Paleo recipes

Paleo recipes leave out grains (including rice, oats and quinoa), pulses, soya and dairy – ghee is the exception. What's left: meat, fish, eggs, plenty of veg, fruit, nuts and seeds.

The paleo idea: genetically, humans are still hunter-gatherers, adapted to the foods of the Stone Age – not to the grains and milk of the much more recent agricultural revolution. Our paleo recipes leave out grains (including rice, oats and quinoa), pulses, soya and dairy – ghee is the exception. On the plate: game, fish, eggs, lots of veg, berries, nuts and bone broth. Any sweetness comes from honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar or dates at most.

• Berry smoothie bowl with spinach and chia seeds – 380 kcal
• Vegan turmeric and ginger juice with orange – 95 kcal
• Quick beef steak strips on baby spinach – 440 kcal
• Vegan almond butter date bites – 210 kcal
• Mango chia pudding with coconut yoghurt – 280 kcal
• High-protein creamy chicken strips with mushrooms – 450 kcal
• Vegan banana chocolate pudding – 250 kcal
• Quick chicken vindaloo – 360 kcal
• Vegan raspberry chia pudding with coconut yoghurt – 250 kcal
• Vegan beetroot and kombucha juice – 85 kcal
• Keto avocado chocolate shake – 340 kcal
• Gluten-free sweet potato brownies – 190 kcal
• Vegan blueberry chia pudding – 210 kcal
• Low-carb almond porridge with warm raspberries – 550 kcal
• Mediterranean chicken meatballs with courgette noodles – 350 kcal
• Vegan vanilla chia pudding – 180 kcal
• High-protein prawn pan-fry with courgette noodles – 320 kcal
• Keto tuna and avocado bowl – 580 kcal
• Paleo beef and mushroom pan-fry – 410 kcal
• Vegetarian sweet potato omelette – 380 kcal
• Chicken fajita bowl – 410 kcal
• Low-carb prawn and pepper stir-fry – 240 kcal
• Vegan cassava fries with truffle dip – 520 kcal
• Paleo apple and cinnamon pancakes – 290 kcal

Frequently asked questions

Is paleo the same as keto?

No – paleo allows carbs from sweet potatoes, fruit and berries, while keto stays under 50 g of carbs a day. Both skip grains and seed oils; paleo also allows fruit and a little honey or maple syrup.

Are pulses really a problem?

Strict paleo says yes (because of lectins and phytic acid). A more relaxed 85/15 paleo makes exceptions for well-soaked lentils or chickpeas. Research on lectins in healthy people is mixed.

What goes into paleo recipes?

Meat, fish, eggs, lots of veg, fruit, nuts and seeds. No grains (not even rice, oats or quinoa), no pulses, no soya and no dairy (except ghee). Any sweetness comes from honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar or dates at most.

Top 10 by Health Score

Paleo diet: the rules, a food list and how it differs from keto

Related ideas

• Vegan recipes
• Vegetarian recipes
• Pescatarian recipes
• High-protein recipes
• Low-carb recipes
• Keto recipes
• Gluten-free recipes
• Dairy-free recipes
• Mediterranean recipes
• Meal prep recipes
• Quick recipes
• Filling recipes
• Clean eating recipes
• Low-FODMAP recipes
• Low-histamine recipes
• High-fibre recipes
• Recipes with no added sugar
• Nutrient-dense recipes
• Recipes with few fast carbs
• Recipes with fibre & variety
• Fermented recipes
• Recipes with lots of plant compounds
• Blue Zones-style recipes
• Recipes for training days
• Breakfast recipes
• Dessert recipes
• Snack recipes
• Smoothie recipes
• Juice recipes
• Drinks