Paleo Cooking from Elana's Pantry: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, High-Protein Recipes

by Elana Amsterdam

A family-friendly collection of simple paleo recipes that emphasize protein and produce, from breakfasts to entrees to treats, from the popular gluten-free blogger of Elana's Pantry.

Elana Amsterdam has established herself as an extremely successful gluten-free author and blogger; her simple recipes offer busy cooks streamlined techniques and short ingredients lists. While her first two books emphasized gluten-free recipes, Elana has eaten a grain-free diet since 2001. Her paleo recipes have become the most popular on her site, embraced by readers looking to not only eliminate gluten--but also dairy and grains--whether because of allergies or to generally improve their health. Paleo Cooking from Elana's Pantry offers nearly 100 recipes featuring lean proteins and simple vegetable dishes, plus classic desserts--all free from grain, gluten, and dairy, and made with natural sweeteners.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Health, Food and Drink, Reference

146 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been glued to this cookbook since the minute I purchased it. I can't praise it highly enough. I bought it because I am gluten, dairy and corn intolerant, and now, grain free, but there is something here for everyone.

I learned about the author's blog, www.elanaspantry.com, when I was diagnosed as gluten intolerant late last year. Elana generously shares tons of recipes on that site, for free. (Unlike many gluten free recipes found elsewhere, Elana's have never let me down, even though learning to bake gluten free is like learning how to bake from scratch.)

I'd heard this new book was coming out in June, but as the pickiest eater in the universe, I'd been using her blog mainly for desserts and smoothies. I didn't think a book with mostly "real food" recipes would be very useful for me. I just wanted to buy her book, because it seemed wrong to enjoy all the wonderful recipes on her blog without her receiving any compensation for her efforts. Well, I guess there is such a thing as karma, because it turned out to be the best cookbook I've ever found (and since November, I've tried lots).

Her recipes are written like the best book reviews here on Goodreads. They make you want to immediately try them. I have yet to be disappointed. Not only do they come together quickly, but they are healthy, and taste delicious. Being corn free means I have to make everything from scratch, because corn (usually the genetically modified variety) is in everything. No exaggeration. (Citric acid is almost always corn - a big surprise to me, but corn is in lots of ingredients, and most people are unaware. A good list of where to find hidden corn is here: http://www.cornallergens.com/list/cor... )

I make my own bread (Elana's Bread 2.0, comes together in 30 minutes, free at her blog), my own almond milk (recipe inside this cookbook), ketchup, I could go on and on. Her recipes make that manageable (and did I say delicious?).

Recipes I've already tried (and loved):

Stuffed mushrooms (even my picky daughter loved these - cold, from the fridge!), Paleo chocolate chip cookies (way better than the glutened toll house recipe - even my gluten-y husband agrees), flourless nut-free brownies, garlic crackers (amazing), Paleo tortillas, Paleo pancakes.

Recipes I'm dying to try:

Bagels (!!!), crepes, breakfast sausage, cauliflower rice and rice pilaf (both grain free versions based on cauliflower), sesame noodles, sesame fish sticks, Paleo mayonnaise, coconut whipped cream, tahini dressing, coconut cream tart, upside-down apple tartlets, peanut butter ice cream (dairy and peanut free!), cinnamon raisin cookies (a substitute for oatmeal raisin), ginger ale, and spicy chai.

I'm actually dying to try virtually every recipe in this book.

You don't have to have food allergies or intolerances or be following the Paleo food plan to enjoy this cookbook. There are lots of nut free, vegetarian and vegan recipes here, too. After reading this book last night, I would recommend it to anyone. Why? Fast, delicious, and healthy. What's not to like?

Edited to add: I've now tried and loved her Paleo mayonnaise, which comes together in literally 3 minutes in the food processor (if mayo doesn't emulsify, you have a big mess and a waste, but I had success with her recipe, saving me tons of money on corn free (but not grain free) Vegenaise), and I'm now hooked on cauliflower rice. It is absolutely wonderful, and goes with everything. It's now my noodle and rice substitute. Healthy and delicious and so, so easy to make.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not trying to eat paleo for dietary restriction reasons, this cookbook really does have something for everyone! So far I've made the blueberry coffee cake, rosemary balsamic beets, rosemary lemon chicken, pancakes, and coconut whipped cream. All my attempts turned out surprisingly well on my first try! The recipes are easy to follow, and besides for a few specialty items I had to pick up (almond flour, vegetable shortening), most of the ingredients were already in my kitchen. I can't wait to try more recipes from this cookbook. It's already shown me that eating paleo is really tasty, and you don't have to feel deprived.

