We had this for dinner tonight and I had to post it right way because it was so good!
This dish really exceeded my expectations and earned its way into my regular rotation because besides being delicious, it was also quick and easy.
You’ll notice that it’s paleo.
I’m not paleo.
I’m paleo-curious.
Which might just be a gateway to going paleo all the way, but right now I’m just trying to take one week at a time when it goes to deciding how I want to eat.
You may remember how I can tend to obsess about food..
Yeah, well that still happens and I’m making strides every day to put food into proper context.
Food is not evil. It’s not good either. It’s just food.
Eating a certain way doesn’t make me “right” or “wrong” or “better”.
Food is essential to life, but I don’t believe God ever intended it to be an obsession, vice or drug.
I think He wants it to be good fuel for our bodies.
I think He wants it to bring us into community with one another.
I think He wants us to enjoy it.
I don’t think He wants it to have power over us.
That’s what I’m working on.
Today I was listening to the book of Luke (via the YouVersion app on my phone) and I heard a few familiar verses in a whole new light…
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
Luke 12:29-31
I know this is more in reference to having food vs. not having food, but it struck me nonetheless. “don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink” “seek the kingdom of God above ALL else”.
Do I spend as much time seeking the kingdom of God as I do thinking about, worrying about, buying, preparing and eating food?
Nope.
I want that to change.
I want to have a teachable, open mind about food. I want to make good choices when deciding how to feed my family, BUT I want to seek God first. Period.
Phew!
I didn’t realize I had that much to say before getting this recipe out, but I guess now you know where I’m at with all of this.
I loved certain things about eating vegan for lent (cutting out dairy/eating more veggies) but I craved meat like whoa. I’m also wary of eating too many grains.
This all seemed like a big arrow pointing to the paleo diet, so that’s what I’m exploring.
But now for the recipe!
It’s seriously so quick and the hardest part (if you can even call it that) is food processing the cauliflower. I think that was only tedious because mine is so small and I had to do it in batches.
This recipe is adapted from Perry’s Plate blog. Natalie is a wonderful cook and did an incredible blog series about Staying Whole in a Processed World. Be sure to check it out along with all of her other delicious recipes :)
- 1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ½ cup onion
- 4-6 tablespoons basil pesto
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 12 ounces Italian style chicken sausage, precooked (Trader Joe's has an awesome selection. I used their Sweet Italian Style Chicken Sausage)
- Place cauliflower pieces into the work bowl of a food processor (you will probably have to do this in batches). PULSE until cauliflower pieces are about the size of grains of rice. Don't just turn it on and walk away or you'll end up with mush.
- In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add the "riced" cauliflower to the skillet. Stir to combine, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let it steam/cook for 5-8 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. I found 6 minutes to be perfect.
- Meanwhile, slice the sausage into ½-inch rounds and heat in a separate skillet. When they are heated through and have a bit of color on them, remove from heat and keep warm.
- Stir the pesto and the baby spinach into the cauliflower. Cook until heated through and the spinach is wilted. Taste, adding salt and additional pesto if needed.
- Add the cooked sausage slices and toss everything together to combine.
- *traditional (and likely all store-bought) pesto contains some cheese which isn't paleo. I was ok with this but you can make your own pesto without cheese to avoid this issue.