Paleo

Indochinese Chilli Chicken

Shrimp & Zoodles

There are a few pantry staples that I recommend if you are going to start the paleo lifestyle.  Having these things on hand will make it easy to create many delicious paleo dishes whenever hunger strikes.  The links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means I receive a very small commission if you click and make a purchase.  The price of the item stays the same, and any money I make goes to supporting this blog and creating more recipes.  Many of these items are also available at Whole Foods, other natural food stores, or Asian markets.

All-fruit jam--I love to use these jams to make a simple jelly omelette when I'm craving a sweet breakfast, or to replace sugar in Asian recipes that need a little sweetness.  They are sweetened only with fruit juice.  My favorite is the peach, but I love all the flavors I've tried.

Almond butter--This is delicious as a snack with some apple or peach slices.  You can also use it to
replace peanut butter in desserts or Asian dishes.  To make your own, grind roasted almonds in a food processor until they turn into a smooth butter.  Store in the refrigerator.

Almond flour--This is an essential for paleo and gluten-free baking, and can also be used as a breadcrumbs replacer in meatballs or breaded chicken.  It's just ground blanched almonds, so you can make your own in the food processor if you like, although I find it hard to get it as finely ground as store-bought.  Watch out because if you process it for too long, it will turn into almond butter.  Almond meal is pretty much the same thing, but may be more coarse or made of almonds with the skin still on.

Almond milk--A great replacement for dairy, and what I prefer to put in my coffee.  See my post on how to make your own, or try to find one without too many additives.

Coconut aminos--An amazing replacement for soy sauce.  I really can't taste the difference.

Coconut flour--I use this for baking, usually in combination with almond flour.  It's just finely ground dried coconut.

Coconut milk--Great in curries, and as a dairy replacement in ice cream and baked goods.  I always buy canned full-fat coconut milk--you can even use it to make whipped cream.  Check to make sure your coconut milk does not have too many additives.  Most have guar gum (which does upset some people's stomachs, but I haven't had a problem with it), but it shouldn't have carrageenan.

Coconut oil--Great for cooking and baking.

Coconut sugar--A great sweetener for paleo treats, with a flavor similar to brown sugar.

Grassfed Gelatin--Super healthy and great for making pudding and other treats.

Ghee--Pretty much my favorite ingredient ever.  I like Pure Indian Foods brand, but almost always make my own (see the recipe note about making plain ghee--that's what I do for everyday use).

Fish Sauce--Most fish sauce has sugar in it, but Red Boat is the real thing.  It's essential for curries and many other Asian dishes.

Maple Sugar--Granulated maple sugar is one of my favorite paleo sweeteners to use in baked goods.

Unseasoned Rice Vinegar--Many rice vinegars have sugar and salt added, but this one is pure and simple.

Tapioca starch (also known as tapioca flour)--Another flour to use in combination with almond flour for paleo & gluten-free baked goods.  While baked goods made with just almond flour can be heavy, the addition of tapioca flour creates a lighter crumb.  It's usually not used in baking without other flours, because alone it's very gummy.  It can also be used instead of cornstarch to thicken sauces.

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