Easy Paleo Snack: Sweet Potato Chips

Paleo/Primal Potato Chips

I’m always looking for ways to make Paleo/Primal meals on the weekend that will last through the busy work week.  This sweet potato chips recipe is an easy one to make on a Sunday afternoon.  If you are like me, you already have the oven hot because you are making multiple meal preparations for the week.  Generally, I set aside 2-3 hours on Sundays to hammer out three or four durable (i.e. will keep in the refrigerator all week) items to have on hand.

Prep time is just a few minutes (5 max) for this simple Paleo snack using sweet potatoes (a true super food!).  Bake time takes less than a half hour, leaving you plenty of time to prep another meal while you are waiting.

Paleo Sweet Potato Chips

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/8-inch thick slices;
• 1 tbsp cooking fat, melted
• ½ tsp sea salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Coat the sweet potato slices with the melted cooking fat in a bowl and line them on two baking sheets, making sure the slices don’t touch.
3. Bake them in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, turning them once, until the edges are nice and crisp.
4. Remove the sweet potato chips from the oven and sprinkle them immediately with the sea salt.
5. Serve the chips with lime wedges (if desired).

A Naturally Sweet and Healthy Paleo Snack

The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes paired with the touch of sea salt make for a great snack anyone can enjoy.  You might want to make a double patch and store them through the week in an air-tight container at room temperature.  For a different taste, you may want to leave one batch salted, and try some cinnamon on the other.

Nothing makes me think of fall and winter more than the dark orange of sweet potatoes and other healthy dark orange veggies like pumpkin, carrots, and butternut squash.  Sweet potatoes provide a great supply of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and calcium to keep you healthy as the days grow shorter.  Enjoy.

Source: The Paleo Recipe Book, by Sebastian Noel

Perfect Fall Paleo Snack: Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Paleo Snack Season

The leaves are starting to change.  The days are getting exponentially shorter, and the nights are getting colder.  The kids are psyched to be hitting the pumpkin patch and searching out that perfect pumpkin to turn into the baddest Jack-‘O-lantern in the neighborhood.  You have to confess… you are getting excited too.

As the family carves their pumpkins, don’t let those guts go to waste!  It’s the perfect time of year to make up a great fall snack for the entire family.  Not only are you using the freshly harvested pumpkin seeds from your scary gourds, you are also introducing the family to a Paleo diet friendly treat.  Even better, it gives you a chance to involve everyone in making a snack while carving your pumpkins.  Throw on some scary music and light some candles to get everyone in the Halloween mood...

Paleo Spicy Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

Serves 10, as a snack

Ingredients:

• 3 cups raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp cooking fat, melted
• 1-1/2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with the melted fat, chili powder, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. The seeds do not need to be washed perfectly clean of the pumpkin flesh (just adds to the flavor and texture), but you may prepare them as you wish.
3. Spread on baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Let cool and serve.

Store the Spicy Pumpkin Seeds in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.  Most recipes call for a liquid vegetable oil, but good cooking fat will harden when chilled in the refrigerator, giving the seeds another texture, but leaving them absolutely delicious.

A Healthy and Versatile Paleo Snack

The great thing about pumpkin seeds is that they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated omega-6 fats.  Keep in mind that those fats are very fragile and can go rancid quite quickly.  Always store in the refrigerator and use within one week.

Another great thing about pumpkin seeds is that the flavor goes well with many different seasonings.  If the spicy recipe is not for you, experiment and replace the chili powder and cayenne pepper with cinnamon or granulated maple sugar.  They are great with just salt as well.

Source: The Paleo Recipe Book, by Sebastian Noel