Keto Lowcarb Polenta

Croatian’s love their polenta, and my gluten-free low carb cheesy recipe takes this dish to new levels. My version of this staple Croatian dish has all the flavours and textures of a true classic, but without all the carbs. In Croatia, polenta is typically made with cornmeal, and served with a sauce. I made mine with yellow squash which resembles its cousin the ‘zucchini’. Along with the finest cheesy and buttery ingredients.

My polenta is so easy to make and perfect as a side dish. Plus this healthy low carb alternative to a traditional polenta is made in half the time.

In certain regions of Croatia polenta is called zganci, and is typically eaten with cream, yogurt, or kefir for breakfast.

As you can see, there are many ways to enjoy this low carb gluten free version of polenta. Serve it as is, or add a dollop of sour cream or as my oldest son did enjoy with a Dalmatian beef stew (Pasticada). YUM, so decisions.

Low Carb Polenta

Ingredients

3 medium yellow squash which is right beside the Zucchini in the supermarket

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1/4 cup  full fat cream cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1.4 teaspoon black pepper

Salt

Directions

1. Cut off ends of squash and chop, as shown in first picture. Add squash in food processor and finely chop until it resembles fine corse texture.

2. In a sauce pan add butter over medium heat, allow butter to melt.  Add finely chopped squash from the food processor to pan and simmer for 5 minutes on medium heat.

3. Add the cream cheese and mix until melted and combine.  Add parmesan cheese then cook over low/medium until cheese is fully melted and combined. Enjoy.

Croatian Blackened Cod

How to make a traditional Croatian fish dish as a low carb version? Come and see….

In Croatia, cod is known as “Bakalar” and is usually served at Christmas as a hearty stew with potatoes. I decided to make this Croatian delicacy into a low-carb gluten free option and enjoy around the pool this summer. Cod is an easy and delicious fish to prepare. I decided to make it into a one sheet pan meal for easy prep and clean up. This dish is perfect for any night of the week. I added some radishes and broccoli along with lemon slices to make the dish pop.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients

2 pieces of Cod about 15 ounces or about 1 pound

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons of your favourite cajun seasoning

1 lemon cut into think slices

4 radishes cut in half

1 head of broccoli

Salt/Pepper

THE PREPARATION: SO EASY

Directions

Set the oven on to 400 F

1. Clean and cut broccoli, and radishes. Lay the vegetables evenly on the sheet pan. Drizzle with two tablespoons of olive oil. Making sure to coat all the vegetables and season with salt.

2. Clean fish and pat dry with paper towel. Season with cajun spice. Rub two tablespoons olive oil onto the fish and set evenly on the sheet pan next to the vegetables.

3. Add the lemon wedges.

4. Back in oven for 15 minutes.

Serve

Remove sheet pan from the oven and place on nice tray. Remember to add charred lemon wedges and enjoy.

Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Cilantro lime dressing is so fresh and packed with flavour, plus it only takes a few quick minutes to make. The dressing is so versatile and can be used in salads, on chicken fajitas, with your shrimp, or on your tuna salads. I love making this dressing and having it in the fridge for my family to grab. It’s much better than the store bought version.

Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Ingredients

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 cup of fresh cilantro

1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup of mayonnise

1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions: Place all ingredients in blender and blend for several minutes until pureed and creamy.

Low carb Basil Biscuits

Low carb Lovers are your ready for some biscuits to start your day? I promise these easy to make savoury parmesan cheese basil biscuits will make your day.

Ingredients

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

You will need:

1 1/2 cup Almond flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

2 large eggs

1/4 cup sour cream

4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

2 tablespoons basil cut in strips

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Mix dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, add melted (cooled butter- if too hot it will cook the eggs) add sour cream. Then mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Fold in the parmesan cheese and basil. Place parchment paper to the baking sheet, and scoop out soft fluffy dough into balls. It should make roughly nine balls of biscuits. Place in oven and bake for 10-11 minutes.

Low Carb Cream of Mushroom Soup

Am I crazy for thinking my kids will want to try this velvety cream of mushroom soup? Maybe, but I’m gonna try. Homemade cream of mushroom tastes so different than the canned stuff, plus my version is low carb which means no added flour or cornstartch.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound of white mushrooms

1 shallot-chopped

2 cloves of garlic minced

2 tablespoons of grated ginger

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup of broth- I used beef broth- but use what you have or prefer

1/2 cup of heavy cream

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot, add shallots and sauté on medium heat for 2 minutes. Allow onions to get soft but not burn. Stir in garlic, and ginger.

2. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Stir and continue to cook until juices evaporate

3. Add broth and reduce heat

4. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes

5. In batches, blend the soup until smooth using your blender or immersion blender

6. Transfer pureed mushrooms to pot and add heavy cream

7. Simmer for another 3 minutes on low heat.

8. Season with salt and pepper and herbs like thyme, or parsley.

Keto Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch dressing is the best, and it’s easy to make.  I have to admit that I never liked ranch, so the thought of making it didn’t excite me.  Until I decided to make these Keto Blue Cheese Buffalo Turkey sliders. I knew that a simple ranch dressing was going to put these sliders over the top, and guess what? it did.    

I guarantee that once you start to make your own ranch dressing you won’t want to go back to that store bought stuff.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt (you may want to add more)

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

• fresh chopped chives

Instructions

1. Add mayo and rest of the ingredients in a mason jar.

2. whisk the ingredients together until combined

3. Serve with your salad, or place in mason jar with lid and store in fridge for up to one week. 

Blue Cheese Buffalo Turkey Sliders

Ingredients

-1 pound ground turkey

-1 egg (beaten)

-1 green onion died

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 ounce of blue cheese crumbled

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup almond flower 

1 teaspoon mayo 

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon ghee or extra virgin olive oil for frying

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onions. Mix together.

2. Add the beaten egg, mayo, almond flower.  Mix with your hand until everything is combined.

3. Add the crumbled blue cheese and mix well.

4. Make 6 round balls and flatten, place on plate

5. Heat a large skillet on medium heat- add oil or ghee.

6. Let each patten cook 6 minutes on each side.  Make sure to check and see that the middle is cooked through

7. Remove and add on plate and add ranch, chopped chives and fresh dill.