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Sous Vide Cuban Pork Tenderloin

Sous Vide Cuban Pork Tenderloin

This versatile low-carb, high-protein Cuban pork tenderloin turns out perfect every time thanks to the sous vide!

5-Minute Fresh Garden Tomato Salsa

5-Minute Fresh Garden Tomato Salsa

A spicy, smooth Mexican salsa that uses up the last of those garden tomatoes. Great for parties!

Thai Coconut Simmer Sauce

Thai Coconut Simmer Sauce

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I call this a simmer sauce, but there’s more to it than that. When I made it, I just drizzled some of it over some seared ahi tuna, but it would also be wonderful over grilled chicken, and you could poach fish or shrimp with it. That’s why I am focusing on the sauce for this recipe and not how I eventually served it.

You’ll need some slightly specialized ingredients for this, although I tried to be mindful that some of them would be difficult to find. Somehow I have a jar of pre-sliced lemongrass, but I have no clue where I acquired it, as I can’t even find it on Amazon. You can use fresh or dried lemongrass, but if you use dried, make sure you don’t use as much. I used powdered ginger, because I’m way too lazy to buy a knob of ginger root just for this recipe, but if you do, a few thin peeled slices should do you. For the fish sauce, you’ll want Red Boat, as it’s sourced responsibly and sustainably using wild-caught fish. And finally, while I used the Trader Joe’s brand of coconut cream, I’ve used this one in the past and can vouch for it.

To make this, start by emptying a can of coconut cream in a medium flat saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk it until the solids and liquids combine. To this, add about two to three tablespoons of chopped fresh lemongrass (half that if using dried), the juice of one lime, two tablespoons of fish sauce, two tablespoons of sriracha, a tablespoon of minced garlic, and a teaspoon of dried ginger or three thin slices of fresh ginger. If you can find them, a couple of dried Kaffir lime leaves would be nice, but they’re certainly not necessary and I didn’t use them. Once the mixture starts boiling, turn it down to a simmer and let it steep for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally. When it’s finished, strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, then return it to the saucepan. If you’re going to poach some fish or shrimp in this sauce, do it now. If not, or after you’re finished poaching, add about 1/3 cup of chopped cilantro and stir until it just starts to wilt, then remove the skillet from the heat.

Thai Coconut Simmer Sauce

A Thai-inspired sauce perfect over seared or grilled meats, or for poaching seafood.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Condiments
Cuisine Thai
Servings 8
Calories 103 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can coconut cream
  • 2-3 tbsp sliced lemongrass see notes above
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp dried ginger or three thin peeled slices fresh ginger
  • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Empty the coconut cream into a wide saucepan or large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk the coconut cream until the solids and liquids combine.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients except the cilantro and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for ten more minutes.
  • Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the liquid into a bowl, then return it to the pan. If using the sauce to poach fish or shrimp, add them now and cook over medium heat, then add the cilantro when the meat is cooked and remove it from the heat. If using the sauce as a topping, add the cilantro, stir it until it wilts slightly, then remove from heat and serve.
  • Macros per serving: 103 calories, 4 grams net carbs, 2 grams protein, 9 grams fat.
Keyword condiments, keto, lchf, low carb, sauce, Thai

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Any embedded link to a product earns me a portion of the purchase price if you click and buy it.

Keto Cuban Picadillo

Keto Cuban Picadillo

A famous Cuban recipe, modified to remove the carbs but keep the flavor, this simple keto Picadillo is great for meal-prep.

Reuben Frittata

Reuben Frittata

All the flavors of a Reuben sandwich from your favorite deli, in breakfast form! This make-ahead reuben frittata is a great low-calorie breakfast treat.

Keto Chaffle McRib

Keto Chaffle McRib

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The ironic thing about this one is that I had no idea that the McRib was going to come back at the time that I decided to make it. My husband mentioned it this morning and it was news to me. Maybe I got the inspiration from an ad I didn’t pay attention to while watching football or something. I had some leftover pork chops in the freezer, and as you know, I’ve been kind of obsessed with finding new ways to use chaffles. I’ve always loved the McRib, despite it being basically made from whatever falls on the floor at the processing plant. So making the McRib seemed like a logical step. I think McDonalds was copying me by releasing it now.

I made mine by grinding pork chops in the food processor because that’s what I had, but you can save some time, effort, and dishwasher space by buying pre-ground pork and adding the seasonings. Either way, per half-pound of pork, you’ll need a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of hickory Liquid Smoke, and black pepper. Either add this directly to ground pork and massage to mix, or put cubed pork chops into a food processor with the Liquid Smoke and salt and pepper and whiz it until it’s a big meat ball.

