Paleo Nachos (AIP, Dairy & Grain Free)

Paleo Nachos (AIP, Dairy & Grain Free)

Paleo Nachos are made with tostone “chips”, flavourful ground beef, an avocado crema & dairy free nacho sauce. It’s one of the best healthy & hearty nacho recipes out there! Free of gluten, grains & dairy + AIP friendly! Enjoy them while watching a game or movie, or as a fun dinner dish!

Did you know, more and more research is showing that cattle, pigs and poultry raised on their natural pasture and grass-based diets yield meat that is lower in total fat and calories, and food that is higher in good fats like Omega 3’s. In addition, this meat more concentrated with antioxidants such as vitamins E, C and beta-carotene, and with increased levels of other disease-fighting substances.

Generally speaking, animals are not eating what they were naturally meant to eat. As more animals are raised by the thousands and packed into concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), their natural diets of roots and grasses, grubs and bugs has been replaced by a standard factory farm food of grains, soybeans, King Corn and various advanced pharmaceutical products.

Good science shows that eating meat, milk and eggs from grass-fed and pastured animals will provide your body with more health-enhancing, disease fighting materials than industrial-grade CAFO-raised protein.

Therefore, you should consider sourcing out animal products from farms that have ethical farming practices–and raise animals on their natural pasture from beginning to end.

One of the farms I order meat from is Wild Meadows Farm in Grey County Ontario. Not only can you taste the quality in the meat, but you feel good about eating it too. I’m truly grateful for businesses, like Wild Meadows Farm, who put the time, energy and resources into ethical farming practices.

I’ve used their grass-fed ground beef in various recipes and the result is always amazing & delicious!

I highly recommend Paleo Nachos with grass-fed ground beef. This dish is made from whole food ingredients and is free of gluten, grains and dairy. It’s great for those following a paleo or AIP diet — or anyone looking for a super healthy version of nachos!

Paleo Nachos AIP Dairy Free

What you need for Paleo Nachos

Want more wholesome comfort food recipes? You’re going to love these …

Tostone Nachos

Paleo Nachos are made with tostone "chips", flavourful ground beef, an avocado crema & dairy free nacho sauce. It's one of the best healthy & hearty nacho recipes out there! Free of gluten, grains & dairy + AIP friendly! Enjoy them while watching a game or movie, or as a fun dinner dish!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 people

Equipment

  • Food processor or blender
  • Stove-top pans

Ingredients
 

  • 2 large plantains, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
  • 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
  • Sea salt
  • Avocado oil

Avocado Crema

  • 1 large avocado
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 2 tbsp red onion
  • 1/3 cup light coconut milk, canned
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Sea salt , to taste

Nacho Sauce

  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk, canned
  • 1/2 cup sweet potato, steamed or roasted
  • Juice of 1/4 lime
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Toppings

  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tbsp red onion, chopped
  • Black or green olives, sliced

Taco Seasoning

  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground garlic
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Using a food processor or blender, pulse all avocado crema ingredients together. Set aside.
  • Blend or process all nacho sauce ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
  • Prepare all toppings and set aside.
  • Cook ground beef with taco season + 1 tsp salt in a pan until meat is browned.

Fried Plantains/Tostones

  • While beef is cooking, cover bottom of a large pan in avocado oil and heat on medium-high.
  • When oil is hot, add plantain slices and fry on both sides until golden (roughly 2-minutes per side).⁠ Season with salt.
  • Remove plantains from pan and gently smash until flattened (I smash my plantains between two pieces of parchment paper with a mug or can).⁠
  • Add smashed plantains back to the pan and fry again on both sides until golden brown.⁠ Now you have tostones, which will be used as a base for your nachos!

Assembly

  • Lay tostones on a serving platter and spread beef on top.
  • Drizzle avocado crema and nacho sauce on top then garnish with toppings. Serve while it's hot!

Paleo Nachos AIP Dairy Free

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice (Grain Free, AIP, Keto)

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice (Grain Free, AIP, Keto)

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice is a delicious grain free and low-carb side to any meat or fish dish. The prep is super easy with frozen riced cauliflower (which can be found at most grocery stores) and pre-sliced mushrooms! AIP, paleo, low-carb, keto and plant-based.

