Pear & Hazelnut Chocolate Brownies

 

Nutrition: Makes 16 | Carbs: Approx 10g per brownie

Ingredients:

  • 60g pitted dates finely chopped
  • 60g coconut oil (or softened butter) + extra to grease
  • 3 eggs
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 1 pear quartered & cored, skin on
  • 140g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
  • 25g Brazil nuts, chopped
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180oC & grease a 20cm square cake tin.
  2. Put the dates in a small saucepan with a splash of water. cover and gently simmer for 3-5 minutes or until they soften.
  3. allow them to cool, then blend them with the coconut oil in a food processor or with a hand blender.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the eggs, then the ground almonds, and beat until everything is incorporated.
  5. Dice the pear into 1/2cm squares and stir it into the mixture too, along with the Brazil nuts.
  6. Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over, but not touching, a pan of steaming water (or microwave it on a medium heat for 1-2 mins).
  7. Allow it to cool a bit before stirring it into the brownie mixture.
  8. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake it for 15-20 mins, or until a knife comes out clean.

Serving suggestion:

Delicious with a dollop of creme fraiche.

Lamb Skewers

You will need kebab skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 mins first to prevent them burning

Nutrition: Makes 4 | Carbs: Approx 1-2g per portion

Ingredients:

  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • 450g good quality lamb mince
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 bunch of fresh coriander leaves (washed and chopped)
  • 2 cloves of garlic crushed (or equivalent garlic paste)
  • 2 red chillies deseeded and chopped (or equivalent chilli paste)
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • 2 tsp fresh grated ginger (or equivalent ginger paste)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Mix lemon juice with mince in a large bowl
  2. Blend the remaining ingredients (except the fresh coriander) to a paste in a food processor. If using garlic, chilli and ginger paste you can mix with a spoon)
  3. Stir the paste and the fresh coriander into the mince and divide the mixture into four
  4. With wet hands form the mixture into sausage shapes around skewers, pressing gently all round until a firm shape is formed
  5. Brush each kebab with a little olive oil and grill under a medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Can also be cooked on BBQ.

Serving suggestion:
Greek salad, yoghurt and cucumber dip, ‘fathead pizza dough’ flatbread

Fathead Pizza

Fathead pizza is a delicious addition to your low carb high fat diet. The finished fathead pizza looks and tastes just like it’s high carb cousin, but with few carbs and fantastic taste this is a treat that you’re going to want to keep as part of your low carb eating plan.

Image: Fat Head Pizza with Chicken, mushrooms, basil and cheddar cheese

Nutrition: 24g carbohydrate in the recipe – makes six portions |  =4g carbohydrate per portion (not including your toppings)

Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 360ml pre-grated mozzarella cheese
  • 100g almond flour
  • 2 tbsp cream cheese
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
  2. Gently heat mozzarella and cream cheese in a small, non-stick pan on medium heat or place in a glass bowl in the microwave for 30 – 60 seconds
  3. Beat mixture until they melt together
  4. Add the other ingredients and mix well
  5. Coat dough with a little olive oil to help it come out of the bowl cleanly, tip out of bowl and flatten between 2 sheets of parchment paper using a rolling pin to your desired thickness.
  6. Remove top parchment sheet and prick dough with a fork all over
  7. Optional: sprinkle with dried herbs, spread with garlic paste
  8. Bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes until golden brown
  9. Once removed from the oven you can and add toppings of choice (e.g. tomato paste, cheese, tuna, chicken, sautéed onions, soften bell peppers etc.) before re-baking until topping is heated through/additional cheese has melted (5-8 mins).

Lasagne

Lasagna with just 5 ingredients? No way! Yes way. Warning: You may start questioning if lasagna ever had pasta in it in the first place.

Nutrition: 573 calories per serving | Makes 4 servings | 146 grams of fat | 133 grams of protein | 15 grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 4o mins

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1 large zucchini
  • 10 oz. ricotta cheese
  • 4 oz shredded mozzarella

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Peel the zucchini into strips using a vegetable peeler and set aside the cores. Salt the strips and let them sit for 15 minutes. After that, gently squeeze out the excess water using a clean kitchen towel.
  2. Brown the ground beef in an oiled frying pan. Add marinara and season well with salt and pepper.
  3. Layer into a 9×9″ casserole dish: meat, cover with zucchini strips, ricotta, meat, cover with zucchini strips, ricotta, mozzarella.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, broil uncovered for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the top.

