Meals for New Moms: Thai Beef w/ Chiles, Basil & Shaved Asparagus

There are a lot of new babies popping up in my community, and one of my favorite ways to serve new parents is by bringing them a nutrient-dense, homemade meal that isn't a heavy casserole full of simple carbs. 

I love making the following savory dish and serving it alongside my Ugly Root Mash (or sweet potato pureé!). It might sound fancy, but don’t worry, it is SO simple to make…and super tasty! This recipe will also work well with ground turkey, chicken, or lamb.

Thai Beef w/ Chiles, Basil & Shaved Asparagus

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon tamari
1 teaspoon coconut sugar
1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 red jalapeno chiles, seeded and sliced into 2-inch matchsticks (option to use 1 medium red bell pepper if avoiding spice)
1 ¼ pounds organic, pastured ground beef
1 cup loosely packed torn fresh basil leaves
lime wedges, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine fish sauce, tamari, and coconut sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add oil and heat. Shave asparagus and sauté for 1 minute. Remove from pan.
3. Add garlic and half the chiles to pan. Cook, stirring constantly, 15 seconds.
4. Add beef and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until completely browned, about 4 minutes.
5. Add the sauce mixture and cook 30 seconds. Add basil, cooked asparagus shavings and remaining chiles and stir to combine.

Nutritional Notes

The cholesterol content of grass-fed beef has repeated been shown to be lower than the cholesterol content in beef from conventionally fed animals. The decrease in cholesterol that you are most likely to obtain when switching from conventionally fed to grass-fed beef is approximately 22–39%.

Some recent studies show up to 3.5 grams of total omega-3 fats in 4 ounces of grass-fed beef. That level would provide you with 100% of the daily requirement.

Red meat provides complete protein, including sulphur-containing proteins like cysteine. Beef is a wonderful source of taurine and carnitine, needed for healthy eyes and a healthy heart. Beef also provides another key nutrient for the cardiovascular system—coenzyme Q10, as well as minerals like magnesium and zinc—you need zinc for clear thinking and a healthy sex life. Vitamin B6 is abundant in meat, especially rare meat. Red meat is one of the best sources of vitamin B12, which is vital to a healthy nervous system and healthy blood. Vegetarians are especially prone to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Tamari is made from fermented soy beans, similarly to soy sauce, but it doesn’t have wheat, making it gluten-free (regular soy sauce has gluten in it). If you're taking wheat and soy out of your diet, try coconut aminos for a similar flavor. 

The phytoestrogens in raw soy disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility, promote breast cancer and act as a potent antithyroid agent, lowering thyroid function. Soy has high levels of phytic acid, which reduce the assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Traditionally, soy foods were only consumed when fermented and in small amounts (as condiments mostly) — which is what this recipe calls for.