[Jessie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not buy this book!! I am so horribly disappointed in this cookbook. I have created a couple side dishes/dessert but mostly the vegetable, entrees, and condiment section and I can say only one dish turned out. I am not a novice in the kitchen and have been cooking from scratch since college. The recipes seamed to be missing steps, sometimes ingredients, and were not thought threw. I had to adjust the recipes and sometimes change the outcome for the dish to turn out. I would not recommend this book!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite cookbook! Elana's recipes in the book and on her blog have never led me astray. Every time I follow one of her recipes, the resulting meal is both delicious and within my dietary constraints. She offers high-protein vegetarian options, without the use of soy or other non-natural foods. Her grain-free, gluten-free, low glycemic index recipes are amazing and utilize items that are normally found in a gluten-free household. I truly can not give this cookbook enough praise.

[Dawn Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of this book but have tried a few recipes and none have worked out, which makes me reluctant to try others... especially given the ingredients that are used for each (high quality and expensive, which I tend to use for a lot of baking, but gutted when they don't work out!). The bread I tried had a horrible smell - I reluctantly tasted it and it was terrible... nothing like bread at all. Perhaps user error... ?

[Punk · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the baked goods—which is all I care about—have either almond flour or coconut flour (or sometimes both) in them, with no other flours, starches, or gums, save the occasional arrowroot powder. Other ingredients include: flaxseed meal, eggs, spectrum vegetable shortening, nut butters, honey, stevia, coconut sugar & milk & oil & water.

I mean, it also does fish and salads and beets or whatever, but I skipped those chapters.

Measurements are in U.S. volume. Not much storage advice. Head notes aren't always informative. A few color photos. Recipes have icons for nut-free and/or vegan recipes, and baked goods and desserts (there are dairy-free ice creams) rank the sweetness level from low to high. There's also a thorough index.

Like every food blogger with a restricted diet, Amsterdam cooks to fit her needs, and sometimes those fit with mine, and sometimes they don't, but one thing's for sure, this definitely needs more pictures. I'm wary of single-flour recipes and need visual reassurance that a muffin will turn out looking like a muffin and not the sad, sunken ghost of a muffin.

[Rachel Teferet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t disappointed with this cookbook! I’ve bookmarked so many great recipes, including Paleo bagels, Paleo bread, Paleo “potato“ leek soup, rosemary lemon chicken, salmon salad, Paleo Caesar dressing, and so many more. I am really looking forward to trying out these recipes! The only bummer was that many of the recipes call for a food processor, which I don’t currently own. However, I might give them a go anyway! I adore all of Elana’s recipes in her previous book, “The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook,” as well as her recipes on her blog and on Instagram, so I’m sure these will be pleasing culinary creations :-)

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice wide variety of recipes from breakfast to dessert

Large selection, well written, good advice on how to use certain foods compared to traditional ingredients, and easy to follow. Nice list of where to find some ingredient which even included online site already among my favorite shopping places for several years now.

[Jess Macallan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to paleo cooking. Elana's Pantry is one of my favorite blogs, and I've always had success with her recipes. I frequently recommend her website to my nutrition clients who need healthy recipe ideas.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going Paleo!

All the recipes sound good. We’re in the process of selling our house and relocating. When we find our “forever” home, I plan to stock my pantry to begin a Paleo eating style and my husband has agreed. New home, new lifestyle.....😊

[Christine Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book that holds a treasure trove of yummy, Paleo-friendly recipes! These recipes are easy to fix and taste great. A must for anyone interested in the Paleo or healthy lifestyle.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great recipe options I can use. I'm excited to try them!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The coffee ice cream recipe calls for decaf.

[Jennifer Heise]

Too much honey and other high-carb foods in this one for us.

[JuniorCocoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small cookbook with a number of good, easy and easily tweaked recipes. I discovered this in a cut out bin and have been pleased with the purchase.

