I’m doing something a little different this week. I’m not putting together your meal plan in its entirety and providing you with a shopping list (sorry).
I started my meal plan and realized that there are SO many delicious ethnic meals from all around the world that we can make in Paleo ways. So instead, I compiled a list of some of my favorite national foods for you to choose your own. This kinda means that you’ll have to put together your own shopping list this week, but you’ll be OK, I Promise. This gives you some leeway with your own list this week. I promise I’ll be back to providing you the shopping list and complete meal plan next week.
I think I’m going to try to tackle some national favorites here at home to bring you some authentic recipes that I haven’t been able to find on the web.
So here you go! Starting with my favorite:
Lebanese/Greek
Find out where I get my Lebanese food here. Paleo TABBOULEH !!!!! I almost peed myself when I saw this recipe. This is one of my pre-Paleo favorites. It’s a great lunch, it’s delicious with some beanless hummus spread onto a Romaine leaf and wrapped up. I know, I know. It’s amazing. And you’re welcome. There’s this amazingly delicious restaurant here in Raleigh called Sitti. It’s my favorite. They had this delicious dish called Chicken Shawarma. It was served with a Garlic Whip that was divine. I found a Paleo Chicken Shawarma recipe that doesn’t call for dairy or grain products. You can’t serve Chicken Shawarma without Garlic Whip.
Garlic Whip Recipe
Prep time | 15 minutes |
Allergy | Egg |
Dietary | Diabetic , Gluten Free , Vegetarian |
Meal type | Appetizer , Condiment , Lunch , Main Dish |
Misc | Child Friendly , Gourmet , Serve Cold |
Region | Lebanese |
Ingredients
- 10 cloves Garlic
- 2 Egg Whites
- 2 Lemons (Juiced)
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 tablespoons Iced Water (Fill a cup with ice water, of which you will only use 4T)
Note
This is one of my absolute favorite things to eat with chicken. Dip your chicken in a little of this garlic whip, close your eyes, and enter nirvana. It's truly blissful. [shopeat_ingredients][/shopeat_ingredients][shopeat_button]
Directions
Step 1 | |
Place garlic cloves, salt, and 1/4 of the lemon juice into a blender | |
Step 2 | |
Pulse and scrape the sides of the blender down until no more garlic is flying up to stick to the insides. | |
Step 3 | |
Add egg whites and blend on medium-high | |
Step 4 | |
Add HALF of the oil by pouring in while blending, in a VERY SLOW STREAM. This is super important. Don't dump the oil in all at once. Make sure you pour it slowly. If your mixture doesn't look creamy and fluffy after this step, you've likely dumped the oil in too quickly. You can attempt to remedy it by adding another egg white but I can't promise anything. | |
Step 5 | |
Add the rest of the lemon juice very, very slowly just like you did with the oil. | |
Step 6 | |
Add the second half of the oil, very, very, very slowly. | |
Step 7 | |
Add the iced water, also as slowly as you can. The consistency should now change into the final, whippy consistency you are looking for. | |
Step 8 | |
Serve! Refrigerate after serving. |
Indian
I LOVE Punjabi. I used to buy it from the grocery store in these little pouches. Full of sodium, full of preservatives, and guess what? CORN SYRUP! This Punjabi recipe is completely Paleo and absolutely mouthwateringly delicious. I haven’t made this Paleo Indian Chicken & Rice recipe yet, but I have made some recipes from Paleo OMG and they definitely made me say OMG, so I am sure this one won’t disappoint.
Italian
Lasagna! Someone said Lasagna! I miss lasagna too, I’m not going to lie. There are some Paleo versions that are good, but nothing compares to the crispy noodles on the side of the pan with ooey gooey cheese spilling out the sides. But this Paleo Lasagna Recipe uses an innovative non-vegetable ingredient for the “noodles”. I can’t WAIT to give this a try, and I just happen to have a brand new non-stick pan to make the “noodles” in. I’ve included this before, and I’ll include it again because it’s totally Italian: Spaghetti Squash Carbonara. My family eats this up like CRAZY! Bonus? It’s freaking SIMPLE to make once you have the spaghetti squash cooked. Hot & ready Pizza, anyone? OK not really. But it’s really good Paleo pizza with a meat crust ! It might take a little effort, but it’s not impossible and your family will thank you for making them feel like they are eating an old favorite. Looking for a Paleo pasta recipe that your family will love , and forget that they are eating squash? I found it tonight thanks to my friend, Jennifer. This lemony garlic pasta is amazing. We ate ours with brats, but I think I’m going to grill some chicken breasts to freeze and put in the freezer so that I have it on hand when I want to make this dish. Use your imagination here. Imagine you’re on a piazza in Italy. With the complex, rich flavors, it won’t be too hard. It does have goat cheese in it, but the blog IS called The Primalist, so it’s to be expected.
Asian
One of my favorite things about Chinese food, is your ability to pick it up, take it home, and eat it out of a fancyish box. My least favorite thing about Chinese food is that 30 minutes later, you’re starved again, and completely parched. This Chicken and Vegetable Lo Mein will not leave you digging out of the trash looking for a tidbit to eat a few minutes afterwards. Nor will it have you running for the nearest bathroom stall. The best part about this recipe? It takes about 35 minutes to prep AND cook. Amazing.
