Tag Archives: Whole30

Sri Lankan Style Okra Curry

17 Saturday Mar 2018

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Sri Lanka. Man, was that place full of good food. Home to many cultures, religions and ethnicities including: Sinhalese, Tamils, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Moors, Burghers, Malays, Chinese and Vedda; this tiny nation off the southern coast of India has a mix of flavors and influences when it comes to food (and everything, really – it’s also a former British colony, so there’s that as well).

Most of what we ended up eating (and craving) was curry, and most of those tasted like a combination of Indian (luckily only a little British-Indian) and Chinese flavors. Yuuuuuuuuuum.

Pics, btw, of the trip coming shortly-ish – DH took some great landscape HDRs and I’m waiting on him to process those. Of course, he has some Photoshop-free travel coming up — so it might be awhile. Hold, please.

Back to the food. DROOL. And there’s more Sri Lanka-inspired goodness coming in the next few weeks. CUISINE, I WILL LEARN YOUR SECRETS.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, keto

Sri Lankan Style Okra Curry
inspired by Sri Lankan Lady’s Fingers (aka Okra, Bandakka) by Island Smile

1 lb. or so okra (3-4 cups when cut)
4 Tbsp. fat of choice (I used half neutral oil and half ghee)
1 medium tomato
1 medium onion
2-3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. ground turmeric
1/2 – 1 tsp. cayenne powder
Juice 1/2 lime
Salt

First, prep your ingredients by slicing your okra on the diagonal, and chopping the tomato, onion, and garlic.

Put your okra in a large bowl, salt liberally, and sprinkle with turmeric. Toss to combine.

Heat your largest pan over medium heat. Cover the bottom of the pan with okra (you may have to do multiple batches) and dry fry 5-7 minutes or until the edges start to brown. Set aside. (note: my okra did not kick off much of the dreaded horrorslime. If yours is, and I’ve only really gotten okra to kick slime the first time I ever tried cooking it, cook until it’s is gone. Nobody wants that – slime wins no hearts and minds).

Raise the heat to medium-high and add the fat, onion, garlic, tomato and another hit of salt. Sautee until the onions are soft and start to brown.

Add the okra back to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, another 4-5 minutes. Taste for salt. Sprinkle the cayenne over top, stir to combine, and cook an additional minute or so.

Turn the heat off and hit with some lime and more spice if desired.

Serves 2 for dinner as a main course – great combined with leftover rotisserie chicken – or 4 as a side

Japanese Style Chicken & Cabbage Noodles

13 Saturday Jan 2018

Posted by in keto, Recipes

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This is a simple weeknight meal that can be expanded to feed a crowd easily – or can feed just two.

Gluten-free, paleo, keto

Japanese Style Chicken & Cabbage Noodles

1/2 lb. ground chicken
1/2 inch fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic
3 tsp. sesame seeds
4 Tbsp. neutral oil
1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 head green cabbage
4 tsp. coconut aminos or soy sauce
2 tsp. rice vinegar
2 stalks celery
2 eggs
Salt
White pepper

Heat 2 Tbsp. Neutral oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken.

Press or grate the fresh ginger and garlic and add. Hit with salt and white pepper.

While your chicken is cooking, core and shred the cabbage into long ribbons.

When the chicken is cooked 3/4 of the way through, add 2 tsp. sesame oil & 2 tsp. sesame seeds.

Set aside when cooked through.

In the same pan still over medium-high heat, add 2 more Tbsp. oil. When the oil is up to temperature, add the cabbage noodles.

Stir-fry until soft and beginning to brown.

While the cabbage is working, cut your celery on the bias into 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide pieces. Break your eggs into a small bowl.

When the cabbage is just about done, season with salt & white pepper. Add 2 tsp. soy sauce and 2 tsp. rice vinegar at the end of cooking.

Set aside.

Put the pan back on the heat and add 1 Tbsp. sesame oil. When the oil is up to temperature, add the celery. Stir fry until tender and beginning to brown, adding a couple Tablespoons water if necessary.

When the celery is done, add the eggs. Let sit a few seconds, then gently start to scramble. Season with 2 tsp. soy sauce and 1 tsp. Sesame seeds.

Add the noodles and the chicken back into the pan and give a good toss. Hit with a sprinkle white pepper and some more salt if needed.

Serves 2 for dinner

Dairy-free Low Carb Beef Stroganoff

11 Saturday Nov 2017

Posted by in keto, Recipes, Whole30

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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

Thai Chicken Burgers

28 Saturday Oct 2017

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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

21 Saturday Oct 2017

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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

14 Saturday Oct 2017

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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. 

Tuna Chermoula Salad

01 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by in keto, Recipes, Whole30

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This recipe is based off of a tuna chermoula toast I saw in a favorites of the week link roundup recently. I was struck by the simplicity of the flavors and the overall unexpectedness of encountering the humble canned tuna in presumably a party setting.

Chermoula is a really neat condiment. Popular throughout northern Africa, this sauce is made a zillion different ways and used as a meat marinade, accompaniment to fish or seafood, and dressing for vegetables. The version I’m making is seasoned to balance tuna’s meaty-but-dull nature.  I’ve seen versions that include the brininess of olives, sweeter versions including raisins, and versions that just straight up seem like chimichurri to me. If you happen to have preserved lemons on hand, they would make a fantastic swap for the lemon here. I, sadly, have run out.

gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto


Tuna Chermoula Salad

Your favorite canned tuna (I used a 6 ounce pouch of water packed tuna)
1/4 cup olive oil
Big hand full cilantro
Juice and zest of 1 big lemon (I had 2 small little sad lemons on hand)
1 clove garlic
1/2 inch ginger
1 tsp. sweet paprika
Big pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. cumin
Big pinch salt
Few cracks black pepper
1/2 avocado
2 cups roasted broccoli

If your broccoli isn’t already roasted, roast some broccoli florets sprinkled with salt, pepper and your favorite fat in a 400 degree (F) oven for 25 – 30 minutes). Let cool.

On to the chermoula.

Chop the cilantro, and add to a bowl. Add the lemon zest and juice, the garlic and ginger once those have been grated, the olive oil, paprika, cumin and red pepper flakes, and hit with a  big pinch og salt and pepper. Taste. Your sauce should be nice and acidic and there should be a bunch of it. Adjust as necessary for your personal salt and heat preferences.

Add the tuna and stir. Add the broccoli and stir. Chop the avocado and add last, gently stirring to combine.

Taste again and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Serves 2 for lunch

Dilled Kale Salad

10 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by in CSA Shares, keto, Recipes, Whole30

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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

Yuzu Sesame Slaw

06 Saturday May 2017

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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

Sesame Brussels (keto)

21 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by in Life, Recipes

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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