Too often I see recipes offered to diabetics that involve significant amounts of flour, sugar, rice and other high glycemic carbohydrates. I invite all of you who like to cook to submit favorite recipes that minimze the carbohydrate content without sacrificing taste or enjoyment. My test would be to see if non-diabetics enjoy it as much as diabetics. As a start I submit one of my favorite lunch and snack foods.
Very Diabetic Friendly Ham and Cheese Salad
Why make this recipe: Believe it or not this is a very tasty food with zero carbs. While bread or crackers are a natural accompaniment, I like to spread it thick on ¼ inch slices of crisp fresh cucumber.
Non-diabetics enjoy this recipe without realizing it has been created to accommodate my diabetic needs.
Ingredients
1 lb Turkey Ham (Jenni-o brand) (or smoked ham roast)
8 oz mild cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 cup Sweet Pickle Relish made with Splenda (Mt. Olive brand)
1/2 cup real Mayonaise
1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke or to taste (omit if using smoked ham)
Method
Cut the cheese and the turkey ham into convenient sized cubes. Grind the turkey ham and cheese together with a meat grinder using the fine plate and alternating the two ingredients. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate. The flavor improves after an hour in the refrig.
I use a Kitchen Aid mixer with a meat grinder attachment. For those who do not have access to a meat grinder, cut the meat into rough 1” cubes and process it in a food processor until it looks like ground hamburger. Separately, shred, the cheese with a fine blade and then chop into small bits. Mix all the ingredients as instructed above.
Enjoy