Crunchy Pork Belly

I find this method the easiest way to get crunchy pork belly. You can season the pork however you like. I've done Five spice,  char sui style. I only season the underside before putting the pork under the broiler. The skin doesn't need seasoning and it'll burn off under the broiler in the oven anyway.

Chili Oil (Jeaw Mak Phet) and Shallot Oil

I love using Chili Oil and Shallot Oil as condiments. They are often seen in many Asian restaurants. They are used for Dim Sum, Congee, in Noodle bowls such as Ramen, Khao Piek Sen, Pho, etc. Just about anything you want to add spice or garlic/shallot flavor to. They are also used in cooking, for stir fry and soup bases. In Laos this would be called Jeaw Mak Phet.

As with a lot of cooking there are no set measurements for these oils.  Play with the flavor combinations to come up with your favorite. In Chinese Chili Oil there is often bay leaf, star anise, sesame seeds sometimes cinnamon. I know the local Ramen place near me adds Sichuan peppercorn which I love and add to mine.  

Butter Stewed Potatoes (Instant Pot)

What's not to love about butter and potatoes? Making these potatoes in the Instant Pot is nice and hands off. The onion is optional, so is the cream. I know that some recipes call for flour, and milk to cook with the potatoes. I like them this way. Butter Stewed Potatoes are a great side dish, and quick to make. I used to make them on the stove, the pressure cooker is easier for me.

Maple Almond Bacon

I recently went to brunch and they have Maple Pecan bacon. It was so yummy. My oldest can not eat pecans so I thought I would recreate that bacon at home for her with a nut she can have. This is very simple to make. The salty sweet crunchy flavors and texture combined is satisfying, the almonds and bacon both get a little caramelized from the maple syrup.  This bacon is great for breakfast, brunch, on top of a salad, on top of a creamy soup, or served as hors d'oeuvres. 

Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry

This is a very simple way to prepare baby bok choy. I don't always add sesame seeds or coconut amnios- fish sauce or soy sauce (not for Whole30 though) can be substituted. Often times other than the garlic and chilies I don't add anything. It seems like it would be bland but the bok choy has great flavor and we like it. This can be served as a side dish. We've had it with Curry Pork Chops, with broiled or baked fish, with steak, over rice or quinoa.

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 Whole 30

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Vegetarian Red Curry

I love red curry, it's probably my favorite Thai curry. This is a Whole30 compliant dish, it could be used as a side with fat built in from the coconut milk. If not on a Whole30 round I like to add medium firm tofu to this. I usually pan fry the tofu first to get it crispy, then make the curry and stir it in after. This is an easy dish to make. If you're going to be pressed for time you can even prepare all the vegetables the day before. This can be made Vegan if you use a vegan curry paste and leave out the fish sauce, subbing for salt.

I have two store bought red curry paste brands that I have used. Both are Whole30 compliant, only one is vegan. That brand is Thai Kitchen brand. The other brand of paste I use is Mae Ploy brand. Which is very yummy but it has shrimp in it. I like both brands, the Mae Ploy does have more umami flavor to it.

Red Curry Meatballs

Red Curry Meatballs wrapped in lettuce with a bunch of vegetables. So yum and Whole 30 compliant.

These Red Curry Meatballs are easy to make and Whole 30 compliant,but so full of flavor. Tender, spicy, and so good. They also freeze well for quick meals and to pack in lunches. I love meals that can do double duty and freeze well! It saves time and saves me when I don't feel like cooking but we all need to eat.

Freezer Tip: Spa Water Add Ins

Quick freezer tip for infused waters here today! I usually drink water all day, with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Sometimes I'll infuse my water with herbs, fruits, and/or vegetables. It's refreshing and healthy!

Creamy Swiss Chard

You should stop whatever you are doing and make this. Or at the very least put Swiss Chard on your grocery list and read on. I love this, the coconut makes the chard a bit sweet, and so creamy with a spice from the pepper flakes. I usually use ground dried Thai chili powder but red pepper flakes are great and I have used them also. I've had this for dinner, for breakfast. It's so yummy. You won't even miss the cream!

Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette

It's the warmer weather that's got us eating more salads! I love fresh crisp salads. I don't use a lot of dressing, I used to drench my salads in dressing as a kid. Now I like just a little for flavor. Because I don't use a lot I like the flavors to be bold. This Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette is just that, bold, spicy, and flavorful.
It is whole30 compliant so it has no added sugar, no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no grains. It keeps well in the fridge and if you get the emulsion right it's nice and creamy. If you like a thinner dressing, add a little more vinegar or water.

Non-Dairy Creamer, Paleo Coffee Frappe

Non-Dairy Creamer that is Whole30 and Paleo compliant.

If you've been following my Instagram (@peasknees), you know that I recently finished my first round of Whole30. I had a whole month where I didn't drink any coffee. I drank tea twice with this "creamer" like this, and the rest of the time I drank my tea plain. I have to say I really missed my cups of tea in the afternoon with half and half and sweetener - which is normally one dehydrated Stevia leaf. I still miss sweetener but I found something I really enjoy in both coffee and tea. Cold or hot.  This doesn't taste dairy half and half. But it makes drinks creamy and adds flavor. It's really good.

Sesame Ginger Salad and Kabobs

Whole 30 Sesame Ginger Skewers.

This meal is pretty quick to put together. The marinade doubles as a salad dressing that we just love. Because this is a Whole 30 complaint meal there is no soy, dairy, gluten, grains, or processed sugar. I promise you won't even miss them! My oldest kids and I have this favorite Korean BBQ place that we used to go to before I started Whole 30. They have this salad that is so good, it's light but flavorful. We ask for 3 bowls to share each time we go! Each bowl has a few servings. One day I was making this marinade and my oldest child walked by and goes "Mom, what is that smell! It smells like my favorite salad from the Korean place!" So I asked her to taste it and she said it's even better because the ginger has a kick. The restaurant doesn't use ginger. She asked me to not use all of it for a marinade so she could have it over salad. That is how this Sesame Ginger Salad came about.

Oven Roasted Crispy Chicken Thighs

These Crispy Chicken Thighs are much like the ones posted HERE, the only difference is that I was too lazy to de-bone them and I didn't want to fry them on the stove splattering grease. So I put them in the oven. It worked beautifully. I love cooking chicken with the skin on then cranking up the heat to get a good crispy skin. So follow the link or scroll on down for the recipe.
This chicken is Whole 30/Paleo/Primal compliant that means it's also sugar, dairy, and gluten free. Because I serve it to my kiddo it's also nut free.

Green Chile Chicken Soup

Whole30 Green Chile Chicken Soup

This soup is just something that you can do with leftover chicken. I use the bones to make a stock and build the flavors from there. You can find my stock method here.  I have green chile roasted in my freezer. If you can not find Hatch Green Chile, you can substitute roasted, peeled Poblano peppers or Anaheim peppers. They won't be the same but they will be good. I actually ran out of what is pictured below and had to order some online.

Once you have those ingredients on hand it's really easy. There's only a ten minute cooking time in the Instant Pot, plus about 5 minutes resting time. You can get this on the table in under 30 minutes even if you use a pot on the stove though.

This isn't an authentic Green Chile Stew, it's a quick complaint Whole30 soup that is flavorful and delicious though. It's perfect to have for leftovers also.

Click to find more Whole 30

Paleo

Primal 

recipes here on Give Peas A Chance, or use the search function. 

Here's a quick video I posted on Instagram.

