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The Paleo
Diet ™ has taken the nutrition world by storm ever since it came into
mainstream a few years back. The Paleo diet or Paleolithic diet is a low-
carbohydrate diet that emulates the food of our ancestors. The idea is to eat
more vegetables and greens and avoid processed food, grains and dairy products.
This is because before the advent of agriculture and domestication of wild
animals, the Paleolithic man primarily relied on such diet.
There is
wide spread evidence that paleo diet helps improve body composition and helps
lead a healthy lifestyle. Several enthusiasts claim that unlike other diets,
Paleo gives them near instantaneous results with noticeable difference in their
body within a week. Unfortunately, for those who love the Indian cuisine or
cook Indian recipes frequently, the Paleo diet may become cumbersome. The
complex Indian cuisine is almost always accompanied by a side of rice or other
grains making it a paleo no-no.
Well you
don’t need to worry any longer. With very few substitutes you can now make
delicious Indian recipes that is guaranteed to leave your mouth watering. So,
what are you waiting for. Grab your utensils and try these recipes out.
Kerala
Aviyal
This
vegetable stew is simple that is very easy to make and Paleo friendly. It is
made by stewing your favorite vegetables (squash, carrot, drumstick etc.,) in a
coconut broth. The only thing you need to remember to make this recipe Paleo
friendly is to avoid adding beans or any other non-paleo veggies. Another
ingredient you need to avoid is yogurt. Yogurt does give this dish it's unique
flavor but because it's a paleo no-no, you can make this dish without adding
yogurt. It still tastes incredible and can be made in under 30 minutes.
Anda
Bhurji
This
Indian version of scrambled eggs is a breakfast delight. This recipe is very
easy to make. All you need are your favorite chopped veggies – onions, tomato,
carrot along with some farm fresh eggs. Lightly sautee the vegetables in olive
oil and add the eggs. Keep tossing them until the eggs are well done and
finally add some salt and pepper. That’s it. This Indian delight is paleo
friendly with no substitutions required other than switching from regular oil
to Olive oil. This is great as a tea-time snack or for a quick breakfast.
Watermelon
Chaat Salad
Having to give up desserts in the Paleo diet can be quite exhausting if
you have a sweet tooth. Those
sugar cravers can turn to this dish quite often to satiate their sugar-thirst. This
dish, made from chilled watermelons and fresh cucumbers, provides much-needed
relief in the hot summer months. If you are on a strict no-carb diet you may
want to avoid adding mangoes but this is a great occasional treat if you are on
Paleo.
Tamarind
Cauliflower Rice
One of the
dishes that is hardest to give up when you go Paleo after having lived on the
Indian cuisine is rice. Indian recipes are used to having rice as the entree
with chicken, veggies etc., as sides. If you hated giving up rice in your quest
to go paleo, then you will surely enjoy this delight. Cauliflower rice is made
by processing cauliflower and sautéing it lightly in olive oil until browned. To
make tamarind cauliflower rice, all you need are tamarind juice, peppercorn and
salt. Lightly toss the peanuts and peppercorn in oil and add the tamarind
juice. When boiling, add the cauliflower rice and cook for a minute. And voilà,
you have your very own spicy paleo-friendly tamarind rice. Some recipes suggest
using peanuts and jiggery but remember to remove them to keep your dish paleo
worthy.
The Paleo
Diet is not a "diet" but rather a lifestyle choice. Do not be afraid
to experiment and change your regimen depending on what works best for you.
Because in the end, it all comes down to whether you like what you eat!