Melon Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I have been trying out melon seeds (egusi) as an alternative low carb flour and so far i have made pancakes, muffins, savoury puddings and drinks. I will be Sharing these recipes soon.

Melon seed is from the gourd or squash family and its similar to pumpkin seeds, grown mostly in West Africa. It is higher in nutrients compared to pumpkin seeds.

The rich nutty flavour of the seeds are overpowering, however using a stronger spice like nutmeg helps camouflage the flavour.
If you prefer you don’t have to add spice.

For these cookies I also added some chopped  unsweetened dark chocolate and  3 Tbsp. heavy cream. You can add coconut cream if you prefer which helps give it a creamier after taste.

Psyllium husk was added  for binding however you can also try just baking soda and baking powder and still achieve the same results.

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 120 Grams melon seeds
  • 1/4 Cup cocoa powder
  • 2 Tablespoon butter melted
  • 1 Tablespoon Nutmeg
  • 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon Psyllium husk
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda ( optional)
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 Cup sweetener
  • 3 Tablespoon heavy cream or coconut cream
  • 2 Pieces of unsweetened dark chocolate (80% cocoa) chopped
  • Brown paper

CHOCOLATE SAUCE (OPTIONAL)

  • 50 Grams unsweetened dark chocolate
  • 1 Tablespoon butter

 

METHOD

  1. In  a bowl mix all ingredients together.
  2. Mix well until it can make a dough.
  3. Line your baking tray with brown paper .
  4. Use a spoon to form cookie shapes.
  5. Makes 10 pieces.
  6. Bake in a pre heated oven for 12 – 15 mins at 180 degree celsius.

Chocolate sauce

  1. Place  chocolate, butter in a glass bowl.
  2. In a cooking pan add 1 cup of water and heat, Place glass bowl over pan make sure the water doesn’t touch the base of the bowl.
  3. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it is completely smooth.
  4. Remove from heat and use as required.

 

NUTRITIONAL VALUES (PER PIECE WITHOUT SAUCE)

Carbohydrates- 3.3g

Protein- 3.6g

Fat- 7.7g

Calories- 97

 

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Mint Chutney

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Chutney

 

RECIPE

  • 35 Grams of fresh mint leaves
  • 2 Green chilli
  • 2 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4th Ginger
  • 2 Cloves of garlic
  • Quarter of a small onion
  • 1 Cherry tomato chopped
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 Cup of water

 

  1. Add all ingredient in a blender.
  2. Pulse till smooth.

 

Total calories  = 50.35

carbs = 8.5

protein = 3.1

fat = 0.43

Enjoy  as a side  for starters or  with low carb chapati.

Egusi Pudding ( Melon Seeds )

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RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

  • 2oog of  Ground Melon seeds ( Egusi )
  • 2 Tablespoon Crayfish
  • 1 Tablespoon Cayenne pepper ( dry pepper )
  • Shredded chicken or beef or fish of your choice
  •  1 Cup Chicken stock
  • 1 Medium sized egg
  • 1 Cup of Water
  • Banana leaves (optional)
  • Salt to taste

METHOD

  1. In a bowl add egusi, crayfish, pepper and meat or fish of your choice.
  2. Add eggs, chicken stock, egg  and mix well.
  3. Add water and mix together, add more water if needed.
  4. Pour mix into ramekins or wrap in banana leaves.
  5. In a pot add banana leaves to the bottom of pot (optional), add ramekins or warps.
  6. Add water halfway into the pot, making sure it does not cover your mix.
  7. Cover with banana leaves (optional), Add foil paper and steam.
  8. Steam for 40 minutes until it turns solid.

Enjoy.

