I want to eat this recipe again SO BAD.
Literally I want it in my mouth like right now. I also may or may not be hungry. But that's entierly besides the point here.
You guys my sister in laws baby shower is this Saturday (today is Thursday) and I am in stress overdrive. Like literally my head might just fall off I'm so stressed.
If I'm being honest it's not just the shower that's stressing me, there are just so many things going on right now that it feels impossible to keep up. This morning during my meditation I was just thinking man I want to run away and do NONE of it. So then I randomly started cleaning. That's sort of my version of running away.
I mean I was doing LAUNDRY. As if doing laundry is better than sitting down and doing payroll, writing this here blog post, or even crafting for the shower. This morning for me it was. WHen I'm stressed I NEED my surroundings to be CLEAN AND NEAT.
My husband really doesn't do much housework outside of the kitchen so it's up to me to keep everything clean. But I also need to give him some major kudos here because he has been helping me out in the kitchen, going grocery shopping, and even cooking for me like such a champ! I swear he's like the most supportive husband ever.
But that doesn't mean he's perfect, just like I'm very far from perfect. Things like laundry and cleaning are just not his forte. He tries, but his version of "clean" and my version of "clean" are two very different things!
Anyway I'm so sorry for rambling on like this - the point is I did laundry this morning to run away from my responsibilities. But here I am bringing you this amazing recipe and I hope it bring you joy and comfort!!
I don't know about you guys but prior to my healthy days I was OBSESSED with tuna helper! It was a staple in mine and hubby's diets and I'd be lying if I said I haven't missed it once since 2013. Because I def have! Which is why I knew I HAD to make this recipe.
You guys it turned out SO WELL.
Even hubby totally loved it and he doesn't eat paleo or very healthy for that matter. Plus he can even be a little picky when it comes to how his food tastes! He's also the greatest. Have I mentioned that? I just love him to pieces and he approves every dish that comes to this blog! OMFG I'M ADD TODAY... So sorry ya'll!
Doesn't it just look delicious?? I made it with spaghetti squash but the sauce alone is delicious over any kinda spiralized veggies and of course it's especially delicious over zoodles!
I know when it comes to eating Paleo to heal your skin you don't want to feel deprived. Heck, the only reason I felt like I could switch to Paleo in the first place was because I found a recipe for paleo bread and I was like "okay maybe I CAN do this paleo thing!" I mean I really get it you guys - I wasn't always this healthy eater.
But I gotta say, every single thing that I've "sacrificed" food wise has been worth it. ALSO none of it has felt like sacrifice. Honestly. I love the way I eat and I do it by choice because the health of my body, hormones, and skin matter to me more than some junk food. #realtalk
So I hope you feel the same way, and if you don't yet that's okay too! Maybe this recipe can help get you one step closer to embracing a paleo lifestyle and seeing that nourishing your body doesn't have to mean dry chicken and broccoli 6 times a day!
Don't get discouraged when people in your life don't GET it. It totally sucks especially when it's your own family but it's also okay, they don't need to get it. All you need to know is that you're making the best possible decisions for your body and just hope that your actions might inspire them to start making changes for themselves as well once they see your results!
Okay I've talked a lot today so let's get on with this thing! Onward ho to the recipe!
Paleo Copycat Tuna Helper
Ingredients:
Squash:
1 spaghetti squash
3 tsp olive oil
Sauce:
2 cans of tuna
1/2 cup raw cashews
1 cup hot water
1/2 head cauliflower
1 cup organic chicken stock
1/2 Large white onion or 1 small white onion
4 oz sliced baby Bella mushrooms
2 tbsp bacon fat, tallow, lard, grassfed butter or ghee
1/8 cup brewers nutritional yeast
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp Raw ACV
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp oregano
4 tbsp organic grass fed butter or ghee
Instructions:
Soak the cashews in boiling hot water, covered for a minimum of 1 hour, or even overnight. The water will cool as it sits, do not cook them over the stove top.
Preheat oven to 420.
Using a fork, create a dotted line lengthwise (vertically) along your spaghetti squash.
Microwave the squash on high for 2-5 minutes depending on size.
Remove from microwave and with a sharp knife cut the squash in half lengthwise along the dotted line you created with the fork holes.
Use a spoon to scoop out the center seeds and stringy pieces until the cavity has an open space. Use some olive oil and brush both the inside and outside of the squash until completely covered.
Place the squash halves skin up and face down on a rimmed baking sheet for 1 hour.
While the squash is baking & the cashews are soaking, cut your 1/2 head of cauliflower into florets, pour all the chicken stock into a pot, and steam them for around 10-15 minutes or until fork tender and the stock has mostly evaporated.
While the cauliflower is steaming slice up your onion and mushroom. Place them in a warm pan with a pinch of salt & melted fat of choice (I used bacon fat). Slowly caramelize the onion on low to medium heat keeping the top on at first then removing towards the end. Should take about 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and soft. You've got some time to kill so you might as well let them go for 10 minutes or more to really bring out the flavors. The longer you let them caramelize (cook in fat on low heat til soft) the better they'll taste so there's no rush here!
After the hour is up, remove the squash from the oven and let it cool.
Pour the soaked cashews in water, seasonings, lemon juice, ACV, butter (or ghee), nutritional yeast, cooked mushrooms and onions, and the cooked cauliflower with any chicken stock left in the pan into a food processor.
Process or blend on high for around 1 minute until everything is smooth and well combined.
Pour the sauce into a large casserole dish and add 2 cans of drained tuna. Take a fork to the spaghetti squash to release the "noodles" and add them directly to the tuna sauce.
Serve with some broccoli or peas, you could stir them in also like traditional tuna helper or just enjoy it like this because it's delicious either way!!
You could also serve this sauce over brown rice noodles for a great gluten free but non Paleo option. It's almost exactly like tuna helper when you make it like that! Yippiee!
Enjoy!
I know I say this all the time but I seriously cannot wait for you to try this recipe out! Especially if you're like me and you were once a tuna helper lover this is totally going to hit the spot for you! Also depending on which tuna helper flavor was your favorite you can also add in some broccoli or peas and carrots. They had a few different flavors that I ate back in the day so I didn't want to limit this recipe to just one or another!
Was tuna helper never your thing? Comment below with some delicious junk foods you used to love and now NEED a paleo version of! I can't wait to see what some of you used to indulge in!
Enjoy this recipe everyone and don't forget to share you success stories with me by tagging me in your foodie pics over on IG with #paleoballerina!
Love you guys and don't forget the free recourses available to you when you enter your email address below! They have helped hundreds of other already!
