You won’t find many beef recipes on my site, but my Asian Chili Beef is a good one! Red meat has been independently associated with an increased risk for cancer. But if you choose a clean high-quality beef, like grass-fed tenderloin, for an occasional meal, it is likely (though we don’t really know because the studies haven’t been done) that you’ll minimize your risk while benefiting from the nutrient-richness of beef.
The plants in this recipe – the cilantro, chili, onions, and coconut, all dance nicely with beef (in flavor and nutrition) in a sweet-and-spicy Asian flavor marinate that becomes a sauce. So, in these last chilly nights of late winter, as we wait for warmer months to come, here’s a way of having a rich and flavorful meal that is healthful too.
If this recipe appeals but beef is too rich for you, you can use the same marinade for tofu, fish, or chicken. These will all cook much faster, but will still give you the sweet-and-spicy Asian tang. Yum!
My Asian Chili Beef is a way of having a rich and flavorful meal that is healthful too. The plants in this recipe – the cilantro, chili, onions, and coconut all dance nicely with beef (in flavor and nutrition) in a sweet-and-spicy Asian flavor marinate that becomes a sauce.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Soup
Equipment
large (glass or metal) bowl
large skillet or wok
Ingredients
1poundtender high-quality beeflike tenderloin or filet mignon
1/2onionchopped
1cupfresh cilantrochopped
1-2tspThai red chili pastestart with less and turn up the heat as desired
1-inchpiece of fresh gingerpeeled and chopped
1large shallot
1garlic clove
1Tbsphoney
2Tbsptamari or Bragg’s
1Tbspcoconut oil
Instructions
Mix all ingredients except beef in a large (glass or metal) bowl. Slice beef into thin strips – about 1/4″ by 3″. Place beef slices into the marinade, and leave in the refrigerator (marinate!) for anywhere from one hour to overnight.
Heat coconut oil in a large skillet or wok, over high heat. Place beef slices into the wok/skillet and sear each side for 3-5 minutes. Pour remaining marinade into pan over beef, turn heat down to medium-high, allowing the marinade to thicken and coat the beef.
Serve with brown rice and a vegetable dish like my Asian slaw.
Sign up now. Space is limited and this will sell out quickly.
Those of you who know me know that I absolutely love to combine vacation and learning. In 2018, I’m offering it to you: let’s meet at a beautiful spa in the tropical clouds of Costa Rica for deep support and directed self-inquiry.
In this 5-night retreat, you will have the opportunity to:
Deepen your relationship with your physical body with gentle progressive yoga and meditation.
Enjoy food and all that nourishes through mindful practice and interactive learning.
Gain insight about your one precious life through conscious group share, guided imagery, and Shamanic journey.
Get clear about and support your full, true, gorgeous expression of you.
Leader: moi – Annie B. Kay – nutritional biochemist/yoga therapist/plant alchemist Costs:
Tuition: $380
Room & Board: Ranges from $702 (double in a glam-tent) – $1627 (single in the fanciest rooms). Prices subject to change (a little).
Check out the venue: https://puravidaspa.com/accommodations/ Pura Vida is a gorgeous retreat about 20 minutes from the San Jose airport, has spa treatments (separate), hosts excursions (separate). If you go you might spend a few days at the beach before or after the retreat. NOT included: Airfare.
To hold your space: $400 deposit
Just completed the first draft of a book proposal for easeful whole-food eating. YEAH! So, I’ve been reading the amazing food meisters around the net to hear the consensus for quick & easy weeknight dinners. I agree with what I found; two pans max, about 40 minutes of active work max (which does not include the time your sauce simmers away or time in the oven). Leftovers are good. Happy times, because that’s how I cook and I have a great Coconut Peanut Chicken with Sweet Potato recipe for you that fits the bill.
Here is a skillet chicken recipe that is just that: easy, one pan, really flavorful, and great leftovers. The sauce will be lovely over veggies and the chicken will be wonderful tomorrow if you can resist eating it all tonight.
This recipe serves 2, with leftover sauce
Here is a skillet chicken recipe that is just that: easy, one pan, really flavorful, and great leftovers. The sauce will be lovely over veggies and the chicken will be wonderful tomorrow if you can resist eating it all tonight.
This recipe serves 2, with leftover sauce
3Tbspfresh cilantro – stalksfor sauce plus a few whole sprigs for garnish
1/4cpeanut butter
1tsphot chili sauce
1sweet potato – peeled and cubed
Instructions
In a large skillet turned to high, add onions and sear the chicken thighs, skin-down first (to get some fat in the pan). About 10 minutes.