 

NUTRITIONAL VALUE ( per ramekin ) 5 Ramekins

Carbs – 4g

Protein  – 10.1g

Fat – 20g

Calories – 236

Chicken Pilau

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RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

  1. 3 Tablespoon butter or ghee
  2. 1/2 Piece of cinnamon stick
  3. 4 Cloves
  4. 1 Tablespoon of chilli powder
  5.  1 Teaspoon fennel seeds
  6.  1/2  Teaspoon saffron
  7. Shredded roasted chicken
  8.  3 Tablespoon unsweetened  yogurt
  9. 250 Gram cauliflower rice
  10.  1 Cup chicken stock
  11.  Sea salt to taste

 

METHOD

  1. In a  heated deep pan, add ghee/butter.
  2. Add cinnamon stick and cloves and fry for 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in fennel seeds, chilli powder and garlic fry for 30 seconds.
  4. Add chicken and fry, stirring for 5 minutes.
  5. Add yogurt a spoonful at a time, stirring until absorbed before adding the next spoonful.
  6. Cover and reduce heat  and simmer for 10 minutes.
  7. Add cauliflower, saffron and  salt.
  8. Cook for 10 minutes.

 

Garnish with spring onions, toasted almond flakes.

Enjoy and share the love.

Keto Donkwa

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O.K it isn’t the donkwa you are used to, made with roasted milled corn and peanuts.
This is a low carb substitute, using almond flour and coconut flour instead.

Growing up my grandma loved bringing these spicy
and sweet snacks when she visited. Always a treat to look forward to and her visit of course.

Donkwa also known as tanfiri is a popular snack in Nigeria

This recipe requires no cooking process, i toasted the  almond flour and coconut flour until it turned brown,
this helps bring out the oil and nutty flavour from the almond nuts.

This is a great snack to try out, spicy, nutty and sweet flavours.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 150 Grams Almond flour
  • 60 Grams coconut flour
  • 1 Tablespoon Dry pepper ( cayenne pepper )
  • 1  Tablespoon sweetener erythritol or xylitol
  •  1 Teaspoon ginger powder ( optional)
  • 2 Tablespoon water for binding
  • 1 Teaspoon oil for binding

 

 METHOD

1.  Add coconut flour and almond flour in a dry frying pan and cook until it’s golden brown, let it cool.

2. Add dry pepper, ginger powder and  sugar , almond / coconut flour mix and blend in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl

 

3.  Gradually add water and oil to help bind mix and make round balls with your hands. Do not add too much water to the mix it will turn soggy.

 

4.  It makes six balls, you can make smaller balls if you prefer, leave in a cool dry place for a few minutes to set properly.

 

 

Enjoy with a small glass of almond milk with a pinch of ginger and cinnamon powder.

 

Avocado Prawn Cocktail Boats

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I lav me some avocado, endless possibilities with the amazing fruit. Rich in vitamin C and E and a great source of fibre.
When I made this, I was actually craving for a quick snack……. it turned out to become a full meal and I could only eat half of it!!
Making it the second time I substituted the cream cheese with mayonnaise to try a different flavour.
Melts in the mouth, also has a kick to it from the spicy prawns. Normally have the dip with celery sticks but this mix gives a whole new level of
taste. So here it is avocado prawn cocktail boats.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 10 raw prawns
  • 2 Tablespoon cream cheese (philadelphia) or mayonnaise
  • 2  Spring onion thinly sliced
  •  1 Teaspoon dry pepper/ chilli powder
  • 1 Ripe large avocado
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

METHOD

  1. Wash prawns and pat dry. Rub in salt, dry pepper and 0il.
  2. Grill in a heated oven at 180 degrees celcius for 10 minutes.
  3. In a bowl, add cream cheese, spring onions, black pepper and mix well.
  4. Bring the grilled prawns from oven, dice 4 prawns and add to cream cheese dip  then mix well.
  5. Slice avocado in half and add dip.
  6. Garnish with prawns.

 

Enjoy 

Szechuan liver and Cauliflower

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I love eating lamb, beef or chicken liver, it is rich in nutrient and vitamins.
I am aware it’s not everyone’s favourite however when nicely prepared the flavour is mind blowing.
It is also rich in Iron, B12, Vitamin A many traces of copper, zinc, chromium and many more essential nutrients.
As an added bonus it is also a powerful anti oxidant.

