You’ve probably heard of the paleo diet at some point. Its appeal stems from its focus on a healthy diet primarily driven by whole foods-based meals that include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In essence, a proper paleo diet should not include anything that our Paleolithic ancestors wouldn’t eat. This gets a bit problematic when you consider that diets varied depending on where you lived and what was available … and that cavemen were supposedly healthier … but today, we’ll just focus on the food.
Unfortunately, many paleo recipes feature meals that are meat-centric, so if you’re looking for something vegan-friendly, you might run into some difficulty. Luckily, it’s not impossible to make paleo vegan food and at One Green Planet, we’ve curated some awesome paleo vegan recipes that’ll blow anybody’s mind, regardless of diet.
Try these 10 paleo recipes that prove not only that it’s possible to make paleo vegan food, but also that it’s incredibly delicious.
1. Paleo Beet Tortillas
These grain-free Paleo Beet Tortillas are bright from grated beets, with a slightly sweet and earthy flavor. Fresh thyme gives them a subtle taste and aroma that’s totally appealing to everybody. Serve with anything you like, from eating it as a side with curry or using it to make your burritos.
2. Paleo Carrot Cake Cheesecake
The paleo diet may exclude dairy, but with the paleo vegan diet, you can have your (cheese)cake and eat it, too! This is everything you ever wanted in a cheesecake, and more. It’s spicy-sweet with a crunchy crust, velvety smooth, rich, and refined sugar-free! Cashews give this Paleo Carrot Cake Cheesecake the creaminess that cream cheese normally would while carrot baby food and coconut sugar do most of the other work. Serve with a cup of hot black coffee as you enjoy this unique treat.
3. Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
No diet is complete without sweets! The most exciting part of these Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies are that they are grain-free, paleo, and vegan, all at the same time. The fruits do all the sweetening, making these a truly guilt-free indulgence. And they’re so easy to make! All you do is combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl and bake in the oven. As they bake, you’ll enjoy the aroma and feel an increase in appetite and craving
4. Paleo Chocolate Banana Bread
This Paleo Chocolate Banana Bread is a delicious contradiction. It’s dense but airy, sweet but healthy, and although the task of making it is simple, be ready to devote at least an hour to baking it. Soft bananas, rich chocolate chunks, and subtly sweet coconut sugar make this bread the perfect treat for any time of day.
5. Paleo Magic Cookie Bars
These Paleo Magic Cookie Bars are crunchy, creamy, sweet, and crispy — really, they’re everything you want in a cookie bar. You don’t need processed grain flour to make these babies. It’s all about coconut flour. If you’re a real chocolate lover, go ahead and load up on more chocolate chips. As hard as it may be, let these sit overnight before eating them! The result tastes like magic.
6 Paleo Zucchini Bread
This Paleo Zucchini Bread is super easy to make and nutrition-packed! It contains almonds, flaxseeds, coconut oil, and of course, zucchini! This no-sugar-added version may not be as sweet as some other zucchini breads, but it is still rich with flavor. Pair this bread with your favorite spread as a snack, or combine with soup for a hearty meal.
7. Cardamom Pistachio Rose Energy Bites
These Cardamom Pistachio Rose Energy Balls are an amazing pick-me-up throughout the day. They also function wonderfully as a sweets-craving-killer, for those after dinner hours when you’re puttering around the kitchen, hoping that the chocolate fairy has magically granted your cabinets a visit. The flavor draws on that of the Middle East where pistachio baklava and rose Turkish delights are often found in pastry shops and markets. Their exotic, sweet, and satisfying flavor comes from just a few simple ingredients: pistachios, cardamom, and rose water.
8. Carrot-Orange Soup
This Carrot-Orange Soup is a bowl of sunshine! In this recipe, carrots are blended with bright and citrus-y orange juice, and creamy coconut milk until smooth and silky. The addition of fresh ginger adds a bit of subtle spiciness without overpowering the other flavors. Serve this soup as a side at dinner, or enjoy it as a light lunch.
9. Cauliflower Colcannon
Colcannon is an Irish side dish, traditionally made with potatoes, kale or cabbage, spring onions, chives, milk, and butter. For this Cauliflower Colcannon, potatoes replace cauliflower and non-dairy milk and vegan butter stand in for their dairy counterparts. This dish is low-carb, low-fat, low-starch, and paleo-friendly! Pair with vegan sausages for a simple, but satisfying meal.
10. Paleo Flax Patties
Expand your culinary horizons with these Paleo Flax Patties! Lightly seasoned, crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside, there isn’t much more that you could ask for in a patty. Serve them on a bed of dark, leafy greens with fresh and roasted veggies for a salad, or make a sandwich with all the trimmings!
Paleo diet, boring? We say “bah” to that!
Lead image source: Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
