Woah! Savour the goodness of Crustless Quiche! *Recipe Time*
by Ema Jones
We have made your dinner plans sorted with the easy recipes of Crustless Quiche. Binge on this low carb yumminess with the super easy recipe.
Get set go!
YIELDS:6 SERVINGS
TOTAL TIME: 40 MINS Ingredients Required
1 tbsp. butter
8 oz. cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 shallot, minced
2 c. loosely packed spinach
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 large eggs
1/4 c. whole milk
1/4 c. oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan Method to Prepare
Preheat oven to 375°. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
Add mushrooms and let cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes. Stir and continue to cook until mushrooms are tender and golden, 5 to 6 minutes.
Add shallot and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, tomatoes, and Parmesan. Fold in the mushroom mixture and season again with salt and pepper. Pour into a 8″ to 9″ pie dish and bake until eggs are just set, 18 to 20 minutes.
Let cool 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
Yum Yum Yum!
My comment: This can also be a useful breakfast dish and many different vegetables can be used.
Puttanesca Pork Chops
2 servings Ingredients
2 boneless pork loin chops, each about ¾ inch thick
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 anchovy fillets, minced, or 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste
2 cups cherry or plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
1/4 cup dry white wine
! tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley Directions
Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the pork. Cook, turning once until browned and an instant-read thermometer registers 140°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
Add the wine and cook for one minute. Add the garlic and anchovies (or anchovy paste) to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, olives, capers, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and simmer until the tomatoes break down and the sauce is thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Return the pork and any juices to the pan, turning to coat with the sauce. Top the pork with the sauce.
My husband bought me a new pestle and mortar this week—mainly because we are watching Celebrity MasterChef on the Beeb and every time I spot one of the stars pounding their garlic, I sigh and wish out loud that I had such a big one…
Cue the delivery of a weighty package. I crushed eight cloves of garlic in it at once to celebrate. Vampire-proofed to the max, what else could I do? How about a lamb curry where I roasted whole spices and then pounded them to dust?
This lamb curry in almond sauce is a recipe I adapted from the Spice Sisters Indian cookbook. The whole spices are cumin and fennel seeds, and cardamom, all of which will scent your kitchen beautifully as you roast them. Serve your curry with cauliflower rice or this low-carb naan bread. Normal rice and naan bread will keep the carb-lovers in your family happy.
In a small pan, dry-fry the cumin, fennel and cardamom for a few minutes. Pound to a powder in a pestle and mortar. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the meta in batches until it is browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and add the onions.
Fry until translucent. Add all the other ingredients (except the lamb and the lemon juice) and bring to a simmer. Cook for ten minutes and then use a hand-held blender to make the sauce smooth.
Add the lamb back in, pop on a lid and allow to gently simmer for 30 minutes. Add the lemon juice at the end.
Allow 15g carbs per portion.
The golden rule with curry is it almost always tastes better the next day.
Biscuit Ingredients
200g almond flour
75g Inulin or a tablespoon of granulated sugar substitute
50g butter (soft but not melted)
1 medium egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
20ml double cream Filling Ingredients
30g butter (soft but not melted)
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla extract
Method:
Mix biscuit ingredients. Make into dough. Form into a square shape.
Roll out on silicon liner or parchment.
Mix filling ingredients. Spread on the dough.
Roll up tightly using the silicon paper.
Put in freezer for ten minutes or the fridge for 30 minutes.
Put the oven on to 180 degrees.
Take the dough out of the fridge/freezer and cut into slices.
Arrange these on a silicon sheet and bake for 12-18 minutes depending on thickness of dough slices.
Ingredients
1/2 c. almond flour
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 large eggs
1 tsp. lemon zest
Butter, for frying and serving
Method
— In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, cream cheese, eggs, and lemon zest until smooth.
— In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Pour in about 3 tablespoons batter and cook until golden, 2 minutes. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and continue with the rest of the batter.
— Serve topped with butter.
