Category Archives: Beef

Beef, Main Dish, Mexican/Spanish Recipes, Pork, Poultry, Recipes

Something Special for Cinco de Mayo

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Sopes with chicken and green sauce.

Mexican Sopes are the bomb!

I didn’t try Mexican Sopes until recently. Sure, I had the corn cakes at Cheesecake Factory and those are so delicious! They are more of a tamale mix than sopes are although the both use masa. But they are equally high in carbohydrate’s. So, I decided to try to make a similar-tasting one from low carb ingredients. I tried a couple of different recipes I found from other Keto sites, but they didn’t quite do it.

Ultimately, I came up with my own recipe for sopes using a combination of flours and Mozzarella cheese. Yes, cheese. The Mozzarella melts well, has a very mild flavor, and helps the flour ingredients hold together. For this, I used CarbQuik, a biscuit combination flour that works well. I added a little corn meal to get the corn flavor into it, but if you want to lower the carbs a little more, you can leave it out and add 2 more tablespoons of flax meal or almond flour. The flax helps with the texture and adds a golden color. Adding in taco seasoning brings more flavor to the mix. If you prefer, just add a little salt and a bit of garlic powder.

Although the ingredients are low carb, a sope still comes out to 8 grams of carbs, but if you have a low threshold, plan for your higher carb dinner by eating really low carb the rest of the day. I find two sopes are a good dinner meal, but if you add a side salad, you can get by with one.

The fillings also affect the carbs, so use cheese and meat, chicken, or fish with a salsa or low carb sauce. Feel free to top with a bit of sour cream or chopped lettuce and sliced radishes.

Give it a try for Cinco de Mayo!

Mexican-style Sopes

1/3 cup Almond Flour
2 tablespoons Corn Meal
1/3 cup Low Carb Flour
1/3 cup Golden Flax Meal
1 tablespoon Lard
1/3 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon Taco Seasoning
1/4 to 1/3 cup water

Mix the ingredients, except the water together and cut with your clean fingers until it forms crumbles. Add 1/4 cup water and mx together with your hands. The dough will begin to pull together to form a ball. If the mix isn’t adhering together well, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it forms a smooth, but not wet ball. Roll into a log about 4 inches long. Cut in half.

Form the 1st half into a 3″ circle about 1 thick. Smooth the top and sides and make it as even as possible. Repeat with the second piece of dough.

Two balls, flattened and cooked on both sides long enough to lightly brown, but not cook through.

Heat a griddle or heavy skillet over medium high heat until it is hot. Place each rounded ball into the griddle and cook for about 1-1/2 to 2 minutes until it is lightly browned. Flip and repeat on the other side. Remove dough patties to a work surface. Carefully cut each one across the middle of the 1″ side, like you would split an English muffin. The dough in the center will be raw, so cut carefully.

Press down the bottom and pinch the sides to form a ring around the top.

With the doughy side up, push down the middle of the sope and use your fingers to pinch the edges to a 1/2 inch wall around the middle. It’s easier to use the pointer finger on each hand to shape this. If it cracks, pinch it closed. This is like forming the top edge with pie dough. Push the center down more if needed, then use a finger to push the bottom of the edging to be even with the base.

If you are not cooking right away, cover the sopes with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to cook.

You can cook the sopes in hot oil and it will take about 4 minutes to get them completely done. Or you can cook them in a hot oven or air fryer. If you do that, spray with oil or cooking spray and cook until they are browned and cooked through. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Fill with your favorite fillings and serve with salsa if you like.

Makes 4 sopes.

Nutrition Information per Sope:
Calories 390 , Total Fat 32 g , Cholesterol 12 mg, Sodium 45 mg, Potassium 312 mg, Carbohydrates 18 g, Fiber 10 g, Sugars 1.3 g, Protein 14 g, Net Carbs 8 g

Note: Nutrition information is based on the ingredients I used in this recipe and my measurements. Although they are a close calculation, your results may be slightly higher or lower. Ingredient substitutions may affect the carb count. Different brands may have other carb counts.

