Tag Archives: eating clean

Gluten Free Healthy Meatballs in San Marzano Tomatoes + Carrot Sauce

14 Jan

 

It doesn’t matter where you are from, every country and culture has their version of meatballs. Meatballs are easy to make, and a great way to get kids involved in cooking.

Purists believe the perfect meatball must have a combination of beef and pork. Some use lamb, and I have eaten some mighty tasty chicken and turkey meatballs. The key is to add some type of starch and eggs to the mixture, so it will all stick together and not crumble. Breadcrumbs are a family favorite, and so is old bread soaked in milk. For these recipe I used Brown Rice Flour because I did not have any bread at hand.

 Ingredients

1 lb Organic Grass Fed ground beef

1 small sweet onion, grated or shredded in food processor

¼ cup chives or green onions, chopped

¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp kosher salt

ground black pepper to taste

1 pasture raised egg

1 tbsp brown rice flour

Method

  1. Mix all ingredients together with your hands. Make 1 tbsp size balls and pace them in a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove the sheet pan from the oven, and remove the fat that accumulates around each meatball with a butter knife. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Discard the parchment paper. In the same sheet pan, place a cookie baking rack and place the meatballs. Bake for another 10 minutes.
  3. After the tomato sauce is ready, place the meatballs in the sauce pan with the lid on and let the flavors meld for 15 minutes on low.

San Marzano Tomatoes and Carrot Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp ghee, or unsalted butter

1 can of San Marzano Tomatoes (1Lb 12 oz)

¼ cup organic tomato paste

1 small sweet onion, grated or shredded in food processor

2 medium organic carrots, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ cup red wine

1 tbsp demerara sugar (raw sugar)

1 tsp red chilli flakes

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1 bay leaf

kosher salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. In a medium heated pan, add the olive oil and butter. Add the onions and let them sweat until translucent, for about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, basil, red chili flakes, and carrots and let them cook for about 5 minutes. Add the red wine and let it cook until the alcohol evaporates.
  2. Add the tomato paste, demerara sugar(raw sugar), and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Let it come to a boil, and turn the heat down to low. Place a lid in the pan, and let it simmer on low for about 2 hours.
  4. Remove the bay leaf. Using an emulsion blender, blend the sauce until it is smooth.

GFMeatballs2

Bom Apetite!

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Chocolate Mousse Gluten Free+Dairy Free +Refined Sugar Free

2 Oct

ChocoMousse

Some days Everyday I am craving Chocolate! I try to contain my obsession, but my love for such beloved gift from Nature is deep. Sure, milk chocolate is good, but I do not want all that junk on it every time. I much prefer dark chocolate with little or no sugar, semisweet and bittersweet chocolate. I am also a big fan of Cacao Nibs and Organic and Raw Cacao Powder, and I use it in my smoothies, sauces, and desserts.

Carob is also a good substitute for chocolate. Let me rephrase it, there is no substitute for chocolate. However, if you ever find yourself trying to stay away from chocolate try Carob. It comes from a Mediterranean tree pod and has a naturally sweet taste that “reminds me” of chocolate. It is also low in fat, high in fiber, contains calcium and no caffeine. Enough of Carob, the star here today is Chocolate.

Chocolate is the final product of Cacao Beans (from the Theobroma Cacao Tree)processed with sugar, cacao butter and milk. Cacao Nibs are the roasted seeds with no additives, and when they are dried at a very low temperature they are called Raw. Cacao Powder is made from ground Cacao Nibs.

Cacao Beans are packed with Magnesium (muscle and nerve function), Iron (red blood cells production), Fiber (we need 32 g per day), Antioxidants (fight free radicals which cause damage to the cells), and Anandamides (lipid that has “feel-good” properties).

Today I am sharing an extremely easy, delicious and nutritious recipe I make every time I crave all that goodness. I usually eyeball the measures, because the amount of Honey, Cacao Powder and Milk depends on the texture and sweetness you prefer. Here it it:

 

Ingredients:

  • 4 hass avocados
  • 3 Tbsp Raw Organic Cacao Powder (I like Dagoba and Navitas)
  • 3 Tbsp Raw Unfiltered Honey or Maple Syrup
  • 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds
  • 1 1/2 cup Almond/Coconut milk, or whatever milk you prefer
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • A pinch of Pink Himalayan Salt

Method:

In a blender ( I use Vitamix), add the meat of the avocados, and all other ingredients. Pulse (I pulse mine in the Frozen Desserts setting of my Vitamix) until all the ingredients are incorporated and taste it. You might need to add more liquid if the mix is not mixing, please be careful not to burn your blender’s engine. You might need to add more honey or cacao.

Once it has obtained a creamy texture, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Please keep in mind that the Chia Seeds are going to help thicken the mousse*, so make sure it is not very thick before you refrigerate it.

Add crunchy toppings for texture. My favorites are Toasted Coconut, Ground Nuts, Cacao Nibs, Granola, and Berries.

* Chia seeds contain soluble and insoluble fiber which absorbs liquid creating a thick gel.

Bom Apetite!

 

 

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