My Most Popular Recipes of 2014

Browsing through my web stats to see which recipes were most visited in 2014 is like taking a peek at your grocery shopping lists and kitchen cabinets. I love it!

There are a few old standbys that are not a surprise at all (Hi, Chocolate Chili and Best Chicken Ever!), but it was fun to see some new ones, too, like Kickass Ketchup, the Soy Sauce/Coconut Aminos Substitute, and both versions of homemade mayo. All hail, paleo condiments!

It’s worth mentioning that all of the Top 15 recipes listed below are also Whole30 approved, which makes me so happy! I love that you all treat yourselves well with clean, healthy food.

Here they are, in order of popularity.

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1. Homemade Olive Oil Mayo

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

2. Chocolate Chili

Chocolate Chili
3. Best Chicken Ever

The-Best-Chicken-You-Will-Ever-Eat-thumb-e1343848986230
4. Sunshine Sauce

sunshinesauce
5. Coconut Aminos Substitute

fauxsoysauce
6. Pad Thai
padthai

7. Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice

rice_process
8. Basic Zucchini Noodles

basic_zucchini_noodles
9. Slow Cooker Italian Pork Roast

italian_pork_roast
10. Comfort Noodles

comfortnoodles
11. Kickass Ketchup

kickassketchup_web
12. Crispy Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

finalfries
13. Eggless Homemade Mayo

flaxseed_mayo
14. Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup

silkygingeredzucchinisoup

15. Golden Cauliflower Soup

goldencauliflowersoup

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My Favorite 5 Recipes From 2014

Just in case you’re curious, these are my five favorite new recipes I shared in 2014, in no particular order. Have you tried ’em yet?

Paleo Pink Pickled Eggs & Beets

pickledeggs

Spicy Pumpkin-Spiced Pepitas

pumpkin-spiced-pepitas_592

Bacon-Jalapeño Burger Balls

jalapenobacon

Simple Red Cabbage Salad

redcabbage

Paleo Green-ola

greenola_spoon

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Moroccan Salad Platter

In my Paleo Magazine column, I teamed up with Steph Gaudreau to bring you the story of a traditional recipe and adapted it to fit...

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Oven-Fried Potato Latkes (Paleo)

In each issue of Paleo Magazine, I team up with Steph Gaudreau to bring you the story of a traditional recipe and adapt it to fit into a...

Read More

Comments

  • Kristen says:

    Your oven roasted cauliflower rice is absolutely genius! Even when I make other cauliflower rice recipes, I always roast the cauliflower using this recipe first. Thanks so much.

  • Dana says:

    Totally agree with all these!! Can’t wait to try the best chicken ever. I’ve made both the silky ginger zucchini soup and cauliflower soup multiple times! And the kickass ketchup is hands down the best i’ve ever had, store-bought brands included! Keep it up! 🙂

  • Pau says:

    Super random question – I’m starting to dive a little more into clean/paleo eating (in Austin) and I was hoping you could suggest a good way of getting good, organic, all-the-bells-and-whistles, yet affordable protein (we eat mainly chicken and beef, but do eat pork and fish and some bison). Thanks Mel!
    PS. I got both your books for Christmas and I’m in HEAVEN!

    • I used to get my beef from Bastrop Cattle Company because they were doing a monthly delivery. Not sure if they’re still doing that. Otherwise, I bought a lot of my meat from online sources because if you buy in bulk, there are discounts and free shipping. We had an extra fridge/freezer, and I kept it stocked. My favorites are US Wellness Meats, Lava Lake Lamb, Tendergrass Farms, TXBar Organics. I also bought grassfed beef and pastured chicken at Sprouts or Trader Joes in a pinch.

      Have fun with the new cookbooks! Happy new year!

      • Pau says:

        Thanks Mel, I’ll have to check them out and report back. So far I made a weeks worth of Paleo food for my fast-food loving dad over New Years week (against my mom’s sound advice) and it was a HUGE hit! Told me I should give my mom the recipes so she could make them for him! You’re a miracle worker!

  • Basically have made all of these numerous times… the chili twice last week.

  • chrissy j says:

    I make your Italian crock pot pork roast, homemade mayo and chocolate chili REGULARLY. Like, probably all of those 1-2 times a month. They are my favorite recipes hands down. I also have made the comfort noodles and the best ever chicken with success. So your list is clearly spot on! (I’ve made a ton of other recipes from the site too; never had a fail yet!!) I also gifted my mom “Well Fed” for Christmas. You are my go-to blog.

  • Tori says:

    Your books Well Fed and Well Fed 2 (particularly your Hot Plates) changed my foodie life! Because of them I was inspired to do a Whole30, and I am having the best experience with it. Thank you so much!

  • Anniken says:

    OMG, I love you!!!! I recieved your Well fed books yesterday and I can’t stop reading. Today I am making mayo and lots of hot plates. My paleo life is going to be so much more fun and easier. Thank you!!!!!

    Love from Norway

  • Caitlin says:

    Your pad thai was one of the first meals I made during my Whole 30 last summer, and seriously changed my life. I adore pad thai and this recipe made me feel like I was winning the jackpot (nutritious and delicious!) instead of giving up a favorite food. I love it so much.

  • Maureen says:

    The best chicken ever probably got a boost from my obsession with it. It’s very rare I discover something my whole family loves. I was a faithful chicken cutlet maker until I discovered my kids would peel off the bracing and just eat the meat…. When I found this much healthier option, I didn’t know what to expect! I wasn’t even home when my husband started grilling them…. they raved! I have since made it for company and parties and it always gets great revies!!! Thank you!

  • Kate says:

    I make so many of these recipes every week! Today, I’ve made the mayo, the salmon cakes, your roumelade, the cauliflower, and we are finishing up a batch of chocolate chili. Your cookbooks are the two I use MOST consistently, and recommend ALL the time! Thank you, Melissa!

  • Rose says:

    Since the comment section for your paleo mayo recipe seems to be maxed out, I am leaving a tip here…
    Pull out a turkey baster to ensure a slow emulsifying pour of oil into the blender. (Pull out a stool for yourself, too.) I have NEVER had a failed mayo experience this way.

  • Jamie says:

    Your recipes are all SO DELICIOUS! I am obsessed.

    Question: Can you freeze your sauces? I currently have Sunshine Sauce, Stir Fry Sauce, and Moroccan Dipping Oil in my fridge. Can these and your other sauces be frozen for later?

    • You *can* freeze sauces, but they last quite a while in the fridge. The defrosting process can leave some sauces watery, so I don’t really care of it. But, if you want to try it, place in a BPA free container and leave at least 1 inch of free space at the top of the container. Seal the container tightly. Can be frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw the sauce in the refrigerator for about eight hours.

      Sauces made with mayo will NOT freeze/defrost well because the egg white doesn’t hold up well in the freezer.

      You can keep sauces in the fridge until they grow mold — which is a LOOOONG time. They don’t go ‘bad,’ i.e., they don’t spoil, as long as they stay cold in the fridge.

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