Beef, Main Dish, Recipes

Marvelous Moussaka

Photo - MoussakaFinishing off my Greek festival cooking, I made moussaka, a delicious eggplant, meat, tomato, and cream dish which is like a Greek version of lasagna. Traditionally made with ground lamb, you can also make it with beef or a combination. I used beef in mine. The casserole is topped with a creamy white sauce, a béchamel, and is baked with feta cheese.

I adapted the recipe from an old Betty Crocker cookbook to be a half-sized and lower carb’d casserole. Serve it with a low carb bread or low carb flatbread, like this one.

Here’s a couple of substitutions. If you don’t like feta cheese, use Parmesan or Romano. Not crazy about eggplant? User several large zucchini instead.

This photo shows the layers a little better. This is when it’s cold, but once it is heated, it tends to run together more.

Moussaka

1 large eggplant, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick slices
salt
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 tablespoon Butter
1 pound lean Ground Beef or Ground Lamb
Salt to taste
ground Black Pepper to taste
1 onions, chopped
1/2 clove Garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon ground Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground Nutmeg
½ teaspoon Italian Herbs
2 tablespoons dried Parsley
1 (8 ounce) can Tomato sauce
½ cup Red Wine
1 Egg, beaten
1-1/2 cups Cream & 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose low carb flour
salt to taste
ground White Pepper, to taste
1 cups freshly crumbled Feta Cheese
¼ teaspoon ground Nutmeg

Preheat over to 350 degrees (F.)

Place the slices of eggplant on paper towels and sprinkle each lightly with salt. Let them rest 30 minutes to draw out moisture. Wipe each slice off with a paper towel.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high head. Fry the eggplant until lightly browned. Remove a paper-toweled covered plate to drain.

Using the same skillet, clean it of any remaining oil with a paper towel, then set it to medium high, melt the butter and add the ground beef or lamb, onions, and garlic. Add salt and pepper to your taste preference. When the meat is browned, sprinkle in cinnamon, nutmeg, Italian herbs, and parsley. Pour in the tomato sauce and wine, and mix well. Simmer for 20 minutes.  Let cool for about 20 minutes then stir in beaten egg.

In an 8×8-inch baking dish, arrange a layer of eggplant, using half of the eggplant. Cover the eggplant with all of the meat mixture, spreading it evenly, then crumble 1/3 cup of Feta cheese over the meat. Place the remaining eggplant slices over the top, and crumble another 1/3 cup of cheese on top. Let sit while you prepare the béchamel sauce.

Scald the cream and water in a saucepan and remove before it boils. Clean out the meat skillet and melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in low carb flour until smooth. Lower heat; gradually pour in the hot milk, stirring constantly until it thickens. Season with salt, and white pepper.

Pour the béchamel sauce over the top, and sprinkle with nutmeg. Crumble the remaining cheese over the top.

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Makes 4 to 6 servings

nutrition information

Asian Recipes, Beef, Pork, Poultry, Recipes

A Taste of Asia with an Eggroll Filling

Photo: Eggroll in a Bowl

I haven’t been posting much this month. It’s a writing month for me, so I have been working on two books needing their final chapters, plus editing a book for Amazon’s new episodic format called Vella and another book’s final edit. Then it seems like a dozen other things happen that need your attention immediately.   And now the Olympics have started and I’m trying to watch while writing this. Consequently, I haven’t been cooking much this month either. But this recipe is a winner! It comes together quickly and tastes great.

An eggroll filling makes or breaks the eggroll, but often there’s just not enough in the wrapper. But for those who don’t need a wrapper, here’s a great low carb filling that you can eat without the rice or add a serving of cauliflower rice.

Eggroll in a Bowl

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound lean ground turkey, sausage, or beef
1 1/2 cups sweet onion finely diced
1 cup carrots shredded
1 15-oz can Asian Baby Corn, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste or minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, crushed or 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
1/4 cup chicken broth
5 cups shredded cabbage
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper to taste
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Toasted sesame seeds, optional
Green onions, optional

First, begin by cooking your meat. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.

Cook the turkey or beef until nearly cooked through (about 5-6 minutes).