Green Chile Chicken Soup

(5-6 servings)

Ghee or oil to saute

1 small onion, chopped

3 medium sized red potatoes, chopped or whatever kind you have

2 garlic cloves minced

3 tomatoes, chopped

3/4-1 pound roasted, peeled hatch green chiles chopped

1 tablespoon homemade taco seasoning*

Salt

Pepper

4-5 cups stock

Shredded chicken

Serve with:

Cilantro- chopped

Lime juice

Chopped avocado

*If you don't have this taco seasoning made up use

1/2-3/4 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon marjoram

Instant Pot Method

1. Hit the SAUTE button and set it to high.
2. Add ghee or cooking oil to the pot, about 1 tablespoon.
3. Add onion, garlic, potatoes. I add them as I chop them.
4. Stir occasionally, cook until onions begin to look translucent.
5. Add remaining ingredients.
6. Cancel the SAUTE mode and set the Instant Pot to MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE for 10 minutes. After the cooking time is over let this set for 5-10 minutes. 
7. Slowly release the remaining pressure.
8. Season to taste.
9. Serve with cilantro, lime wedges and chopped avocado.

Stove Top Method

1. Add oil or ghee to a pot or dutch oven over medium high heat.
2. Add onion, garlic, potatoes as you chop them to the pan.
3. Cook until the onions are almost translucent.
4. Add remaining ingredients and bring the pot to a boil.
5. Turn the flame down to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Season to taste.

Serve with cilantro, lime wedges, and chopped avocado.

Chirashi Bowl

Nothing fancy here as far as ingredients. But it was a yummy Whole30 compliant lunch. Down to the 100% natural wasabi and Coconut amnios instead of soy sauce. Which I will say neither are as good as what I'm used to, which is bright green not real wasabi and soy sauce. 

BLT Salad With Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette

I love when the weather gets warmer, I tend to crave crisp lettuce greens and fresh vegetables more. I call it salad weather. I'll eat salads in the winter, I just crave them less when it's cold out. This BLT salad is simple and the vinaigrette can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator.  The whole salad is a great for meal prep, keep all the vegetables washed and ready, the bacon can be made ahead of time, the steak is optional but it can also be made ahead.

Chicken Chicharrón

I'm not sure Crispy Chicken Chips, Chicken Chicharrón is a thing, but this is good and it now is a thing right here, right now. Like bacon good to me. Maybe better because it's so crispy. They are like Chicharron/Chicharrón but different animal. It's wrong, you say? Then I don't want to be right.

Geang Phet Thalei (Red Curry Seafood Soup)

/..

I wasn't sure what to call this so I names it Geang Phet Thalei, which is spicy seafood soup in Lao, or literally geang "soup", phet "spicy", thalei "sea". Sounds legit right? Let's roll with it. This is one of the quickest, yummiest Whole30 lunches I threw together so far. The beauty is that it has 3/4 can of coconut milk so I didn't even have to add a plated fat. If I had more/different vegetables I would have thrown them in. I don't really consider mushrooms a vegetable but, let's just go with that also. They are really good though. A creamy pumpkin would be so yummy in this though. I ate this whole recipe like a soup. By myself. I suppose it's two servings if you serve it with rice, cauliflower rice. with a sweet potato. But nope. I. Ate. It. All.

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

Here is a quick Whole30 Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs for you. I find the easiest way to cook the spaghetti squash is in the Instant Pot. It can be cooked ahead of time and heated in the oven while the meatballs cook in the sauce. I prep the meatballs ahead of time also, they can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days or put in the freezer. I have not baked the meatballs from frozen, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You would have to adjust the time and add a little water to the sauce so it doesn't burn or dry out.
This was a big hit with my family. Everyone loved the meatballs. They aren't as tender as meatballs that have a bread crumb in them to me, but no one in my family said a word about it. My youngest isn't the biggest fan of spaghetti squash though. The meatballs would work with zucchini noodles also.

Fusion Seen Dat (Lao BBQ)

This isn't a true Lao Seen Dat, the marinades and sauces I developed from flavors we enjoy. It's more a fusion I guess. But Seen in Lao is "meat", Dat means to sear. This method is used to cook meats to wrap in lettuce or rice paper wraps. It's so yummy.