Gallbladder diet. Crab Cakes Are Oh So Gallbladder Friendly

The more I learn about cooking and ingredients for Gallbladder life, the more I delicious and fun recipes I find.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly Crab Cakes with Zero Fat.

Crab cakes for the Gallbladder is one recipe sure to please your palate all the while keeping your little bile sac happy.

And those of us with sharp little stones in our GB are intent on keeping that tempermental little organ happy.

The secret ingredients in these crab cakes are celery, apple, ginger and turmeric; and of course - delicious crab.  Carrots, celery, ginger and apples "encourage liver detoxification, alkalise and cleanse the system and provide vitamin C (and fiber) to move the bowel"  and do wonders for the gallbladder according to AskaNaturopath.com

Gallbladder Happy Crab Cakes (low to no fat)

• Two 8 oz cups of jumbo lump crab meat
• 1 large onion finely diced
• 4 stalks celery finely diced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup Panco bread crumbs (fat free)
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon chopped or ground ginger (preferably fresh)
• 1 large green apple finely chopped
• 1 cup egg whites
• paprika for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Gallbladder diet.  Onions are an essential recipe for gallbladder diets.

Peel and finely chop one large onion.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh and finely diced onions are a must ingredient for crab cakes!

Wash and finely chop four stalks organic celery.

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a fork.

Add parchment paper to cooking sheet.

Using your hand scoop out a small handful of the crabmeat-vegetables blend and pat into a small patty, placing on the parchment paper.  Continue until all the crabmeat blend is formed into patties and placed on the parchment paper lined cooking sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Crab cakes ready for baking in the oven!

Dust each patty with paprika.

Place in the oven and bake until the crab cakes are golden brown and crispy on the outside but moist on the inside.

Serve with cocktail sauce.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy golden brown giant lump crab cakes will please your taste buds and gallbladder too!

Enjoy!  They won't last long.

Cheers and happy gallbladder dieting!

Kevin  #gallbladderlife.

Gallbladder diet. Yummy, Hearty No-Fat Cholesterol Removing Black Bean Burgers

Of course I've given up and said goodbye to beefy hamburgers on my gallbladder diet.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy, gallbladder friendly but tasty, juicy and hearty black bean burger

But I still remember just how delicious those Five Guys double bacon burgers taste!

My pescetarian diet keeps me full and satisfied, but even so - I still would like to chow down on a fat, juicy and tasty burger occasionally.

Enter the no-fat, cholesterol removing black bean burger friendly for any gall bladder diet.

It is no secret that beans help with gallstone issues and support a healthy gallbladder.

There are plenty of studies and websites showing how the fiber in beans actually binds cholesterol in the digestive tract and swiftly swishes the waxy compound down the dark annals of digestive corridors.

Here is my recipe for the juiciest, tastiest gallbladder friendly black bean burger packed full of protein and complex carbs.

No-Fat Black Bean Burger

• 1 can organic cooked black beans of the equivalent (1 cup) cooked at home black beans
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 roasted red pepper, diced ( chipotles work nicely too)
• dash garlic powder
• dash cumin
• dash turmeric
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• sprig fresh parsley
• sprig fresh mint
• sprig fresh sage
• 1/3 cup egg whites
• 1/2 cup Panco bread crumbs (no fat)

Drain half the liquid from the black bean can.

Gallbladder diet.  Drain half liquid off can of black beans (or cook your own)

Peel and dice one large red onion.

Gallbladder diet.  Dice one large red onion

Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint.

Gallbladder diet.  Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Transfer to a food processor or blender and chop for a few seconds until the mixture forms a thick consistency.  

Gallbladder diet.  Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Add bread crumbs to thicken or a spoonful of water to thin.

Gallbladder diet.  I keep no-fat Panco Bread Crumbs in the pantry for gallbladder diet cooking

Remove blended mixture and form the black bean burger patties, placing them on a cooking sheet (Parchment paper works great but I was out tonight).

Bake at 350F for twenty minutes, remove the tray and flip the burgers and bake for another twenty minutes or until golden brown and firm.

Serve hot with your favorite no-fat sauces or atop a fresh spinach salad.