To make the patties, divide the meat up evenly, and roll each one into a log, then flatten it out into an oval on a cutting board. Use your index finger to press even bumps on one side of each oval to mimic rib shapes. Once you’ve got them all shaped, you can either use a grill pan or a gas or charcoal grill to cook them about five minutes per side. When you flip them, coat each one with about a half-tablespoon of sugar-free barbecue sauce. Do this for the second side as well, then cook for a minute per side again to caramelize the sauce a little bit.

This is a good visual representation of the indentations for the “ribs”.
After caramelizing the sauce a bit.

We’ll be serving these on chaffles, as is custom. For this one, my slight modification on the Wonder Bread recipe works perfectly. For each sandwich, beat one egg with a tablespoon of mayonnaise, a tablespoon of almond flour, about 1/4 teaspoon of Sukrin Gold Fiber Syrup or a similar honey or corn syrup substitute, and 1/8 teaspoon of baking powder. Whisk all of this together in a bowl, then pour half of the mixture onto your preheated Dash mini-waffle iron. You may need to use a rubber scraper or spatula to spread the mixture to the edges, as it’s pretty thick. Let that cook for 3-5 minutes per waffle, then remove it with a fork and repeat with the second half of the batter.

To serve this, put another half tablespoon of barbecue sauce on the top chaffle, then add pickles and slivered onions on top of the rib patty.

Keto Chaffle McRib

Now you can have this limited-edition McDonalds sandwich anytime, without cheating!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Main Course, sandwich
Servings 2
Calories 399 kcal

Equipment

  • Dash mini-waffle iron

Ingredients
  

For the Rib Patties

  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1 tsp Liquid Smoke hickory flavor
  • 1 tsp salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp sugar-free BBQ sauce

For the Chaffles

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp almond flour
  • 1/2 tsp liquid honey/corn syrup substitute
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder

For the Sandwich

  • 1 tbsp sugar free barbecue sauce
  • 8-10 pickle chips
  • 1/4 small onion slivered

Instructions
 

For the Rib Patties

  • Mix the pork, liquid smoke, salt and pepper thoroughly in a bowl. Divide the pork into two even balls, then roll them into logs. Press the logs into approximately 1/2-inch thick ovals on the cutting board. Use your index finger to indent them evenly crosswise, to mimic rib bones.
  • Heat a grill pan over medium high heat, or preheat your gas or charcoal grill. Grill the patties for 5 minutes per side, brushing each one with 1/2 tablespoon of barbecue sauce after you flip them. Once both sides are done, allow them to cook for 1 more minute per side to caramelize the sauce, then remove and prepare your sandwich assembly.

For the Chaffles

  • Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Preheat your Dash, then pour 1/4 of the mixture onto the surface, spreading it to the edges before closing the lid. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown, then remove with a fork and repeat with the remaining mixture until you have four chaffles.

For the Sandwich Assembly

  • Brush another 1/2 tablespoon of barbecue sauce on the inside of the top chaffle bun for each sandwich. Stack the patties on the bottom buns, then top with slivered onions and pickle chips before placing the remaining chaffle buns on top, barbecue sauce down.
  • Macros per serving: 399 calories, 5 grams net carbs, 35 grams protein, 27 grams fat. I calculated macros based on the ground pork loin chops I used, so you may need to recalculate if you're using regular ground pork.
Keyword chaffles, high protein, keto, low carb, pork, sandwich

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Any embedded link to a product earns me a portion of the purchase price if you click and buy it.

Caprese Smothered Pork Chops

Caprese Smothered Pork Chops

Pan-seared pork chops in a spinach and pesto cream sauce, covered in melted cheese and tomatoes, all on your plate in 20 minutes.

Low Carb Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Low Carb Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

These fresh and spicy Vietnamese shrimp lettuce wraps involve minimal cooking and are a perfect meal or appetizer for a hot summer day!

Keto Chaffle Hot Brown Sandwich

Keto Chaffle Hot Brown Sandwich

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If you’ve never had a Hot Brown, you probably think it sounds kind of gross just based on the name. You don’t know what you’re missing. This open-faced sandwich was invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, and consists of a thick slice of buttered toast topped with tomato, roasted turkey, and mornay sauce, then placed under the broiler until it’s brown and bubbly and topped with bacon. It’s basically a fat bomb of a meal, minus the carbs in the bread. If you can get rid of those, it’s almost perfect keto goodness. And that’s where the chaffles come into play.

