KOFTA: TURKISH MEATBALL SKEWERS

What can you make with a pound of ground beef? A lot! Here’s a terrific addition to the list. There are endless of versions of meatball kabobs with many different names throughout the Middle East and India. This one, made with walnuts, aromatics, spices, and herbs, is based on a Turkish recipe. Serve them on low-carb flatbread or over a bed of riced cauliflower with yogurt or tahini sauce. Small ones on wooden picks are perfect as appetizers. Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber are traditional accompaniments. KOFTA These fine-textured meatballs…

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THE PERFECT STEAK WITH FRIED LEEKS

You may like these fried leeks better than french fries. Pair them with a perfectly cooked, uniformly rare steak for a meal that rivals any at your favorite steak house! FRIED LEEKS Leeks naturally separate into thin layers that are uniform in thickness so they make fries that crisp up quickly without a coating of flour or batter. They have so much flavor you won’t need a dip or sauce. Fried leeks have been popular for a very long time; Martha Washington had a recipe…

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SIGH, YET ANOTHER MEAT-CAUSES-CANCER SCARE

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The anti-meat activists are having a heyday with the new study from the World Health Organization that states unequivocally that, hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats cause cancer. I’m sure you have seen it everywhere, even though the study has not even been officially released! Here is a link to the story in yesterday’s Washington Post if you need a refresher: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/26/hot-dogs-bacon-and-other-processed-meats-cause-cancer-world-health-organization-declares/ Below is my response. I’ve posted on every news story I could find that gave me a comment box! Also check out Zoe Harcombe’s…

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BEYOND HAMBURGERS: 15 LOW CARB GROUND BEEF RECIPES

Grass-fed ground beef is available at some of my local stores now, but grass-fed roasts, chops, and steaks are harder to find. One butcher told me he quit ordering the more expensive cuts because they didn’t sell fast enough and he always had to mark them down. I have to admit, the prices are a deterrent for me too. As a result, ground beef has become a staple in my diet and I’m always looking for new ways to cook it. Here are some of…

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PICADILLO (CUBAN STEW)

An article titled, “Endangered Cuban Cuisine Preserved by Cooks in America,” by Colleen O’Conner was in the Denver Post today. I thought all three of the featured recipes looked like they would be easy to convert to low carb. Hmmm, somehow they looked strangely familiar–Oh, wait a minute, I already did that! A quick look though my recipe files turned up this one for Picadillo. (I have a flan recipe in Carb Wars too and I’m sure I also worked on a Ropa Vieja at some point. Still looking…

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POT-AU-FEU

Pot-au-feu, generally considered to be the national dish of France, means “pot on the fire.” It is a family-style, one-pot meal, beloved by rich and poor alike. The ingredients may vary, but a typical, traditional pot-au-feu contains the following (notice the absence of potatoes): – An economical cut of beef, such as chuck or brisket; – One or more cartilage-rich meats, such as oxtail, shank, or beef ribs; – Marrow bones; – Root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, and celery root; – Onions, cabbage, and leeks; – Herbs and…

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SOOKA KEEMA (DRY-COOKED SPICY GROUND MEAT)

Grass-fed ground beef is available at most of my local stores now, but the other cuts are harder to find, probably because they are more expensive and don’t sell as well. As a result, I use a lot of ground beef and am always looking for new ways to cook it. This classic Indian recipe makes a nice change from hamburgers, spaghetti, chili, and meatloaf.  Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cooking fat (such as clarified butter, light olive oil, avocado oil, or tallow) 2/3 cup chopped onion 4…

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SALSA CHILI

This is about as streamlined as a recipe can get. Nothing to peel or chop. A pound of ground beef, a few items from the pantry, and you’ve got a tasty, homemade meal in just minutes. SALSA CHILI The warehouse stores, like Costco, sell two-packs of salsa in big glass jars at a very good price. You’ll go though it quickly with this super-easy recipe! 1 teaspoon cooking fat 1 pound grass-fed ground beef ½ to 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 cup prepared salsa, hot,…

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