Healthy Beef Chilli Bowls with Guacamole, Air Fried Tortilla Chips and Pico de Gallo
These beef chilli bowls are perfect to make on a Sunday night to serve you through the rest of the week. I sometimes make a double batch of the chilli which I can then freeze for emergencies (your future self will thank you). I make mine with lean beef mince, kidney beans and black beans for extra protein if I’m trying to be healthier. Red peppers add more veggie goodness and then a mixture of chilli powder, smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, coriander, garlic, and optional chipotle flakes for added smokiness all add more punch. I like to add some 70% dark chocolate, a splash of soy, worcestershire sauce and a spoonful of marmite for added richness.
Beef Shin Ragu
It depends which day you ask me, but this could be my death row meal - its definitely in my top 3. For me, nothing beats this when I’m craving a rich, hearty, delicious bowl of comforting pasta. It’s all about the slow cooking of the beef shin here which after a few hours in a low oven just melts in your mouth. The end result is a ragu rich with red wine, plenty of rosemary, parmesan, garlic, sweet vegetables, sweet good quality Italian tinned tomatoes and well made beef stock.
Guinness & Chocolate Beef Shin Casserole with Herby Pancetta Dumplings
With the Six Nations ongoing Guinness is on the mind. While I’m not a massive fan of a pint myself, it works really well in this rich, comforting beef stew. A little dark chocolate adds slight sweetness to the rich sauce, while some herby potato dumplings with salty pancetta soak up all the yummy flavours and add a whole other level of comfort. Super easy to make and perfect for a Sunday dinner.
Beef Rendang
This beef rendang will knock your socks off. It has everything you want in a curry. A little bit of heat, sourness, sweetness and aromatic spice, it is so moreish and perfect to impress any guests. I love to serve it with some shaved cucumber which has been sprinkled with sea salt flakes and left to drain over a sieve. It brings a refreshing coolness to the dish which works so well with the intensely rich, coconutty curry. My recipe makes enough to serve 8 and the paste can be kept in the fridge or freezer for whenever you need it so it really is worth making a big batch.
Beef & Pork Ricotta Meatballs with Parmesan Polenta and Cavolo Nero
Meatballs of any kind will always be one of my favourite meals. Just sheer, unadulterated comfort which never fails to brighten a cold, miserable night. I make mine with high quality beef mince and pork sausage meat for extra flavour, while plenty of ricotta and parmesan cheese keeps them ridiculously light, fluffy but with a salty umami depth.
Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cauliflower Puree, Fondant Potatoes, Parsnip Crisps and Red Wine and Chocolate Jus
This is a decadent Sunday night roast. Its rich and full of flavour and definitely a treat. We were gifted the chateaubriand a few months ago and it has been in our freezer ever since. I was going to do a beef wellington with it, but decided that a fancy Sunday roast would be a nice luxury instead. The accompaniments would work with any other piece of beef, they would also be great with venison too. The cauliflower puree pulls everything together and is a definite must-try.
Seared Beef Noodle Salad with Asian Dressing, Peanuts and Crispy Garlic and Ginger
This is a fresh and zingy salad that is a great way to satisfy your beef cravings and still enjoy a light meal. Salty, sour, sharp, and nutty, this would make a lovely dinner party starter in small quantities or it would also be great on the bbq in the summer. It’s also very quick to prepare on a midweek night and works really well as leftovers (that’s if there is any).