Welcome to this week’s edition of the Kos Diabetes Group! I’m sorry I missed May’s recipe diary; between my eldest’s graduate school commencement (Master’s in School Counseling and do we need more of those or what?!) and a two years-delayed gathering of musicians and fans from the virtual world of Second Life where I’ve had a presence for fifteen years, I just didn’t have the time. But I’m back just in time for that most food-oriented of the trio of American Patriotic Holidays, Independence Day.
I’ve always enjoyed the July 4th backyard party food repertoire. In non-vegetarian gatherings hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and ribs make up the basic menu, rounded out by a plethora of side dishes, finger foods and desserts. That first year after I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, I remember going to our friends’ house and thinking “So I have a burger, a dog, no bun, and what ELSE am I going to be able to eat?!” I remember making some unsweetened whipped cream and bringing a small container of berries and eating that with a bunless cheeseburger, wondering if it would always be that way.
This will be my seventh July 4th since my diagnosis, and I no longer fear the menu. OK for the past few years there hasn’t been anyone but immediate family here, but you know what I mean :). Yes, my keto-eating plate has a lot of animal protein on it, because it’s easy and I enjoy it! I’m no longer shy about going bunless, but I also know how to make a tasty easy chaffle and use them for buns!
I had hoped to bring you an entire menu’s worth of dishes but Life, in the form of my son’s soccer team making regional playoffs, intervened. So I’m bringing you the item many low-carb eaters say they miss most on a summer party table… a delicious substitute for potato salad.
Because Mr. Brillig and K2 despise mayonnaise, we generally make a German-style dish around here. It’s often served warm, and uses bacon fat while cooking the cauliflower. Delicious, but I was craving a mayo-based version like the potato salad of my youth, so let me give you a link to the recipe for the absolutely delicious German Cauliflower Salad we make regularly.
Now, lets get to the traditional Keto Fauxtato Salad recipe! While the basic recipe is, of course, from my favorite keto recipe creator Carolyn Ketchum and her site All Day I Dream About Food, the very first thing I did was adapt it to what I had on hand, and what I prefer to use. Which is to say, I’ll give you the recipe as written but let you know what I did instead!
Ingredients (Serves 8):
3 hardboiled eggs. Chop 2, and slice the third for garnish
1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 ribs celery, sliced (I hate raw celery, so omitted this)
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped (I might have used 8)
2 green onions, white and light green parts chopped (would have used if I’d had, instead I subbed ¼ cup chopped yellow onion for both the scallions and celery)
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tbs Dijon mustard
1 tbs lemon juice
¼ tsp paprika (I didn’t have regular paprika so used ¼ tsp smoked, plus ¼ tsp berbere, an Ethiopian spice that I love with almost everything. Many spice companies sell a version, or your local Ethiopian restaurant probably will sell you some that originated at the source and will be far superior!)
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
1. Place the cauliflower florets in a pot, fill halfway with water, boil and cook until the florets are fork-tender, about 3 minutes. Do not overcook as they’ll continue cooking while cooling! Drain in a colander and cool.
2. Combine mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice and paprika in a small bowl
3. Add the chopped eggs, cauliflower, celery and green onions in a bowl and toss to combine. The recipe says to add the bacon now but I kept it separate so it stays crispy, and have been sprinkling it on top when I serve some
4. Add the mayonnaise mixture to the cauliflower mixture and stir until everything is coated. Top with the sliced egg (and bacon if you reserved that)
Store in the refrigerator, of course!!
Nutritional Info (of published recipe, check based on what you use!):
238 calories; 20g fat; 7.5g protein; 6.5g total carbs; 2.5g fiber
Lastly: there was a recipe I was DYING to try, but found out last night too late to go to the store that I was out of the main ingredient ::sobs:: so I’m putting it here and hope someone will decide to make it and tell me how it is! It’s a keto replacement for tortilla chips, made with pork rinds and cheese.