Mushrooms don’t just add awesome flavour to certain dishes, but they’re also a great food to boost immune function.

According to a 2005 report published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, mushrooms contain “compounds and complex substances with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective activities.”

To simplify, mushrooms can enhance almost every system in the body and protect you from numerous conditions and diseases since they’re associated with lowered inflammation. Sustaining high levels of inflammation long term has been shown to contribute to chronic conditions, such as heart & autoimmune disease, diabetes and cancer.

Note: Buy and eat organic grown mushrooms whenever possible since they’re very porous and have the tendency to easily absorb chemicals from the soil that they’re grown in.

Enjoy Cauliflower Mushroom Rice with …

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice

What you need for Cauliflower Mushroom Rice:

  • Frozen riced cauliflower
  • Sliced mushrooms
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Organic chicken stock
  • Avocado oil

Looking for more healthy sides? You’re going to love these …

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice AIP Keto Paleo

Mushroom “Rice”

Cauliflower Mushroom Rice is a delicious grain free and low-carb side to any dish. The prep is super easy with frozen riced cauliflower (which can be found at most grocery stores) and pre sliced mushrooms! AIP, paleo, low-carb. keto & plant-based.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: AIP, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo
Servings: 2

Ingredients
 

  • 1 12 oz bag frozen riced cauliflower, I get mine from Costco
  • 1 pack sliced mushrooms
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 and 1/4 cup organic chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • Sea salt & black pepper , to taste

Instructions
 

  • Saute mushrooms in 1 tbsp avocado oil for 2-minutes over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup chicken stock, cover and let cook for 5-minutes. Remove lid and allow remaining liquid to cook off. Set mushrooms aside in a bowl.
  • Using the same pan, add 1 tbsp avocado oil and saute onion until fragrant over medium heat.
  • Add frozen riced cauliflower and combine until slightly heated. Season with salt.
  • Add 1/4 cup of chicken stock to the pan at a time. Let liquid evaporate before adding more stock. Do this until you get through 1 cup of stock. Continue to stir ingredients as you do this.
  • Add mushrooms and parsley to the pan, combine everything together and let cook for another minute. Remove from heat and serve.
Tiger Nut Energy Bites (Nut Free, AIP, Plant-Based)

Tiger Nut Energy Bites (Nut Free, AIP, Plant-Based)

Tiger Nut Energy Bites are the perfect nut free and AIP friendly snack or treat! They’re soft & chocolatey with a hint of nuttiness. Only 3-ingredients required for these delicious bites and they’re super easy to make!

DID YOU KNOW? Tiger nuts are not actually nuts, but rather tubers, like sweet potato, though much smaller in size. They get their name from the stripes on the tubers’ exterior.

These marble-sized tubers are chewy and taste like a cross between an almond and pecan with a hint of honey–making them a great nut replacement.

They are naturally gluten, grain and dairy free, so they’re perfect for those following a plant-based or paleo diet.

Tiger nuts can be consumed in a number of ways. You can eat them raw, roasted, soaked or boiled. You can also find tiger nuts in a variety of forms; tiger nut flour, tiger nut oil, tiger nut butter and tiger nut milk!

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with different tiger nut recipes. Not only do I get more variety in my diet with these small tubers, but they are packed with antioxidants, resistant starch fiber & vitamin E.

So, if you’re curious about tiger nuts or maybe you’re looking for nut free paleo recipes, you’ve got to try my tiger nut creations …

Tiger Nut Energy Bites (Nut Free, AIP, Plant-Based)

What you need for tiger nut energy bites

Looking for more tiger nut recipes? You’re going to love these …

Tiger Nut Energy Bites

Tiger Nut Energy Bites are the perfect nut free and AIP friendly snack or treat! They're soft & chocolatey with a hint of nuttiness. Only 3-ingredients required for these delicious bites and they're super easy to make! 
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Course: Snack/Treat
Cuisine: AIP, Paleo, Plant-Based
Servings: 20 balls

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup tiger nuts
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Put tiger nuts in a jar, fill with water and let soak in fridge for 12+ hours. Drain well.
  • Using a food processor, process drained tiger nuts until they break down a bit. Then add pitted dates, cacao/cocoa powder & sea salt. Continue to process until a consistent mixture forms.
  • Roll the mixture into small balls. Place in airtight container and store in the fridge.
Keyword autoimmune protocol, cacao, dates, energy balls, tiger nuts, vegan

Tiger Nut Energy Bites (Nut Free, AIP, Plant-Based)

Mango & Avocado Salsa Halibut (AIP, Paleo)

Mango & Avocado Salsa Halibut (AIP, Paleo)

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa is a fresh and delicious fish dish! Perfect for the warmer months when you’re craving something light and fresh on the palate. Feel free to use any fish (or chicken) with this flavourful mango & avocado salsa. AIP friendly, paleo & low-carb.