Turn down to medium-low, add sweet potato, cover and simmer 15 minutes.
In a blender, pour coconut milk, ginger, cilantro, and blend until smooth. Run through a sieve (to remove some of the ginger woody pulp) into a medium bowl, add peanut butter and chili sauce, and whisk until smooth.
Add sauce to skillet mixture and simmer another 15-20 minutes.
Top with springs of cilantro and enjoy.
Notes
My Coconut Peanut Chicken with Sweet Potato recipe is easy to expand; you can easily toss in 2 more chicken thighs, or another sweet potato, depending on what you want for leftovers and how many mouths you are feeding tonight. Or, just double the whole recipe. You’ll be getting into 2-pan territory if you do that unless you have a really large skillet.
For all my recipes, I suggest using the cleanest ingredients you can find and afford. So, grass-fed organic chicken (and other meats and eggs) is always best, and organic or bio-dynamic herbs and vegetables are best, though consulting the Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15/Dirty dozen list can be helpful if buying all organic will send you to the poor house (or make your house the poor house). Across the board, using ingredients in their whole form will usually give you the most nutrition. So, if you can grind your own peanut butter from organic peanuts, excellent. If you grow your own herbs, lovely. If not, just do the best you can and worry not about it. Every single ingredient has a whole-to-refined story (unfortunately), so it is hard to keep up. I do find that if you invest time and energy into eating a little cleaner and a little simpler, you will begin to see changes. Keep going!
Enjoy!
Annie
I just finished up a new short video – my speaking reel. Know of someone looking for a speaker for a conference, event or workshop? Pass this and my speaking brochure along. Enjoy!
How do you like it? Let me know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy the day!
Vieques PR is an island about the size of Nantucket. One difference between these beautiful islands is that 50 years ago half of Vieques was cleared of long-term and indigenous residents and used as bombing target practice by the US military. Another difference is that in spite of its tortured history, Vieques is home to one of the most bioluminescent bays in the world.
I’ve just returned from Vieques with a group of herbalists and healers who went to the island to communicate with the dinoflaggelate (pyrodinium bahamenses) occupants of the bay though a Shamanic practice we share called Plant Spirit Healing.
Pam Montgomery, Plant Spirit Goddess
In my newsletter this month I talked about this amazing little organism and the very specific ecology it needs to shine. The bay is calm, saltier than the ocean, and 4 different types of mangroves feed the dinoflagellates with a B-vitamin rich nutrient cocktail. There have been periods of time when the ecology got disrupted when the bioluminescence didn’t happen. I can relate!
Spending time with the these little guys, who need lots of darkness and agitation to be observed (remind you of anything?) got us all exploring what we each and collectively need, in order to bioluminate (which humans do!). What is the ecology surrounding and including you, that you need in order to shine?
As we pondered this together, and did Shamanic journeys and shared in sacred circle, we each reported what we need to be our full selves. As we shared together, something familiar (to those who hang out in spiritual spaces) happened. We bonded and elevated. It feels like falling in love. It is falling in love.
To complete our time together, we created a Shamanic landscape. This is a mandala-like natural work of art/prayer that includes all the plants each of us connected with and the flowers we enjoyed. It represents the collective energy of each of us who gathered together for this week in the sun. As you can see, it’s beautiful. We called it the flag of #Ensparkleation Nation.
In this time of chaos and uncertainty, of occupying the time beyond the tipping point (and I think this is why everyone is acting so crazy – we are going insane because we have pretty officially destroyed our planet and everyone feels that destabilization), we need to seek out connection. The ability to laugh together, to smile together, to feel connected is our medicine today.
What you can do to help the whole of humanity become creative enough to somehow solve this impossible problem or adapt to what is coming, is to find out the ecology you need to shine. For me, working healthy boundaries have been hard, painful and ultimately really excellent work (I’m working to make it less painful, and mango is helping me!).
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the darkness around you, fear not. If despair is creeping in, fear not. Fear not. You need that darkness in order to shine. You otherwise would not be seen. So, what do you need to say now? What is hyper-true for you? What do you need to do to allow that unique and perfect light inside you to shine a little brighter?
What a time for the great practices of radical non-attachment, of taking the next right action regardless of the outcome! Maybe the outcome doesn’t matter, not in this one moment.
Join me, my friend. Breathe, smile and be, and take whatever next right step feels right for you. Join Ensparkleation Nation and shine with me.
Costs:
