Does anyone else have the ‘Final Countdown’ song stuck in their head as final preparation for Christmas kick into full gear?!
We are just a wee bit excited in our household (Christmas tree troubles aside), and are making final grocery shopping trips for our Christmas menu now.
But never fear if you are stuck in a rut on what to serve for the big occasion. We have a number of holiday recipe resources to get you on your way to meal planning, shopping, and prepping! First, be sure to check our ‘Holidays’ tag on the site, second we have this great ‘Top 10 Holiday Recipes’ post to check out and this super resourceful post on how to keep your holidays hassle free HERE, and finally on Pinterest we have a ‘Paleo Holiday Menu’ board for some final suggestions to help fill in your menu gaps!
And here with one more PERFECT HOLIDAY recipe to add to your arsenal, Primal Health with Jean. Move over brown sugar and marshmallow covered sweet potatoes, Jean is here with a refreshed creation sure to leave everyone at your table saying WOW after just one bite! With the flavor combination of both sweet and savory, and simple prep instructions, this is a holiday must have.
Enjoy!
♥♥♥
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us already. It’s an exciting time for many for us, but it can also be scary. Scary because we have to buy presents and haven’t even started a holiday gift list yet. Or scary because you have to host a dinner for 6+ people who aren’t Paleo and you are at a loss as to what and how to cook for them all.
I’m pretty sure I can’t help you with the first problem (other than… get cracking on that list!), but as for hosting a dinner, that’s something I’m all too familiar with. I’ve cooked both Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for big groups after I have started the Paleo lifestyle, and have had great outcomes with some minor #FAILs sprinkled in between. It’s all about learning what worked and what didn’t from your past experiences, and improving your methods for the next one.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the 2 main keys to hosting a successful dinner are to 1) cook Paleo dishes but don’t talk about the fact that they are Paleo, because most of the time, the guests won’t know or question it, and 2) use simple recipes that are easy and manageable. Oh yes, and ease up on the wine until the meal is served (learned that the hard way).
Today, I want to share with you a fun and healthy holiday side dish that’s sure to please both your paleo and non-paleo guests. I’ve always loved that Hasselback sweet potatoes do not take much effort to make, but they always look fancy and elaborate on the plate. They are not only fun to eat, but there are so many varieties you can try with the toppings.
The version I made is AIP-friendly, and the combination of the flavors is complement each other so well. The bright colors of the avocado cream and pomegranate look beautiful and festive, making this recipe perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 6 medium sweet potatoes
- 3 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
- sea salt, to taste
- 4 slices of thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Cut the sweet potatoes carefully into thin slices from one end to the other, making sure you don't slice all the way through.
- Place the potatoes on a baking dish. Rub ghee all over the potatoes and carefully between the slices. Sprinkle generously with sea salt, making sure to salt between the slices.
- Bake for 50 minutes, or until the slices are cooked through and tender.
- While the sweet potatoes are baking, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Dice the bacon slices into small bits, and cook them in the heated pan until they are brown and crisp.
- To make the Avocado Cream: Scoop out the flesh of the avocados into a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients, then blend until smooth. Taste and add more salt, if needed
- To serve: Plate the sweet potatoes and spoon and drizzle avocado cream over the potatoes. Sprinkle with bacon bits, pomegranate seeds, and chopped chives.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://paleoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/profile2.jpeg[/author_image] [author_info]Jean Choi is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and a blogger at Primal Health with Jean. After suffering from irritable bowel syndrome for almost a decade, she discovered the Paleo diet, which drastically improved her digestion and health. Since then, she found passion in nutrition and healing with real food. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her boyfriend and 2 dogs, where she loves to cook with fresh, natural ingredients that are (mostly) sugar-free and grain-free. She believes that food you love should love you back, making you feel amazing inside and out! Connect with Jean on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.[/author_info] [/author]
