-With all the main vegetables in season and a range of lean red meats to choose from, why not try some of the following quick and easy combinations for dinner this evening: leeks, onion and lamb stirfry; roast pork and parsnips or beef kebabs with cauliflower and lime dressing.
-Lean red meat (beef, pork and lamb) contains a power pack of nutrients - it is an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc, vitamin A and the B group vitamins - all essential for a healthy body.
-Unlike most other foods, almost all the fat in meat is visible and can be trimmed away and reduced even further by appropriate cooking methods.
-Vegetables in season include Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips and Turnips.
-Fresh seasonal vegetables are an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and E and are also a good source of fibre.
-Vegetables are also excellent quality, fresh, taste delicious and very quick and easy to prepare. They are also good for your eyesight, hair, skin and nails.
-Almost half of Irish women aged 18 to 50 years old have an inadequate intake of iron - Lean red meat is one of the best dietary sources of easily absorbed iron. When meat is eaten with vegetables it helps boost the absorption of iron from the vegetables too.
Note: further details on how to prepare meat are available in recipe section
1. Grilled lamb cutlets with broccoli & ginger stirfry
Chop the broccoli into small pieces including the stems. Heat a pan with some oil and stirfry for 2-3 minutes. Add some chopped ginger and garlic and season to taste. This is good with almost any meal but especially good with grilled lamb cutlets.
2. Steak with cabbage and bacon saute
Cut the cabbage into fine shreds. Chop some streaky bacon, saute the bacon until cooked in a large pan then add the cabbage and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes. Season if you wish. Cover the pan. Turn off the heat and leave for a few minutes to steam before you serve it. Delicious served with roast beef or steak.
3. Grilled beef kebabs with cauliflower & lime dressing
Blanch the cauliflower for a minute. In the processor, mix some oil, lime juice, soy sauce, fresh ginger & chopped coriander. Mix the dressing through the cauliflower. Taste for seasoning. Try this salad with grilled beef kebabs marinated in soy & lime juice for a delicious low fat dinner.
4. Leeks, onion and lamb stirfry
Cut the leeks, onions and lamb into strips. Heat some oil in a wok or pan, stirfry the lamb until well browned and then add the onions. Continue cooking for another minute, add the leeks, season with soy sauce and a little sesame oil .
5. Roast pork & parsnips
One of the nicest ways to cook parsnips is to cut them into large chunks and add them to roast pork about 20 minutes before the end of cooking they take up all the lovely flavour from the meat.
6. Grilled pork chops with turnip & potato puree
This is the ultimate comfort food. Cook chopped turnip in a small amount of water. After about 5 minutes, add some chopped potato to the turnip and continue cooking until both potato and turnip are tender. Drain well and place in the processor with a knob of butter and a little cream. Season well. Great served with grilled pork chops.
7. Stirfry pork with cauliflower and cashew nuts
Slice the pork into finger thin slices & season. Chop the cauliflower into small pieces. Heat a large pan with a little oil, stirfry the pork until fully cooked. Add the cauliflower until nicely browned. Then, add a handful of cashew nuts and some chopped garlic. Season with soy sauce & sesame oil.
8. Roast lamb with carrot, feta & walnut salad
Blanch chopped carrots for a minute or two and drain well. Mix with some oil, lemon juice, seasoning, chopped feta cheese & walnuts. Serve with roast lamb.
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