your broiler to high and cover a baking sheet with foil.

Take the ends off your eggplant, and quarter. Lay face-down on the baking sheet.

Broil 15 minutes or until the skin is blackened and starting to burn in spots.

Flip. Broil until the flesh is soft, 5 – 10 minutes (I did 5 minutes for the thinner top pieces and 10 for the thicker bottoms).

When your eggplant is done, add to the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and cheese and blend until silky.

Taste. Add salt as needed (I did 2 big pinches). Taste again. If needed, add a dash of lemon juice or a couple cracks pepper.

Serves 4 as a side

Plum And Cucumber Salsa

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What to do with an overabundance of stone fruit? Make salsa, of course. This salsa makes a fantastic salad base for a light lunch – just throw on your favorite protein, maybe a hand full of baby spinach or some shredded cabbage, and you’re good to go.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, paleo

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Plum And Cucumber Salsa

Plums – enough to total 2-3 cups when chopped
3 peaches
1 cucumber
1 red jalapeno (it doesn’t have to be red, they’re just prettier IMHO)
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 inch ginger
2 cloves garlic
Kosher salt & black pepper

De-pit and chop the fruit. De-seed and dice the jalapeño. Dice the cucumber. Peel and mince the ginger and garlic. Add everything to a large bowl and toss with the lime juice, a generous pinch salt & a few cracks black pepper.

This salsa is good straight after making, but the flavors are even better the next day.

Serves 3 – 4 as part of a nice lunch

 

Zucchini Mashed Potatoes

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Zucchini. Mashed. Potatoes. A simple, delicious vehicle that whisks away some of summer’s over bounty if you’re lucky enough to subscribe to a CSA (or have a backyard plot of veggies). This side dish is zucchini-hating DH-approved (he pretended it was unidentified herbs until confronted with reality).

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 if you sub clarified butter, vegetarian

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Zucchini Mashed Potatoes

4 smallish potatoes (about hand sized)
1 large zucchini
2 large cloves garlic
2 Tbsp. unsalted grass fed butter (sub clarified if W30)
Kosher salt & pepper

Wash, peel and chop the potatoes into half inch-ish pieces. Peel the garlic. Add both to a large pot and cover with water (+ about an inch). Set over High heat, add a generous sprinkle salt, and bring to a low boil. Let cook 10 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, chop the zucchini. Add to the pot after the 10 minutes are up. Boil 5 minutes.

Drain and add to the bowl of a food processor or blender carafe. Add the butter and process. Taste. Add salt & pepper as needed.

Serves 4 as a side – perfect with simple sautéed chicken breast or broiled steaks

 

Spicy Chard Salad with Sweet Miso Dressing

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This is one of those crowd-pleasing, light and refreshing salads that makes the perfect thing to bring to a potluck. It’s vegan, gluten-free (check your labels!) and paleo-adjacent. It’s also sweet and spicy and interesting enough to warrant seconds on a hot summer day.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free

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Spicy Chard Salad With Sweet Miso Dressing

1 bunch Swiss chard
1/2 head red cabbage
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 red bell pepper
1 shallot
2 Tbsp. white miso (check your labels!)
1.5 Tbsp. tahini
1.5 Tbsp. coconut nectar
1.5 Tbsp. coconut aminos
1 – 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
Few cracks black pepper
Big pinch Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
Bare dusting ground ghost pepper

Wash and chop the chard, cabbage and peppers – add to a large bowl. Dice the shallot and add. Halve the tomatoes and add.

In a small bowl, whisk together the miso, tahini, coconut nectar, coconut amino, rice vinegar, salt, pepper, coriander and ghost pepper.

Pour over the salad and toss to combine.

Serves 6+, enough for a potluck

Blistered Lemon Green Beans

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Lemon! This is one of those bright, punchy side dishes that calls to mind hot summer evenings spent draped over the arms of furniture because it’s wilty outside, potluck barbecues with friends, and the bounty of an overflowing CSA box.

In short, it’s delicious and will wake your tastebuds up. Plus, it’s safe for pretty much everyone if you want to bring it somewhere.

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, vegetarian, vegan

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Blistered Lemon Green Beans

1 lb. beans (I used a mix of yellow and green)
2-3 lemons
2 tsp. FOC (fat of choice)
4 cloves roasted garlic
1 Tbsp. tahini
2 Tbsp. chopped basil
Kosher salt & pepper
Water

First, tip your green beans and put your broiler on high. Add the green beans in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Slice one of the lemons in half, and then into thin rounds (peel and all). Pick out the seeds of the rounds and place on the cookie sheet with the green beans. Sprinkle with your fat of choice, salt and pepper.

Broil until the green beans are starting to blister and the lemons are starting to burn – roughly 5 mins., turn the pan and 3 mins. (at least in my oven) – start with 5 minutes and watch from there.

While your green beans are burning, make the dressing. Dice the garlic and add to a small bowl with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, the tahini, and a shot of salt & pepper. Stir to combine and add a little water (about a Tablespoon) to loosen up a little if needed. Chop the basil and add to the dressing. Stir again.

When the beans and lemon slices are ready, remove from the pan. Dice the lemon (peel and all) and add to the dressing.

Toss the dressing with the beans well to combine (I massaged the dressing into the beans with my fingers).