You may be wondering what the weird dish is that I’m serving this in. To be honest, I had to turn to my Facebook friends to figure out what it’s called. Turns out it’s a skillet baker. While I’m linking you to the ones on Amazon, I got six of them for about the same price as one on Amazon by going to my local restaurant supply store several years ago. You can find a lot of great kitchen equipment there for dirt cheap. I got my stainless steel skillet on the same trip and I’ve been beating the crap out of it ever since and it still looks pristine. Restaurant supply stores have the most durable kitchen equipment ever, which makes sense when you think about it.

It seems like this recipe would take forever, since it has so many steps, but it’s really just a matter of timing. Get your chaffles made while you’re making the sauce, and you can put it all together in no time flat. Because I wanted to simulate the crunch of the toast in the original recipe, I made the original crispy cheese chaffle. Just beat one egg, sprinkle a tablespoon of shredded cheddar directly onto the preheated Dash mini-waffle iron, then pour on half the egg, then sprinkle another tablespoon of cheese on top. Close the iron and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese gets golden brown and crunchy. Remove the chaffle and repeat.

A finished chaffle topped with a tomato slice. <3

The sauce is super easy to make, and as long as you have all the ingredients ready, it will come together while the first chaffle is cooking. First, put 2 ounces of cream cheese and 1/3 cup of heavy cream into a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the cream cheese is incorporated, then add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of shredded Swiss cheese. Whisk it to melt the cheeses, and then add 2 teaspoons of dry sherry and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, plus a few grinds of white pepper. If you don’t have the sherry, that’s okay. It might not have the same depth of flavor, but it’ll still be super good. If you feel like the sauce is too thick, water it down with a tablespoon of heavy cream, but you want it to be pretty thick so it stays on top of the sandwich. I usually cook the bacon when I start the sauce, because it’ll be ready about the time the sandwiches are done.

Ready to go under the broiler!

To assemble a sandwich, first put your chaffle in the baker, or on a butter-greased foil-lined baking sheet if you don’t have one. Top the chaffle with a thick slice of tomato, then with 4 ounces of deli roast turkey, or leftover roast turkey if you have it. This recipe is great for Thanksgiving leftovers! Finally, pour half the sauce over the top, and sprinkle it with about 1/2 teaspoon of grated parmesan. Repeat for the second chaffle. Set your oven to broil and put the rack on the second from the top, so the sandwiches won’t be too close to the heating element. Slide them onto the rack and broil for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce begins to get brown spots on it. Remove them from the oven, then break your bacon slices in half and criss-cross them over the top of the sauce. Serve with a knife and fork. You’ll need them.

Keto Chaffle Hot Brown Sandwich

An open-faced turkey sandwich topped with a rich and creamy sauce.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 18 mins
Course Main Course, sandwich
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 572 kcal

Equipment

  • Dash mini-waffle iron

Ingredients
  

For the Chaffles

  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided

For the Sauce

  • 2 ounces cream cheese cubed
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • 2 tsp dry sherry optional
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • white pepper to taste

For the Sandwich

  • 2 slices fresh tomato
  • 1/2 pound roast turkey breast see notes above
  • 1/2-1 tsp grated parmesan
  • 2 slices bacon cooked

Instructions
 

For the Chaffles

  • Preheat the Dash. Once the light goes off, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cheddar directly onto the iron, top with half of the beaten egg, and then top that with another tablespoon of the cheese. Close the iron and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

For the Sauce

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese and heavy cream and whisk constantly until the cream cheese dissolves. Add the parmesan and Swiss cheeses and continue whisking until the cheeses melt. Whisk in the sherry, if using, and the nutmeg and white pepper. Continue whisking until smooth, then remove from the heat.

For the Sandwich

  • Put your oven rack on the second-highest position and set the oven to broil.
  • If using skillet bakers, put one chaffle on the bottom of each skillet baker. If you don't have a skillet baker, line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, grease the foil with butter, and then place the two chaffles on top of the greased foil.
  • Top each chaffle with a tomato slice and 4 ounces of roast turkey, then top with half the sauce. Sprinkle each sandwich with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of grated parmesan.
  • Place the sandwiches under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce begins to bubble and get brown spots on top. Remove from the oven and place on a heatproof surface.
  • Break the cooked bacon slices in half and criss-cross them on top of the sandwich. Serve immediately with a knife and fork.
  • Macros per serving: 572 calories, 3 grams net carbs, 41 grams protein, 41 grams fat.
Keyword chaffles, high protein, keto, lchf, low carb, sandwich, turkey

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Any embedded link to a product earns me a portion of the purchase price if you click and buy it.

Keto Sloppy Joes

Keto Sloppy Joes

With these keto sloppy joes, you can put a meal that your whole family will love on your table in 30 minutes!