As an MDA Worker Bee always on the lookout for new Primal dishes I’ve developed a few tricks. My favorite method is by scanning different restaurant menus and then finding substitutes for highly-processed or high-carb ingredients, and through a system of trial-and-error, creating a new Grok-inspired treat.
Last week I wandered around Brooklyn’s Smith Street to see what I could do about the strange wintry-food yen I was experiencing (how could I crave hot stew in 90 degree weather?). I discovered it was not so strange – there are plenty of people enjoying winter eats even in the crux of July. Beef stew, macaroni and cheese, pork shoulder are all top menu items even while city temperatures skyrocket. When I asked a staff member at one of the restaurants why these items stayed so popular, even during months when people would seem to want lighter fare, he replied these meals were “the most satisfying.” Good taste, I suppose, knows no weather.
High-carb potato-themed side dishes were ubiquitous menu items so I decided to take a stab at a Primal version of mashed potatoes. With visions of delicious turkey meatballs dancing in my head (another cold weather favorite I’d been craving, adopted from my Mom’s recipe), I set to work composing the perfect Primal mashed-potato substitute to go with them for dinner the next night. I went with the old standby – the beautiful flower-like cruciferous plant and our beloved friend – broccoli.
Arriving at a fresh green bouquet of broc at my local farmers’ market, I bagged three heads, along with some raw carrots and white onion. Because of broccoli’s crunchy texture and stem, it seems daunting to imagine it mashed. But just because broccoli looks tough doesn’t mean it won’t play around. After separating florets from their stems, I boiled them for 4-5 minutes until they were softer, and added them to the food processor with the cooked carrots, onions, and a little salt, until the broc- mix started looking mashed. I then transferred the mixture from the pulverizer (taking a few tastes) to a medium bowl, where I added butter (and took a few tastes more). The recipe really came together then. So much better than I expected. So simple. Fresh sage or basil might be a wonderful addition, too.
I’ll admit, it isn’t as creamy as the mashed potatoes of yore, but this recipe is a successful Primal adaptation. It meets all the criteria– texture, consistency, and a lack of extremely starchy vegetables.
As for the turkey meatballs, they are not only a strong source of protein and an irresistible food to snack on, but paired with the mash they round out a delicious Primal entree.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground organic turkey meat
1 small onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg
3 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix together onion, garlic, egg, and ketchup. Add turkey meat and mash mixture with hands. When well-mixed, form 1-inch diameter meatballs and set aside on a cookie or baking sheet. Wash hands thoroughly before moving on.
Over a medium-heat skillet, heat oil. Transfer meatballs to skillet and cook until brown on all sides. When cooked, drain excess oil, transfer to plate, and serve.
Ingredients:
1 lb. carrots, cooked well, skinned, and diced small
3 broccoli heads, cooked and stems removed
4 tablespoons fresh organic butter, room temperature
½ small white onion (optional)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
Instructions:
In medium-large pot, bring 4 cups water to roaring boil. When water is boiling, add skinned carrots and cook until quite soft, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
Add chopped carrots to the food processor, one piece at a time, until well-blended. Trim broccoli florets so that stems have been completely separated from tops. Toss florets into food processor with onion and pulverize until well mixed.
When carrots, broccoli and onion look well-blended, transfer to a medium bowl and add 4 thick pats of butter (more, or less, as you prefer) and give the mixture a nice blend using a spatula or metal spoon. The butter should melt.
Serve a nice heaping spoonful along with meatballs.
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