Banana Bread
Ingredients
1/3 c. coconut flour
1/4 c. almond flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 c. coconut oil
1/4 c. smooth unsweetened almond butter
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
2 tbsp. agave syrup or 1 tbsp. granulated sugar substitute (optional)
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Method
— Preheat oven to 350° and line an 8″-x-5″ loaf pan with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine coconut flour, almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
— In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine coconut oil and almond butter. Microwave until coconut oil is melted and almond butter is more liquid, 10 seconds on high. Whisk in mashed bananas, agave, and vanilla, then whisk in eggs. Gently fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
— Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing.
Some party and outdoor recipe ideas for low-carb courtesy of the Nourishing World Blog.
With the Summer Party season about to get underway, I wanted to share some great keto-Friendly Summer recipes. My Daughter and I recently did another round of the 21-Day Detox and found a few new healthy recipe favorites. This Buffalo Wing Sauce is keto friendly, Paleo and Whole30 friendly. My daughter ate this almost every […]
Ingredients
3 tbsp almond flour (you can switch for coconut flour if preferred)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp butter
1 medium egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk
1 square dark chocolate (over 70% cocoa)
Create It
1. Add all dry ingredients to a mug and mix.
2. Add butter, milk and vanilla extract and mix well.
3. Place mug in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. (Every microwave varies on cooking time so keep an eye on this)
To serve – whip up 2 tbsp double cream and top with berries.
Seafood Stew Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large shallot, diced
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 thin carrot, diced
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
2 cups cauliflower, cut into small florets
½ cup diced rutabaga (or potato)
2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon seafood (Old Bay) seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chili)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 large plum tomato, seeded and diced
3 lbs firm boneless fish fillets (such as halibut, cod, red snapper, sea bass, grouper), cut into small cubes
8 oz medium shrimp, shelled, deveined and tails removed
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley Directions
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoon butter. Add the onion, shallot and garlic. Saute for a minute or two and them add the carrot, celery and bell pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender, 3-4 minutes.
Add the rutabaga and cauliflower. Stir into the vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook the vegetables until the rutabaga and cauliflower are tender.
Remove the cover and add the: salt, pepper, chili flakes, seafood seasoning, thyme, tomato and vinegar. Sir well.
Add the cream, fish cubes and shrimp. Cook stirring the mixture gently for 4-5 minutes or until the fish and shrimp are cooked. Add the parsley and remaining tablespoon butter, heating until the butter is incorporated. Serve in large individual bowls.
My comments: this is a particularly delicious chowder. If you don’t have all the ingredients some are optional. Morrison’s supermarket sells a packet of frozen “fish pie mix” for about £4. Using this with extra prawns, garlic, onion and cream also produces a lovely basic fish stew. Remember my son’s tip about using frozen pre chopped onions if you are short of time or don’t like your hands getting oniony. Jovina’s recipe is more sophisticated.
Who was the first person to look at a cauliflower and a bowl of leftover cheese sauce and think—“My goodness, this will be a match made in heaven?”
Whoever he or she was, I’d like to shake them by the hand. If someone said to me, “Okay it’s your last meal on earth, what do you want?”, I’d say, “Cauliflower cheese, please, and don’t stint the cheese.” As it is my last meal, I’d ask them to top it with crispy breadcrumbs and some grilled bacon rashers for crunch.
[Conversation to the side. HUSBAND: Seriously, that’s your last meal? Not steak, or lobster or even a good burger with all the trimmings? Jeez. Who/what did I marry?]
On Friday night, I was at the Tron Theatre (get me) with friends and noticed the bar menu included curried cauliflower cheese. That set the neurons firing. The world’s best dish made even better?
The Tron’s version would have been made the conventional way—a white sauce with milk and flour to thicken it. Low-carb versions use variations of cream and cream cheese to thicken the sauce. Where would the curry bit come in?
One of the ways to cook cauliflower often recommended to those who hate the stuff* is to roast it in the oven with cumin and coriander seeds and chilli. That takes care of the curry bit. Then, if you combine it with a creamy sauce and grated cheese and pop it back in the oven you have the perfect low-carb cauliflower cheese.
You can serve this as an accompaniment to cold meat such as sliced ham or cooked sausages. Or do as I did—serve yourself a super-big portion with a lightly-dressed green salad. Yum.
