Here is a compilation of some of our favorite GAPS and Paleo friendly recipes from the web. My list is heavy on baked goods and treats because when it comes to meals, we usually just do meat and veggies, pretty simple. When you are switching to a grain free and sugar free diet, it is hard (with kids, can I say near impossible) to give up baking and and an occasional sweet treat, so I hope the recipes below will give you some inspiration!
~Breads and Muffins~
Primally Inspired’s Easy and Amazing Banana Bread ~ If I could only have one grain free baked goods recipe, I think this would be it. It’s delicious and I love the fact that there is no added sugar. All the sweetness comes from the bananas. One tip: I made this three times in bread form. The first turned out perfectly. The next two were really wet and didn’t totally cook through. Since the recipe doesn’t call for a specific measurement of bananas, the outcome really depends on the size of your bananas. Rather than trying to figure out the perfect ratio, I have taken to making them in muffin form. They come out perfect at a little over 20 minutes. (CF)
Berry Scones from Health, Home and Happiness ~ So good and simple. In our pre-GAPS days, I sometimes used to do chocolate chips instead of the berries. The dough is a really good base to which you can add a variety of things. (AF)
The Urban Poser’s Best Ever Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins ~ Bridget’s favorite. Pumpkin is a no-no in spring and summer for me, so I’m looking forward to having these come the beginning of October. If I remember correctly, I heap the spices. We like spice. (AF)
Primally Inspired’s Lemon Bread with Lemon Glaze ~ I’ve only made this bread once, because it is more time consuming, and I don’t have a lot of time. But it’s really good, especially with the glaze. I think half the amount of glaze is the perfect amount and it adds a lot more lemony brightness to the bread.
~Sandwich Breads, Wraps, Etc.~
Nourished And Nurtured’s Grain Free Sandwich Bread ~ This bread works great for sweet or savory sandwiches as well as butter and jam. If you are new to grain free eating, please understand that you won’t be able to produce a chewy, crusty loaf like you are probably used to. The texture is much more similar to a quick bread. (AF/CF)
Coconut Flour Bread from Nourished Kitchen ~ I like how nutrient dense this bread is: a dozen eggs and a half pound of butter in one loaf. It’s a nice bread, especially for those who can’t do almond flour, but I do prefer the texture of the first bread. This one is a little more grainy (a bit like corn bread). Also, I find the bake time to be way off. In my experience it needs about 65 minutes. (CF)
Cauliflower Wraps from Empowered Sustenance ~ Tacos are one of my kids’ very favorite meals. They were thrilled to start eating them again after finding this recipe. And for a mom with a boy who is picky about veggies, these are awesome. Some nights Jonas eats a half a head of cauliflower and he doesn’t even know it. (That’s right; he has yet to realize what they are made of). They are a bit time intensive but worth it. I usually double the batch.
Butternut Squash Flatbread from Empowered Sustenance ~ Love these. Quick to make, tasty and hold up well. While pliable, they do tend to crack if you use it as a wrap, though my kids successfully use it in place of a hotdog bun. In general, best kept flat. Great for sandwich type stuff and little pizzas. The recipe yields a small amount. I usually quadruple it. They keep well in the fridge. (CF)
Against All Grain’s Hamburger Buns ~ These are tasty and hold together well. They are a bit time consuming and are also heavy on nuts, but they’re great for an occasional treat. The recipe yields 4 buns, but I can get six out of it for 1/4 pound burgers. (AF/CF/Cashews)
Comfy Belly’s Butter Biscuits ~ These are a nice accompaniment to soups and stews and they’re super fast to throw together. (AF)
Gutsy’s Pizza Crust ~ We made pizza once since being on GAPS (cheese free for Jonas), and this crust worked out really well. I doubled the batch and it was more than enough for our family of four. It doesn’t have that crispy chewiness of my homemade (glutinous) pizza dough, but it’s a pretty good substitute. I suggest moving them to a pizza pan with holes or a cooling rack once they’re cut so the bottom doesn’t get soggy and limp. (CF)
~Snack Time~
Nourished and Nurtured’s Peanut Butter Bars ~ These are a favorite in our house. Rich and satisfying.
Nourished and Nurtured’s Apple Raisin Snack Bars ~ Another super snack. Haven’t used this particular recipe in several months because apples are so out of season and mediocre right now, but you can bet I will be dehydrating pounds of them in a couple weeks and then we can enjoy these again! You can do a search for homemade Larabars and come up with a lot of great ideas for bars like this one.