Push the meat to one side of the pan and add the onions and another tablespoon of olive oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Then, add the carrots, garlic, and ginger. Saute for 2 minutes and stir the veggies and meat together.

Then, add the chicken broth to the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan.

Add in the cabbage, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Combine and cover, reducing the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the cabbage is cooked to your desired tenderness.

Add the toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onions before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Tip: I wrapped about a cup of this mixture into a warmed low-carb spinach tortilla and it makes a great fusion wrap.

Beef, Recipes

Delightful Corned Beef Tacos

Photo - corned beef tacos

I apologize for not being around much this month. Since it’s my birthday month, I spent quite a bit of time eating out or eating leftovers, but I did manage to cook a few new things during March.

If you have any corned beef left from St. Patrick’s Day, you can use it in this delicious fusion recipe of Mexican and Irish. Or you can do what I did and buy a pound of cooked corned beef from the grocery store deli. I had them cut it about 1/4 inch thick so that I could slice it into thin strips for the recipe.

Purple cabbage isn’t required and green cabbage will work just as well, but the reddish one is more colorful. The flavor is spicy and a bit sweet, so it makes for a nice tickle on the taste buds. I used La Banderita flour tortillas, which are 4 net carbs per tortilla. You can use one of the wheat ones that will save you a carb on each taco. Ideally, two tacos are a nice serving, but I’ve listed the carb count for each taco.

Corned Beef Tacos

1 pound thick-sliced Corned Beef
1 teaspoon Brown Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
4 low carb Flour Tortillas
1/2 cup Irish Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Slaw
1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1/4 cup white onion diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard

Make the slaw first. Put all ingredients into a bowl and stir together until it looks creamy. Refrigerate.

Cut the sliced corned beef into thin strips. In a small bowl, mix the mustard, cayenne pepper, and garlic together and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet, then add the corned beef. Cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in mustard mixture and stir cook the corned beef for about 3 to 5 minutes until it is completely covered and warmed through.

To serve, warm the tortillas over a flame or in the oven, wrapped in foil, for a few minutes. Spread corned beef mixture down the middle of each tortillas, spread the slaw over the meat, and top with shredded cheese.

Mix 2 tablespoons salsa with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise to make a spicy sauce for the tacos.

Beef, Soups and Stews

Guinness Pot Roast is Grand

Photo: Pot Roast in Guinness broth

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, your first thought probably isn’t a pot roast.  In many ways, it is similar to an Irish stew though. Beef, broth, vegetables, and Guinness Stout. So, I thought, why not? The stout not only brings flavor, but it is great to tenderize the beef. Add turnips and kohlrabi instead of potatoes, then throw in some baby carrots and onions, and you have a delicious low-carb meal in one pot.

Guinness Stout Pot Roast

3-1/2 to 4 lb. Pot Roast
1 16 oz.-can Guinness Draught Stout
2 cups Turnips, peeled and cubed
20-24 Baby Carrots
3 stalks Celery, medium-sized
1 Onion, peeled and quartered
2 cups Kohlrabi, peeled and cubed
1 packet LIPTON RECIPE SECRETS ONION Mix or other Onion Soup mix
1 tablespoon Garlic and Herb Seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil

Heat oven to 325 degrees (F.)

Peel the turnips and kohlrabi and cut each into eighths. Remove the strings from the celery and cut into one-inch pieces. Cut the carrots in half or leave whole. Peel the onion and cut it into quarters.

In a Dutch oven or ovenproof deep pot, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Prepare the roast by rubbing it with seasoning on both sides. Sear the pot roast in the hot oil to get a brown char on one side, then flip over and repeat.

Remove the roast, add in the onions and sauté for about five minutes. Return the roast to the pan, then add the Guinness beer and 1/4 cup water along with the Onion Soup mix. Bring mixture to a simmer, then turn off heat. Cover with a lid or with a double layer of aluminum foil. Place in the oven and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes.

Add the vegetables to the pot and cook for another 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours until the vegetables are fork tender.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

To help sop up that flavorful sauce, serve slices of low carb Irish Soda Bread. Get the recipe here.