Loaded Cobb Salad

Cobb salads are a safe, low-carb option in restaurants, but who needs a restaurant to enjoy it? Make your own super fitting lunch and enjoy!

Nutrition: 400 calories per serving | 36 grams of fat | 113 grams of protein | 3 grams of net carbs | Makes 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 strips bacon, chopped
  • 2 handfuls baby spinach
  • 2 large eggs, hard boiled
  • 1 small avocado
  • 3 tbsp. ranch dressing

Instructions

  1. Fry the chopped bacon in a pan on medium heat until you have crispy bite-sized pieces.
  2. In the meantime, make a bed of baby spinach in two bowls.
  3. Chop the eggs and avocado and divide them evenly into each bowl on top of the bed of baby spinach.
  4. Add the fried bacon bits to each salad.
  5. Top each salad with ranch dressing and serve!

Savoury Bacon Pancakes

Not your ordinary pancakes! These bacon pancakes are savory, salty and hearty — perfect for a super filling and unexpected breakfast.

Nutrition: 420 calories per serving | Makes 2 servings | 132 grams of fat | 125 grams of protein | 14 grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. cream cheese
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 6 strips bacon
  • 2 stalks green onion, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon until desired crispiness, then chop it into bits.
  2. Add cream cheese, eggs and baking powder into a small blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Add the bacon bits and chopped green onion and stir them in.
  4. Pour the batter onto a pan or griddle on medium heat and cook until bubbles start to form at the surface, about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Flip and cook for another minute. Serve with a sprinkle of green onion and enjoy!

Hollandaise Salmon

Zesty and creamy! Hollancalse sauce pairs perfectly with the flavor and texture of salmon. Easier to make than you think!

Nutrition: 415 calories per serving | Makes 2 servings | 28 grams of fat | 37 grams of protein | 3 grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 x 6-oz. salmon fillets
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 large zucchini

Instructions

  1. Pan fry the salmon fillets for 5 minutes on each side. Set them aside after cooking.
  2. Whisk the egg yolk in a double boiler until pale yellow. Add lemon juice and whisk until thickened.
  3. Add a tablespoon of butter at a time until each is incorporated into the sauce. Add a teaspoon of water if the sauce becomes too thick.
  4. Spiralize the zucchini into zoodles using a vegetable spiralizer. Fry the zoodles in a lightly oiled pan for no longer than 2 minutes, tossing continuously.
  5. Serve everything together and enjoy!

Cheddar Chips and Guacamole

This popular appetizer turned low-carb is surprisingly filling! Lots of healthy fats from avocado and cheddar cheese make this a delicious lunch.

Nutrition: 420 calories per serving | Makes 1 serving | 35 grams of fat | 116 grams of protein |  15 grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 roma tomato, diced
  • 1 tbsp. white onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp. lime juice

Instructions

  1. Add the shredded cheddar in a thin layer to a pan on medium heat Let it melt and caramelize until golden all around, about 10 minutes. When it has solidified and browned a bit, flip it and cook for another 2 minutes.
  2. Mash together the avocado, tomato, onion and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Serve together and enjoy!

Poached Eggs and Greens

A salad-inspired breakfast can be a refreshing break from the cooked, fried and baked breakfasts you may be used to.

Nutrition: 400 calories per serving | Makes 2 servings  | 132 grams of fat | 122 grams of protein | 13grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time:15 mins

Ingredients:

4 large eggs

6 strips bacon

1/4 red onion, sliced

2 handfuls baby spinach

1 tsp. paprika

Instructions:

  1. Gently poach the eggs in lightly boiling water for about 3 minutes each.
  2. Cook the bacon strips and the red onion together until crispy.
  3. Chop the bacon strips and add them and the red onion onto a bed of fresh baby spinach.
  4. Pour a tablespoon of bacon grease onto each salad as a dressing. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.
  5. Add the poached eggs on top and a sprinkle of paprika. Enjoy!

Ham and Cheddar Quiche

Breakfast for dinner! This hearty, crustless quiche is a great, one-pan dinner that bakes white you set the table!

Nutrition: 370 calories per serving | Makes 4 servings | 130 grams of fat | 120 grams of protein | 11.7 grams of net carbs

Prep Time: 8 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup ham, cubed
  • 4 stalks green onion

Instructions:

  1. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk with heavy cream until pale yellow.
  2. Add in cheddar, ham, chopped green onion and salt and pepper. Stir until well incorporated.
  3. Add quiche batter to an oven-safe pan or a cast iron skillet. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.
  4. Allow to coot lightly then slice and serve.