 

    A close friend sent me this recipe to try out and it is a winner  everytime and extremely filling and delicious.
Schezuan means asian style cooking usually spicy and very flavorful.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 250 grams Liver (I used chicken livers)
  • 150 grams cauliflower florets
  • 3 Tablespoon ghee or animal fat
  • 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Chilli Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 1 whole chilli Chopped
  • 1 Garlic Crushed
  • 2 Spring onions
  • 2 Pickled Gherkins/ green chilli
  • Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Wash liver removing veins and ligaments, chop into small sizes.

In a bowl add balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and liver. Mix well and  set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.

In  a heated pan, add ghee, 1 chopped spring onion, 1/2 chopped chilli and garlic. Let it cook for one minute.

Add cauliflower, let it cook for 3 mins.

Add chopped liver and marinate to pan, close the lid let it cook for 10 minutes. Add pickles and cook for 3 minutes.

 

Add salt and pepper as desired.

 

 

 

 

Garnish with spring onions and chilli.

This serves 4

Lemongrass Cauliflower Souffle

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RECIPE

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 150g Cauliflower Florets
  • 3 Fresh Lemongrass stems
  •  3 Medium sized Egg Yolks
  • 3 Egg whites
  • 100g Whipping cream Diluted in 50g Water
  • 100g Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/4  Cup grated parmesan ( or any other cheese)
  • Salt (optional)
  • Black pepper

 

METHOD

  1. Wash Cauliflower florets and lemongrass stem ( the white part of lemongrass not the green).
  2. Thinly slice up lemongrass.
  3. Blend cauliflower with a cup of water until smooth.
  4. Using a cloth, strain out liquid from blended cauliflower.
  5. stir in lemon grass and cauliflower mix well.
  6. In a separate bowl whisk egg whites until its thick, set aside.
  7. Add cauliflower mix, whipping cream, egg yolks,, cheeses and black pepper mix well.
  8. Gently fold in egg whites, making sure it doesn’t deflate don’t stir mix evenly.
  9. Add into oiled ramekins ( makes 6)
  10. Bake for 30 minutes at 180 degrees celcius.

 

Best served hot, so it doesn’t deflate

Enjoy

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Yaji Cucumber Bites

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RECIPE

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Cucumber or Zucchini
  • 2 Medium sized  Eggs
  • 3  Tablespoon almond yaji spice click here

 

METHOD

  1. Wash cucumber, slice into sticks.
  2. Dip cucumber sticks into whisked eggs.
  3. Dip into yaji spice
  4. Deep fry or Bake in oven for 30 – 40mins in an oiled tray until crispy.
  5. Enjoy with mayonnaise as dip.

Almond Suya Spice

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I love suya, the flavours of meat grilling at night, the juicy fatty bits drizzling down the grill making you salivate even more,
and the extra yaji spice, when you buy the meat wrapped in old newspapers.

Suya originated from the northern part of  Nigeria, suya is thinly sliced beef in wooden skewers rubbed with yaji spice and then grilled with groudnutoil.
Yaji spice can be rubbed on meat, fish and poultry.

Suya spice is called yaji, very spicy and filled with flavour.

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Peanuts are higher in carbs than almond so i  decided to make  yaji using roasted almond nuts
instead and pork rinds for extra crunch you can omit that if you prefer.     

INGREDIENTS

  • 150g Almond  meal or 1 cup of Roasted almond
  • 4  Tablespoons Ginger Powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Dry Pepper
  • 4 Tablespoon ground Pork rinds ( optional)
  • 2 Tablespoon paprika
  • 2  Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Sea Salt or Pink salt

METHOD

  1. Grind roasted almond or add almond meal in a dry pan and cook until lightly brown.
  2. Mix all ingredients together, mix well.
  3. Store in a tight container in a  cool dry place.

the redness comes from the paprika.

NUTRITIONAL VALUES

TOTAL VALUE

Carbs – 55.18g

Protein – 107.68g

Fat – 140.27g

PER SERVING ( TBSP. )

Carbs – 1.97g

Protein – 3.8g

Fat – 5g