Your gallbladder will be happy and your tummy full!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Gallbladder Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Hearty was what I dreaded missing when my M.D. instructed me to go on a two week clear liquid diet after my third bad attack.  Those two weeks were miserable.

But time passes on and now I am learning about hearty gallbladder friendly meals!

A gallbladder friendly diet does not have to be bland and boring whatsoever.

Today's hearty meal is Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly tempura broccoli and blueberry baked shrimp.

Goodbye tempura I thought after my first gallbladder attack.  Not anymore.

In fact, this recipe will leave your tempura crispy and tasty, even after the food has cooled or sat in the refrigerator overnight.  One of the downsides of fried tempura is that it becomes soggy after sitting and cooling.  Not this recipe!

Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 2 heads organic broccoli
• 1 pound wild caught large shrimp
• 1/2 cup flour for dusting broccoli (optional)
• 1 cup no-fat Panco bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup egg-whites
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• dash turmeric
• dash ginger
• 1 cup organic blueberries

Lightly boil and peel shrimp.  Preheat oven to 350F.

Gallbladder diet.  Shrimp is low-no fat and can be purchased already deveined and peeled.

Wash and slice broccoli into eatable size florets, place on a plate.

Gallbladder diet.  Using organic vegetables helps keep gallbladder irritating pesticides out of your body.

Dust the broccoli and shrimp with 1/4 cup flour each by placing flour in a plastic bag then dropping broccoli into the bag.  Repeat for shrimp in a separate bag.  Shake well.  NOTE:  The flour creates a thicker base for the Panco bread crumbs and egg whites to adhere to.  If you like a thick tempura coating use flour.  If you like a lightly breaded tempura style then skip this step and instead coat the broccoli or shrimp with egg whites and Panco bread crumbs only.

Gallbladder diet.  Cut and washed broccoli florets ready for coating then baking.

Add 1/2 of the egg whites to each bag and shake once more.

Add 1/2 cup of no-fat Panco bread crumbs to each bag and shake gently, making sure each floret or shrimp is well coated.

Gallbladder diet.  Broccoli coated in tempura mix ready for the baking tray.

Place Panco coated broccoli on a cooking rack and into the oven.  Do the same for the coated shrimp. Dust with garlic powder, black pepper and turmeric.  Add other spices like ginger if you like.

Cooking time is approximately twenty minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Coated shrimp ready in the oven.

After the shrimp has cooked for fifteen minutes, remove from oven and spread blueberries across top of shrimp.  Return to oven and allow to cook for another five minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Add blueberries to partially baked shrimp then return to the oven until tempura is golden brown.

Serve broccoli with teriyaki or other dipping sauce (no fat).  Serve shrimp with a horseradish based cocktail sauce (no fat).

This meal is so filling.  The broccoli is really filling, full of nutrients, soluble fiber and vitamins.

Blueberry baked shrimp will melt in your mouth.  OMG.

Gallbladder friendly meals do not have to be boring!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Acai and Apple Cider Vinegar, Papaya and Smoked Salmon Heartiness

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) was one of the first gallbladder attack and gallstone cures I read about.

Gallbladder diet.  I mix ACV with water or Acai juice with a 1:8 or 2:8 ratio.

First I doubted, waiting six months before adding ACV to my diet.

You see, I am a skeptic, especially with respect to 'home remedies'.

Now I am a believer in ACV, not only for the capabilities of ACV to potentially emulsify or dissolve and help remove gallbladder sludge, but also for the healthy positive effect of slowing insulin spikes after eating.

I drink my ACV twice daily, once in the morning and once in evening.

Gallbladder diet.  ACV drinks are slightly acidic, so be sure to brush your teeth afterwards.

Most ACV centered websites recommend one or two ounces of a non-filtered organic ACV, one filled with the probiotic rich particulate 'mother' mixed into a drink.

Gallbladder diet.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a must have for any gallbladder diet.  Always choose organic.

Acai juice is one of my favorite mixers.  Water does just fine too.  Blend the ACV to water or mixer juice at a 1:8 or 2:8 ACV:water ratio.