Simply Herb and Rosemary-Raisin Crackers from The Nourishing Home ~ These are delicious. My favorite is the rosemary-raisin, especially with Gouda cheese. (AF)
Against All Grain’s Anytime Cookies ~ Fabulous, date sweetend cookies. They’re cakey and homey. Tip: Don’t try to sub peanut butter for the almond butter. I did this once when I ran out of almond butter, and they did not turn out well. (CF/Almond Butter)
~Sweet Treats~
Paleo Spirit’s Chocolate Birthday Cake ~ This cake is kid you not amazing. Seriously. For those of you on GAPS, I sub honey for the maple syrup and it comes out great. I will still make this for birthdays when we are not grain free/gluten free. It’s that good. I have not tried this frosting recipe because I am in love with a different frosting. (CF)
Yellow Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting by Nourished and Nurtured ~ This is the frosting. Delicious, though it is a bit time consuming. The cupcakes are good too – a little dense, but I like them. I have successfully doubled the recipe and made a double layer birthday cake. However, I don’t remember what the bake time was. (CF)
Almond Flour Cut Out “Sugar” Cookies from The Urban Poser ~ These are just perfect for holidays. I love that I can still make special cookies with the kids and they taste delicious. (AF)
Against All Grain’s Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie ~ Made this for Mother’s Day. It was pretty amazing. The custard was especially good. There was something about it that wasn’t perfect, but it was so long ago, I don’t remember now. Perhaps the crust went a little soggy? But I honestly don’t remember for sure. I mostly remember that it was really, really good. (AF/CF)
Nourished and Nurtured Chewy Cinnamon Almond Cookies ~ These are quick and tasty with good texture. The honey flavor comes through a little strong for me, but I still enjoy them and the kids think they’re great. Plus they’re egg-free! (AF)
Healthy Fruit and Cream Bars from The Nourishing Home ~ Popsicles are the perfect sweet treat for summer and this is a great basic recipe for making them.
~Savory~
Food Renegade’s Breakfast Sausage ~ I’ve tried a few breakfast sausage recipes, and Jonas and I agree, Kristin’s recipe is the best. I usually do half pastured ground pork and half grass fed beef.
Lime and Basil Beef Kebabs from Mark’s Daily Apple ~ We’ve enjoyed these on the grill a few times this summer. Flavorful, vibrant marinade. We add zucchini from the garden to the skewers. Great meal.
Salmon with Avocado Mango Salsa from Taste Spotting ~ Perfect for summer. So delicious. We also enjoy topping salmon with fresh pesto.
Hamburger Soup from Keeper of the Home ~ Simple, frugal and satisfying.
Nourished and Nurtured’s Braised Cabbage and Sausages ~ Perfect fall or winter meal. If you’re not on GAPS or strict Paleo, toss in some diced potatoes. And if you like greens, add a few leaves of kale or swiss chard, cut in ribbons.
Whole Chicken In The Crockpot from 100 Days of Real Food ~ If you are on GAPS, you make a lot of chicken stock, which means you cook a lot of whole chickens. My mom turned me on to using the crockpot for whole chickens. I do prefer the crispy skin of a roasted chicken, but this recipe is great, especially for days when you need supper ready without much fuss.
Seared Scallops with Sauteed Kale (and sausage and bacon) from The Domestic Man ~ Good quality scallops are not within our normal food budget, so I made it without, and it was still so good.
The Nourishing Gourmet’s Split Pea, Kale and Sausage Soup ~ Kimi’s soups are the best!
Lentils and Carrots with Swiss Chard from Nourishing Home ~ Simple. Warm. Nourishing. Homey. Comfort food.
Roast Leg of Lamb with Tarragon Mint Butter from Bon Appetit ~ We had this for Easter, and it’s one of my favorite lamb preparations. The butter is out of this world, especially on peas and carrots.
Against All Grain’s Prosciutto Pesto Chicken Roulade ~ Okay, I haven’t actually made this one yet, but it looks so very good, so I am sharing it with you anyway. I will have to give it a try while I still have basil in the garden.
The Bitten Word’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apple and Bacon ~ Brussels are one of our very favorite vegetables (well, not Jonas), and this is a delicious way to prepare them.