[AdultNonFiction Teton County Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

TCL Call#: 641.5637 Amsterdam E

Madeleine - 1 star
DISCLAIMER: some results listed below could be from high altitude but . . .
- Bacon Tart (p 79) was not very tasty, unexpected with the word "bacon" in the title
- Shallot Tart Crust (p 102)was uber-dry and oddly raw "oniony". I tried making it again with caramelized shallots which was better for flavor and I added 1 T coconut flour which was better for consistency and I par baked the crust for longer which also helped consistency but at that point it's not like I'm working with the recipe anymore.
- Cesar Dressing (p 87) was so bland [and yes I have a Vita mixer]
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (p 99) I enjoyed that it was not a sugar bomb but the word crisp did not belong anywhere near the title and it was just mush. Plus, the recipe says 6 stalks of rhubarb (@ 1 1/2 Cups). 1 and 1/2 stalks of rhubarb made 1 1/2 cups. What to do with the other 4 1/2 stalks?

It just seemed the measurements were off, the recipes were missing steps, and the end results were underwhelming.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I marked probably every other recipe as one to try. I am so glad I found this book as I am now on a very restrictive diet as per my Dr. and I was wondering how much longer I could just eat salad. The Blueberry Coffee Cake looks wonderful and is something I can actually have! I will definitely be trying the Paleo bread as that is something I have been missing (oh how I yearn for a sandwich!) With the Holidays coming up I am thinking of making the Balsamic Rosemary Beets and twice Bakes Squash for Thanksgiving. Love that Elana gave us a Sources reference as some of the ingredients may be a little more difficult to come by, I am thinking of the Ume Plum Vinegar here.None of the recipes llook too difficult and some can be made in steps over a day or two which is great. Extensive use of a food processor though so if you don't have one this could be very time consuming to prep.

[Wysterria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made copies of many recipes from this, but I have yet to make any. My best friend and I did make the lime bars (awesome).
A few I want to make very soon:

sugar spice granola
breakfast sausage
upside-down apple tartlet
shepherd's pie
key lime ice cream
date orange bread

I will probably update this review once I make a few.

UPDATE: I made the date orange bread to take to my friend's Easter gathering. It was great, though after a day or two became a bit dry. You can definitely add more orange zest if you like the orange flavoring.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elana is my kind of cook. She had to change her diet because of a Celiac diagnosis. Her recipes are simple, focus on the food and look delicious. The ingredients are readily available at one's nearest health food store. The photos in the book are enticing and help show how some of more unfamiliar recipes look. This is a very accommodating book for people with any type of food intolerance or allergy.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few cookbooks that I ever cook more than a few recipes from, especially now that I am on such a restricted diet. When I got this book I realized that not only could I have everything in the book on my diet, but that I also wanted to! I have already made one recipe ( fish sticks page 72) which were super easy and super good! For dessert I made some awesome brownies from Elana's website. They too were easy to make and within my dietary restrictions.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Approachable and enthusiastic intro to eating paleo. I felt energized when I ate gluten-free and no processed sugar; I lost 4 pounds even though I couldn't give up cheese. This book helps to better understand the nutritional benefits of ingredients. Some of the recipes are bland but the roasted beets are delicious hot or cold.

[Martha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paleo Cooking from Elana's Pantry is in my top 5 favorite of all the 20 Paleo Diet books I have read. The photographs are intoxicating and the recipes are delicious and easy to make! The Paleo diet has reversed my auto immune disease.

[Carol-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a number of recipes in the book that work well for the paleo eater. I have recommended Elana's book and blog to those interested in trying to figure out what dairy, grain and gluten free recipes mean.

[Aja Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm kind of curious to try some of these, just to see! grain-free bagels? i mean, sure, why not. some other interesting recipes as well from the baked-goods side. curiosity. i'll refrain any major judgements until after trying some.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little shy on the entrees, however, great dessert and side dish recipes as well as good tips for grain-free cooking.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up from the library and did find some nice recipes in there. Many of the recipes can be found on blogs or throughout the web. I did like the dessert section.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful recipes just like you'd expect from following her website! The only thing I didn't like was the lack of photos to accompany her recipes.

[Janey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book from the library and it's good enough that I will be adding it to my permanent collection. I tried the Hot Cereal and the Honey Lemon Chicken and both were really good.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE Elana's blog where I can pick and choose from so many fantastic recipes, but I found this cookbook only so-so. I do LOVE the cinnamon-raisin cookies, though!

[Jude Grebeldinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gluten and grain free.