The best veggie dish in the world made even better
One large whole cauliflower, broken into even-sized florets
One tbsp turmeric
One tbsp rapeseed oil
One tbsp cumin seeds
One tbsp coriander seeds
One tsp black pepper corns
½ tsp chilli flakes (or more…)
250mls double cream
100g grated cheese (extra mature to vintage cheddar is best)**
1tbsp wholegrain mustard
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Bring a large saucepan of well salted water to the boil, add the turmeric and cook the cauliflower florets for two minutes. Drain well so they are very dry.
Toast the cumin, coriander and pepper in a dry frying pan until the smell of them hits your nose like a sledgehammer and grind to to a powder in a pestle and mortar.
Take a large roasting pan and tip your florets in there. Add the oil and the spices and mix well so the florets are well coated. Cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the cream gently in a pan and add the mustard and most of the grated cheese. Blend well.
Remove the cauliflower florets from the oven. Place in an oven-proof serving dish and pour over the cheese sauce. Top with the rest of the grated cheese and put back in the oven for 20 minutes.
Serve immediately.
Allow about 5-8g carbs per serving
Note—the number of servings depends on the size of cauliflower you started with. Mine was teeny, so my dish made two. If I’d served it as a side dish, three-to four. But we are in glutton territory here. Maybe I pretended the dish above served two and ate the whole lot in one go… no-one else in my household wanted to eat it, after all. Another idea is to prepare the roasted cauliflower as a side dish for any roast meat.
*Didn’t work on my husband. Cauliflower is up there on his list of the Devil’s Foods, along with broccoli, sprouts and blue cheese.
**This is a rough guide. If you choose to double it up, who am I to judge?
Easter greetings to you all… here’s an idea for lunch or dinner for you. Now, Caesar salad without the croutons?! C’est sacrilege, surely? But if you follow a low-carb diet, the concept of tearing up the rule book on food is one you embrace.
I’m back from a terrific few days in the Scottish Borders (abbey-visiting a-plenty), and my favourite meals while there was a Chicken Caesar salad I had in the Townhouse in Melrose. Now that one did feature croutons, albeit small ones, but the dressing and the juicy chicken made it stick out.
I decided to re-create it at home. Issue one—chicken breast, a dry and often flavour-free meat. Issue two—my husband hates anchovies and they’re are often added to the salad or at least the traditional dressing.
Poached, not fried or roasted chicken
To avoid dry chicken, I poached mine in chicken stock (I used two cubes) with a handful of sage and thyme added to the cooking liquor. And to make an anchovy-free dressing*, I found an American recipe online and adapted it.
Here it is—crouton-free Chicken Caesar Salad suitable for low-carb and gluten-free diets.
<em>A fresh, light recipe that is still filling and perfect for a late spring or summer dinner</em>.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts (the best quality you can afford)
500ml chicken stock
Handful fresh sage leaves and several thyme twigs)
3 rashers smoked back or streaky bacon
2 Little Gem lettuces
10 baby plum or cherry tomatoes
30g Parmesan shavings
Dressing
4tbsp mayonnaise
1tbsp fresh lemon juice
1tsp Worcestershire sauce
1tsp Dijon mustard
Steamed green beans to serve (and boiled new potatoes for your carb-lovers).
Bring the chicken stock to a simmer and add the breasts. Depending on their thickness, they will take 10-15 minutes to cook, but you shouldn’t have any pink meat remaining.
Meanwhile, wash the Little Gem lettuces and pull off the outer leaves. Use them to line a wide bowl so you have a ‘tray’ for your salad. Shred the rest of the leaves finely, slice the tomatoes and put in a bowl with the lettuce. Add the Parmesan shavings. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and toss the salad to coat it evenly with the dressing.
Grill the bacon until crispy. Once the chicken is cooked, chop or slice it and add to the plate. Top with the grilled bacon (one and half slices each).
About 5-7g carbs per serving.
Please note—the dish is high in protein and protein can affect your blood sugar levels after a few hours. Test your blood glucose accordingly. Our book The Diabetes Diet outlines how to deal with the protein content in meals.
*Ssh, don’t tell myhusband one of the main ingredients in Worcestershire sauce is… you guessed it, anchovies.
Diabetes Diet 