Sometimes I'll stir in a tablespoon of ACV into my morning ginger tea while participating in  stretching and yoga exercises.

ACV will be my go to relief drink also, along with plenty of water if ever I have another gallstone attack.

Papaya and Smoked Salmon Lunch.

There is something healthy sounding about an all orange-pinkish lunch.

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya and smoked salmon make a hearty, scrumptious meal.

Cold, sweet papaya and thin sliced smoke salmon go great together, creating a sweet and salty taste sensation that is irresistible to my taste buds.

I cut the papaya the night before and chill in the refrigerator for the next day.

As a side note, papayas are full of seeds.  It is fun to toss the seeds into the garden bed after cutting the papaya and watch them sprout.  Papaya trees usually produce massive amounts of fruit each year. If you live in a colder climate, try growing them indoors.

Gallbladder diet.  Sprouting papaya seeds

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya tree outside our patio.

Papayas are also an excellent source of Vitamins A, B's, and C, as well as fiber and folate according to many health sources.

Costco is my favorite place to purchase smoked salmon.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly smoked salmon should contain zero nitrites!

Always look for smoked salmon with the lowest total fat content.  Salmon contains a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids and will help you maintain the proper good to bad cholesterol/lipid ratio.

Just as important as the total fat content is finding smoked salmon with no added sodium nitrites.  Nitrites have been shown through research to possible cause or encourage some types of cancers.  The Costco brand I purchase contains no nitrites according to the label.

Gallbladder diets can be hearty and delicious!

There are so many non-processed fresh foods low in fat and rich in nutrients that you can combine to create a new and exciting, gallbladder friendly meal each day!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladder life

Gallbladder diet, Crunchy Crispy Onion Rings so Gallbladder Friendly!

Oh how I'd missed onion rings since those horrible 2015 gallbladder attacks.

Gallbladder diet.  Crunchy crispy baked onion rings so gallbladder friendly and tasty too!

Before the attacks, given the choice I'd choose onion rings over french fries anyway anytime.

I love all types of onion rings; warm, golden and crispy or juicy, lip smacking moist onion rings.  I've even been known to pick the crunchy onion rings off the top of a green bean casserole!

So when my gallbladder went awry with spasms and inflammation one of the foods I missed most over the past year has been...you guessed it... onion rings.

But now I am a happy camper once more.  I've got this awesome, easy and delicious recipe for some of the best onion rings you have ever tasted.  And they are gallbladder friendly!

Not only are these onion rings gallbladder friendly, but they are healthy too - delivering a good bit of protein with the egg whites ingredient.

Greasy onion rings are never as good cold as they are hot but these baked onions rings are, in my opinion, just as tasty cold as they are fresh out of the oven.

Golden Crunchy Crispy Baked Onion Rings

I purchased my onions from Costco in a five pound sack.  The Vanillas were huge and so sweet, firm bodied and perfect for ring stock.

Gallbladder diet.  Costco's large Vadalia onions make scrumptious onion rings.

Ingredients:

• three very large, from onions
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour (optional)
• 2 cups panco no-fat Asian bread crumbs
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon dried garlic powder 
• 1/2 cup egg whites

Preheat the oven to 380F (190C).

Rinse and peel the three large onions, slice into sections approximately finger width thick; separate and place on a plate.

Gallbladder diet.  I like to slice onions about finger thick for gallbladder friendly onion rings.

In a small bowl mix the panco bread crumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Taste a little to make sure the salt content is to the level you desire.

Gallbladder diet.  These Panko Bread crumbs contain zero fat.

Place flour in a separate bowl for dusting the raw onions prior to battering.  

Gallbladder diet.  Mix bread crumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a separate bowl.

Pour egg whites into another bowl.

Gallbladder diet.  Costco egg whites are full of protein with zero fat and zero cholesterol.

Set baking rack on a large cookie sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Place baking rack on large cookie sheet for onion rings.

Lightly dip/dust each onion in the flour.  Dip flour covered onion in the egg whites and then sprinkle/dust with the panco-salt-pepper-garlic powder mix while holding the onion over a paper towel to collect the excess/ fall off.  Note:  I've tried dipping the egg white covered onion directly into the panco mix but this process moistens the panco mix quickly rendering it too moist to adhere to the onion ring properly.  You could also lay the egg white covered rings on a plate and coat them with the panco breading mix.