Are you missing sushi as much as I am? I’ve only had it 2 times in the past 15 months. Isn’t that crazy? I know. But, The Food Lovers Kitchen has a great sushi recipe using cauli rice. You can add whatever the heckfire you want to in the middle. Maybe even some chicken with Garlic Whip on top? *drooooooling*
Paleo Beef with Broccoli is another Asian staple. We eat this dish ALL the time. I buy cheap stew meat and follow the super-simple instructions, and in less than 1/2 hour, my dinner is DONE. Finito. READY. A great ballet night dish. Or whatever activity your busy children have going on.
Paleo Orange Chicken? I have a recipe in the works for this little delight. Look for it on next week’s Meal Plan!
Scotland
The Workaholic’s family is from Scotland. Not as in, “hundreds of years ago they traveled the rocky seas to become Americans in a strange land.” His mom is a 1st generation American, which makes The Workaholic a 2nd generation American. I’m just straight up blue-blooded American, but we do have Scotch-Irish somewhere in there. Bangers & Mash is a recipe from the UK that is generally made with sausage and mashed potatoes with a decadent gravy over the top. This Paleo rendition is healthy AND delicious. I make at at least twice a month because of its ease and deliciousness. This recipe takes about 30-45 minutes to prepare, but it’s largely hands-free. Make the mash ahead of time, then reheat it when you’re ready for dinner. You’ll find this recipe in Paleo Comfort Foods . It’s delightfully decadent, and requires no “sides” because it’s really filling.
Latin
The Workaholic is crazy about Mexican food, but there is next to nothing that we can eat at a Mexican restaurant. It is also the biggest complaint that I hear from friends and family who have gone Paleo: “We can’t eat Mexican anymore”! It’s not true, we CAN eat Mexican still, we just have to be inventive. These CrockPot Fajitas will satisfy your Mexican cravings, while keeping you eating real, homemade food. We serve it with Cauliflower rice and eat it rolled in Romaine Lettuce leaves. If you’re feeling ambitious, use a second crockpot to make these no-bean baked beans . You could always make the “baked beans” ahead of time and save them in the refrigerator until meal time. Pick up some Belgian Endive and serve with a bowl of salsa in lieu of corn chips. Whatever you do, I promise that these will make you feel like you’re eating some Mexicano.
Crock Pot Fajitas
Serves | 6 |
Prep time | 15 minutes |
Cook time | 4 hours |
Total time | 4 hours, 15 minutes |
Dietary | Diabetic , Gluten Free |
Meal type | Lunch , Main Dish , Salad |
Misc | Child Friendly , Freezable , Pre-preparable |
Region | Mexican |
Ingredients
- 1 jar Gluten- and sugar-free salsa
- 2 Bell Peppers (Any Color, Chopped)
- 1/2 Red Onion (Diced)
- 1 cup Pineapple (diced)
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- 1 head Cauliflower
- 1 head Romaine Lettuce (For the )
Directions
Step 1 | |
Place chopped bell pepper, diced pineapple, and diced onion into the CrockPot. Add Salsa and stir to combine. NOTE: the "heat" in a Medium salsa will cook off to be mild enough for your children. | |
Step 2 | |
Nestle chicken breasts in with the salsa mixture. | |
Step 3 | |
Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8 hours. | |
Step 4 | |
When done cooking, shred chicken with two forks and mix in evenly with the salsa mixture. | |
Step 5 | |
Grate Cauliflower in a food processor. Once grated, place in microwave for 3-4 minutes. Season with Salt and Pepper if desired. | |
Step 6 | |
Place 1 spoonful of cauliflower rice on a lettuce leaf, then as much of the chicken and salsa mixture as you would like. Garnish with extra salsa, fresh tomatoes, or if you allow dairy - sour cream. |
Polish
We used to eat Kielbasa like twice a week. We still eat that, and it’s great with this Superkraut recipe which can be done completely in your crockpot. But there is another Polish dish that I didn’t know about until recently, called Halupki Casserole. You won’t find the recipe here, or on any other website for that matter. You’ll have to pick up your very own copy of Eat Like a Dinosaur to make it. It’s simple, flavorful, and you won’t have any problem getting anybody in your family to eat it. I promise.
Are you disappointed there is no Shopping list this week? Check out one of our other Paleo Meal Planning posts if you need something a little more structured this week.
And don’t forget to come back next weekend, for your week (and shopping list) planned out for you.
Jackie says
That garlic whip looks divine!! And tabbouleh is one of my favorites too!
Chandra Coats says
So great – Except that the Indian dish you featured is actually called Bhurtha! A Punjabi is the name of a person from that region or the language! IT’S OK! MY GRANDMA THOUGHT THE SAME THING! Thanks! (From a nice Bengali-Californian!)
Summer says
Thank you SO MUCH, Chandra!!! The package that I used to buy at the grocery store said Punjabi on it! OMG! HUGE marketing error, right?!?!? I’ll make that change ASAP!