DID YOU KNOW? Avocados are rich in fiber — half an avocado (roughly 100g) packs 7 grams of fiber, which is 27% of the RDA. Fiber has been shown to have important benefits for weight loss, metabolic health and gut health.

Roughly 25% of the fiber in avocado is soluble, which is known for feeding the friendly gut bacteria in your intestine. The number and type of bacteria is very important for optimal gut health and overall health.

So, if you’re dealing with IBS or weight loss resistance, I recommend replacing grain-based foods with high-fiber whole foods like avocados, vegetables and other fruits.

Here are a few way to incorporate avocados in your diet:

wild halibut with avocado and mango salsa

What you need for Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa:

  • Wild Pacific halibut (or other fish of choice)
  • Avocado
  • Mango
  • Red onion
  • Cilantro, basil or parsley
  • Lime
  • Avocado oil

Healthy sides to pair with this fish dish …

Halibut with Avocado & Mango Salsa (AIP, Paleo)

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa is a fresh and delicious fish dish! Perfect for the warmer months when you're craving something light and fresh on the palate. Feel free to use any fish with this flavourful mango & avocado salsa. AIP friendly, paleo & low-carb.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: AIP, Low-Carb, Paleo
Servings: 2

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb wild Pacific halibut, or other fish of choice
  • 1 avocado, chopped into small chunks
  • 1 small mango, chopped into small chunks
  • 1 tsp red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, basil or parsley, finely chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Sea salt & black pepper to taste, omit black pepper for AIP version
  • Avocado oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400F and grease or line baking dish with parchment paper.
  • Coat halibut with avocado oil and season with sea salt and black pepper.
  • Place halibut in oven and cook for 10-15-minutes (more time may be needed for thicker pieces of fish). Halibut should be opaque and flake when cut with a fork.
  • While halibut is cooking, combine mango, avocado, red onion, fresh herbs, lime juice and seasoning in a bowl and mix until well combined.
  • When halibut is done, let rest for a few minutes then top with fresh mango & avocado salsa and serve.

Notes

  • If you can't find wild Pacific halibut or it's too expensive, try wild cod or another similar fish. If you're not a fan of fish, this salsa works great with chicken too!
  • Omit black pepper for AIP version.
Keyword avocado, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, herbs, mango, soy free, wild fish
Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

It’ll be love at first bite with this Tostone Taco Bites recipe! This dish is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado, PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocado, once again. So whether it’s Taco Tuesday or just a regular night, you’ve got to try this paleo & AIP friendly dish!

You know that feeling when you try a recipe for the very first time and after just one bite you can’t wait to make it again and again?!

Well, that’s the feeling you’ll get when you try this dish!

These bite-sized tostone tacos are to die for and super fun to eat. I replaced the traditional taco shell with tostones since they are grain free, gut friendly and so delicious! 

Just in case you’re wondering what tostones are, they’re slices of unripe plantains that are fried, flattened, then fried again (in heat stable oil, of course!). Learn more about plantains and tostones here.

You can find plantains at most grocery stores. They look like big green bananas and tend to be located next to regular bananas. I’ve been able to find them at stores like Walmart, Fortinos & Longos.

How to assemble Tostone Taco Bites:

  1. Spread guacamole on tostone.
  2. Add beef on top of guacamole.
  3. Grab with your fingers (or use a fork) and bite into your delicious creation!

This meal is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocados, once again. I highly recommend adding this recipe to your list of “must try”, it’ll be love at first bite!

Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

What you need for Tostone Taco Bites:

Want more healthy dinner recipes? You’re going to love these …

Tostone Taco Bites AIP Paleo

Tostone Taco Bites

It'll be love at first bite with this Tostone Taco Bites recipe! This dish is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado, PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocado, once again. So whether it's Taco Tuesday or just a regular night, you've got to try this paleo & AIP friendly dish!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: AIP, Paleo
Servings: 3

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb ground beef⁠, grass-fed
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped⁠
  • 2 cloves garlic, ⁠sliced
  • 1 zucchini, chopped⁠ (optional)
  • 1 pack mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 large green plantains, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
  • 1-2 avocados
  • ½ lime, juice only
  • Avocado oil
  • Sea salt & black pepper, to taste

TACO SEASONING:

  • 2 tsp dried oregano⁠
  • 1 tsp garlic powder⁠
  • 1 tsp onion powder⁠
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon⁠
  • ½ tsp sea salt⁠

Instructions
 

  • Sauté onion and garlic in 1 tbsp avocado oil until fragrant, then add in zucchini and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add ground beef and taco seasoning. Break a part meat and cook until liquid evaporates and meat is browned.⁠
  • While beef is cooking, use another large pan to cook the plantains. Cover bottom of pan in avocado oil, heat oil then add plantain slices and fry on both sides until golden (roughly 2-minutes per side).⁠ Season with salt.
  • Remove plantains from pan and gently smash until flattened (I smash my plantains between two pieces of parchment paper with a mug or can).⁠
  • Add smashed plantains back to the pan and fry again on both sides until golden brown.⁠ Now you have tostones!
  • Mash avocado in a bowl, add lime juice, sea salt, black pepper and a pinch of garlic powder.
  • Place everything onto a dish, as shown in photo, and assemble your tostone tacos as you eat them!
Keyword autoimmune protocol, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, grass fed beef, healthy dinner, paleo diet, plantains, quick meals, tacos

 

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars (AIP, Nut & Dairy Free)

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars (AIP, Nut & Dairy Free)

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars are rich & creamy with a hint of tartness and tiger nut crunch. The perfect cheesecake recipe if you’re following an AIP, plant-based, nut or dairy free diet.

DID YOU KNOW? Tiger nuts are recommended for healthy skin, weight management, and fertility—all because of vitamin E!

One serving of tiger nuts provides you with 278% of the daily recommended value–that’s 3mg of vitamin E!

Vitamin E is important to our health due to its powerful antioxidant properties that may help reduce free radical damage and slow the aging process of your cells.

Free radicals not only weaken and break down healthy cells, but these molecules may also contribute to heart disease and cancer.

It’s important to have a diet rich in antioxidants to protect yourself from oxidative damage over time, and tiger nuts are a great source of antioxidants.

If you’re looking for tasty ways to add more tiger nuts to your diet, check out some of my tiger nut recipes (including the yummy cheesecake below!).

tiger nut lemon cheesecake bars

What you need for Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars:

Want more tiger nut recipes? You’re going to love these …

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars are rich & creamy with a hint of tartness and tiger nut crunch. The perfect cheesecake recipe if you're following an AIP, plant-based, nut or dairy free diet.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Freezer Time: 5 hours
Course: Dessert, Snack/Treat
Cuisine: AIP, Paleo, Plant-Based
Servings: 9 bars

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup skinned tiger nuts, soaked & drained
  • 6 tbsp maple syrup
  • 6 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 tbsp coconut oil, melted & cooled
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 drops food-grade lemon essential oil, optional
  • ¼ tsp sea salt

Toppings

  • 2 tbsp crushed tiger nuts, use a food processor for this
  • Fresh berries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries

Instructions
 

  • Put tiger nuts in a jar, fill with water and let soak in fridge for 12+ hours. Drain well.
  • Process all filling ingredients in a high-powered blender until completely smooth. Note: Tiger nuts are not easy to breakdown, so you may need to blend for a while, scraping the sides of the blender along the way.
  • Transfer cheesecake filling into small glass container (~5"x 5") lined with parchment paper and smooth out.
  • Freeze for at least 5 hours. Remove cheesecake from container and slice into bars. Thaw out briefly, decorate with toppings and serve. Keep remaining bars refrigerated for up to a week or in the freezer for longer.
Keyword coconut oil, dairy free, Egg free, gluten free, grain free, healthy cheesecake, lemon, nut free, tiger nuts