Gallbladder diet.  Battered onion rings ready for the oven.

Place all battered covered onion rings on the baking sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly onion rings ready to bake.

Bake until golden brown and crunchy.  Watch closely.  When they are cooked they are ready to remove.  Do not let the bread crumbs burn.  I usually set the timer for twenty minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly yummy onion rings.

First tray I made I couldn't stop eating these awesome onion rings.  Your family will love them.

See!  Gallbladder diets can be awesome too!  These onion rings are full of protein from the egg whites (no fat and no cholesterol).

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet, 07/27/16, Cookbook that Inspired my Gallbladder Diet

Sometimes there is a spark of inspiration leading you to achieve great things.

Gallbladder diet.  Although written for healthy hearts, this cookbook forms a great basis for gallbladder health also.

For me this cookbook started a food revolution in my life, one that has saved me from further #gallbladder pain and so far surgery.

This cookbook is comprehensive and lays all the nutritional facts out on each page for each recipe making it so easy to quickly decide whether or not the food may be gallbladder friendly.  For me a quick glance at the total fat content is all revealing.

Gallbladder diet.  I've changed some ingredients and practices to make recipes more gallbladder friendly.

Although the cookbook's recipes were compiled for good heart health they also perfectly serve to form the basis for a gallbladder friendly diet.

Gallbladder diet.  There are so many recipes one would have a hard time going hungry!

The American Heart Association's Cookbook offers an amazing array of scrumptious recipes most of which are low fat, and high in protein or complex carbohydrates.

Gallbladder diet.  Healthy cooking supports not only gallbladders but other body organs too!

I absolutely love the nutrition chart associated with each recipe.  Right away I can spot total fat content and decide whether or not the particular recipe may be gallbladder friendly.

Gallbladder diet.  How many times have I missed good coleslaw!  Here's a gallbladder friendly recipe!

Let me be clear - the book serves as an inspiration for a good gallbladder diet.  There are however some ingredients and cooking practices I've modified in my gallbladder diet, such as replacing cooking spray with poaching or water sautéing.

Seriously consider ordering the 8th edition of the American Heart Association's Cookbook here.

Gallbladder friendly diets don't have to be boring.

I am loving my kitchen, the food I prepare and eat even more now than ever before.  Note to Gallbladder; I'm not thanking you here for causing me to seek out a more healthy diet.  But I am glad I've discovered how to eat healthy all the while avoiding those horrible inflamed gallbladder sessions.

Cheers!  Kevin.  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet, 07/21/16, Gallbladder Friendly Creamy Ranch Dressing & Arugula Beet Chayote Portobello Roasted Red Pepper Salad w Baked Salmon

I am a big man. 6'3"+ and it takes a lot of hearty food to satisfy me.

After the last gallbladder attack in 2015 I was extremely concerned I'd not ever again enjoy a hearty meal.

Oh, this salad and creamy ranch dressing is so filling.  But not too filling.  I'm still satisfied an hour after eating tonight, yet not over-stuffed.

And the creamy ranch was so tasty.

Lately the meals have been one half vegan and the other half vegetarian or pescatarian.

Gallbladder diet.  Arugula, Chayote, Beet, Portobello, Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Tonight salad was vegan except for the small amount of baked salmon topping and the cup of non-fat yogurt used in the creamy ranch dressing recipe.

Gallbladder diet.  Wild non-farmed salmon with portobellos ready for the oven

First I baked the portobellos and wild caught salmon in the over at 350F for twenty minutes after marinating the shrooms in soy sauce for ten minutes. Feel free to add garlic powder, pepper, ginger or turmeric if you desire (I did).

Gallbladder diet.  Boil Chayote with their skins unit tender

While the salmon and portobellos are baking, place two whole chayote in a sauce pan and cover with water.  Add a dash of sea salt and bring to a boil.  Cover, turn to low-medium heat and allow the chayote to gently boil for fifteen minutes or so.  The chayote will be cooked when a fork or knife can easily be inserted all the way into the vegetable/fruit.