Serves 2-3 as a dinner side

Spring Broccoli and Pea Salad

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This is another great cookout salad. Quick to throw together, friendly for a whole host of dietary restrictions, clean and bright.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

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Spring Broccoli and Pea Salad

1 lb. snow or snap peas
3 large radishes
1 (9-10 oz.) bag broccoli slaw
Zest of 1 lemon
3 Tbsp. avocado or other neutral oil
1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt & black pepper.

Tip, tail and snap your peas into a large bowl. Grate the radishes and add. Add the broccoli slaw. Hit with a generous pinch Kosher salt + a few grinds black pepper and toss to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, oil, mustard, and vinegar.

Pour over the salad. Toss to combine and hit with another shot of salt and pepper.

I went back and forth regarding doubling the dressing for a more punchy taste, but ultimately opted for the more subtle route. If you want punchier dressing, try doubling the amount and playing with the mustard/acid content.

Makes a huge bowl – more than enough for a cookout. 

Spicy Thai Broccoli Slaw

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Fair warning: this recipe has k-i-c-k. I amped up all the flavors I would normally use in a Thai-inspired sauce to punch through the taste-deadening head/chest congestion my DH has been suffering through. This sauce is bright from the lime, punchy from the garlic, and spicy from the serrano. It is also quick to make, easy, and delicious next to a nice thick pork chop.

Gluten-free, paleo

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Spicy Thai Broccoli Slaw

1 bag broccoli slaw
4 green onions
1 serrano chili
Small hand cilantro

Sauce

2 Tbsp. sunflower seed butter
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. raw honey
2 Tbsp. fish sauce (Red Boat)
2 Tbsp. coconut aminos
2 tsp. chili garlic paste
2 fat cloves garlic, grated
1 inch ginger, peeled and grated
Juice of 1 lime
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Combine the sauce ingredients in a large bowl, whisking to form an emulsion. If the sauce is thicker than you want, add a splash of water.

Add the broccoli slaw to the bowl. Chop the cilantro and add. Slice the green onions and add. De-seed and chop the chili and add.

Toss to combine.

Serves 4 as a side dish

And a second shot because I couldn't choose
And a second shot because I couldn’t choose

Guajillo Beet Puree

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The inspiration for this recipe was a description used by a chef on a cooking show. I can’t remember which one, but if I were to guess I’d say either Chopped or Cutthroat Kitchen, since that’s what I’m currently watching.

I was intrigued by the thought of a guajillo’s smoke paired with the sweetness of a beet, and rooted by the beet’s inherent earthiness. I think they work and play well together, especially when paired with a nice fruity olive oil. 

Gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, vegetarian, vegan

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Guajillo Beet Puree 

2-3 roasted beets (about a cup, cup and a quarter total when mashed) 
2 guajillo chilis, soaked in water for a few hours to reconstitute 
2 cloves garlic 
4 good glugs of a fruity olive oil 
4 big pinches Kosher salt 
1/2 tsp. white pepper 
1 tsp. dijon mustard (if doing a Whole30, substitute your favorite grainy mustard) 

Roast and peel your beets. 

Once that is done, peel and chop roughly and add to the bowl of a food processor along with the reconstituted chilis, garlic, 2 big pinches Kosher salt, the white pepper and dijon. 

Drizzle in the olive oil (about a quarter cup total) while you puree to the consistency you want. 

Taste. Hit with 2 more big pinches Kosher salt if needed. 

Serves 2 as a light side

Paleo Mac & Cheese

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Holy crap yum. This dish is freaking delicious – and managed to taste like cheese. Without creepy nutritional yeast! Or actual cheese! Yay! 

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian-ish 

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Paleo Mac & Cheese 
Based on Paleo Mac N Cheese from My Natural Family 

1 head cauliflower
4 Tbsp. unsalted grassfed butter
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. pumpkin puree (100% pumpkin)
1 small carrot (about 1/4 to 1/3 c. diced)
1/2 small onion (about 1/3 c. diced)
Granulated garlic
Ground mustard
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1 egg
Kosher Salt
Black pepper 

Core your cauliflower and break up into small pieces (you want it to look like macaroni when you’re finished). 

Add to a large pan over medium-high heat with 2 Tbsp. butter a generous pinch of salt, and the water. Cover and steam 5 minutes or until mostly tender. 

Remove the lid and sauté for a few minutes, or until the cauliflower is lightly caramelized in spots. 

Remove from heat. 

While the cauliflower is working, dice the carrots and onion and add to a saucepan with 2 Tbsp. butter, the pumpkin, 1 tsp. mustard powder, 1 tsp. granulated garlic and a generous pinch salt. Sauté 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. 

Add the can of coconut milk and bring up to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes, or until the veggies are tender and the milk has reduced by 2/3. 

During this time, taste for seasoning. The original recipe called for 3/4 tsp. mustard, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, and 1 tsp. salt (to me, this tasted like coconut milk). I ended up using more like 2 Tbsp. of each to get the cheese taste I wanted. 

When your sauce has reduced and your seasoning is where you want it, transfer the mix to a blender and puree until smooth. 

Once the mix is smooth, add the egg and continue pureeing until incorporated. The puree will cook the egg, which will thicken the sauce. If you do this quickly, your sauce will be velvety. 

Taste again for seasoning. Add more salt/mustard powder/garlic powder/pepper if necessary.

Pour over the cauliflower and toss to coat. 

 Serves 2 for dinner + 1 for lunch when combined with simple pan-sauteed chicken breasts.