Grass Fed or Go Home
Years ago, it didn’t matter to me what cuts of meat I bought or where they came from. How my food was raised was the last thing on my mind when all I wanted to do was get home and get to grilling. Over time however, I learned more and more about how hormones and antibiotics are used on cattle that are on a diet consisting mainly of grain in order to fatten them up and get them to produce more milk. (1) The more I found out, the more I realized how important it was to switch over to buying grass fed beef instead.
What is Grass Fed?
Grass fed beef comes from cattle that have been raised on a diet that exclusively consists of grass and forage. The beef is much better for your health, it tends to be far leaner, and it’s full of key nutrients that your body needs. It’s a good source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and it also provides omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for keeping your heart healthy and fighting off inflammation. (2) The bottom line these days is that even though it’s slightly more expensive, if I’m going to be eating beef, whether on a paleo diet or not, I definitely make sure it’s grass fed.
Sweet and Salty Homemade Teriyaki Seasoning
The other consideration that had to be made for this recipe was making a teriyaki mixture that was paleo-friendly as well. As teriyaki typically starts with soy sauce as a base, this recipe replaces it with coconut aminos to still provide a near identical taste. Then to complete that great classic teriyaki flavor, I add smoked sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ginger, and chili flakes. All of these ingredients are mixed together in a bowl and then placed into a ziplock bag with the cuts of beef to season.
The ziplock bag is then sealed and refrigerated for a minimum of four hours, but it can be kept in the fridge for up to one day if you’re pressed for time. Next, in order to properly cook them and dry the beef out so it becomes proper beef jerky, you’re going to need to place a wire rack on top of a baking sheet that has been lined with foil. Lay out the beef strips and bake them for six hours and you’ll be all set to enjoy a deliciously healthy teriyaki beef jerky.
One of the reasons that beef jerky makes such a great snack is that it is incredibly high in protein. And thanks to the use of grass fed beef for this recipe, it also provides you with plenty of other essential nutrients. It’s the perfect paleo snack and best of all, it can be kept for up to one month in the refrigerator.
P.S. – If you love the great taste of teriyaki and want some more paleo-friendly teriyaki recipes, then check these out:
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound grass-fed flank steak, (or cut of your choice, just ensure you trim the fat)
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- ½ tsp smoked or regular sea salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
Directions
- Flash freeze the beef for 30 minutes.
- Cut the beef against the grain into ¼ inch thick slices and set aside.
- In a bowl place coconut aminos, smoked salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ground ginger and chili flakes.
- Mix to combine.
- Add the beef in a large zip lock bag.
- Pour the mixture into the ziplock bag, toss until the beef is evenly coated.
- Seal the bag and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours or up to 1 day.
- Preheat oven to 175°F.
- Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet.
- Lay the strips out in a single layer on the wire rack.
- Bake for 6 hours or until the beef jerky is dry and firm.
- Remove from the oven and transfer the beef jerky to a sealed container.
- Refrigerate for up to 1 month.