Gallbladder diet.  Slice chayote into wedge sections, cover and allow to cool in the refrigerator

 My first chayote squash came from a vine in Grandpa's Miami backyard.  As a young boy I loved to watch the chayote vines climb up the sprawling live oaks in Grandpa Morrow's landscape.

Chayote possesses a unique, earthy flavor and soft pear like texture when cooked.  Many like to eat chayote with butter.  Not me.  My gallbladder would erupt.  Chayote with salt and pepper is scrumptious tasting to me.

You should be able to find chayote in any large grocery store's vegetable section.  I purchased these two this week from Costco.

No need to peel chayote but I do remove the seed before slicing into wedges.  Chayote makes a great snack cooked and served hot or cooked, chilled and served with a gallbladder friendly dip (teriyaki or soy sauce works well).

Gallbladder diet.  Slice cooked beets into wedges and chill

While the chayote are cooking, wedge cut three of four cooked organic beets.  Again, I purchase mine from the produce section at Costco.  Beets are also available from most Farmer's Markets or grocery stores.  Place the beet wedges in a bowl and chill along with the chayote.

Gallbladder diet.  These roasted red peppers contain no fat except for the natural oils in the peppers

The delicious roasted red peppers came from Publix in a glass jar.  These particular peppers possessed a slight hint of fire from the roasting process, were sweet but not too sweet and were bottled with water.  Zero grams of total fat usually translates into a happy gallbladder for me.

Gallbladder diet.  Slicing the roasted red peppers for the salad

Slicing then placing the red peppers in the bowl of beet wedges, the salad toppings were chilled in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Beet wedges and roasted red peppers

Beet wedges and roasted red pepper slices, chilled make a great happy gallbladder snack on their own.  Sometimes its hard to keep hungry fingers out of the bowl while the beets and peppers chill in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Roasted portobellos ready for quartering

Quarter the roasted portobellos and set aside for use as a topping on the salad.

Gallbladder diet.  Salad is starting to come together

Wash then place the organic baby arugula leaves on the serving plate.  Arrange the wedges of chilled chayote, beets, sliced peppers and portobellos as desired over the arugula.

I added about one half cup of the baked salmon on top of all the garnishments for a super hearty and delicious evening meal.  The plate shown should be enough for two hungry adults to share.

Both the adults gallbladders should be very happy with this super low fat meal.

Creamy Yummy Ranch No-Fat Dressing

Gallbladder diet.  Ingredients for the super yummy creamy no-fat, gallbladder pleasing 'ranch' dressing

Back in time before my gallbladder revolted I loved creamy dressings, especially the kind that was full of artery-clogging oils, inflammatory high fructose corn sweetness and mysterious MSG.

For the first six months on my gallbladder diet I avoided creamy dressings.  In fact the only dressings I used were straight up balsamic vinegar or glaze, soy sauce or lemon/lime juice.

Eventually I tried fat free dressings made from corn or potato starch.  These starch dressings did not hurt my gallbladder but they tasted like blah barf times two.

Finally I figured out no-fat yogurt did not hurt my gallbladder either, though it did come in a plastic container.

After experimenting with several recipes I stumbled upon this fab creamy, tasty dressing mix and wow, it is so easy to make!

Gallbladder diet. Creamy ranch dressing is easy to make.  Herbs, spices, yogurt, lime juice and vegetable bullion.

Mix together one cup non-fat yogurt (I use Fage from Costco but any organic, non-fat yogurt would work fine), two tablespoons of lime juice (preferably key lime juice if available), fresh chopped herbs from your garden (basil and sage are shown here) and two heaping tablespoons of vegetable bullion.

Stir until consistency is creamy smooth.

Note: My vegetable bullion has a minuscule, almost negligible amount of oil but this has never bothered my gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh herbs from the garden, basil & sage

Gallbladder diet.  Finished no-fat, creamy, tasty 'ranch' gallbladder friendly dressing.

Chill dressing mixture and serve either on the side or over the salad.

Cheers!  Kevin #Gallbladder life is never boring.