We Beefitarians know there is nothing finer than a perfectly cooked beef burger, steak, or stew.
Between beef’s mouth-watering flavor, the multitude of ways to dish it up, and how easy it is to cook, we’ve got plenty of reasons why being a Beefitarian is the best. Here’s our top 5 picks. (It was really hard to narrow it to just 5, trust me.)
1. Beefy benefits
Even if you select steak because you love the flavor, you’re making a healthy choice. Beef is a complete protein, which means it contains all nine of the essential amino acids — things our bodies need to get from food because we don’t produce them. Nuts, seeds, vegetables and legumes have some of those amino acids, but not all, so they’re considered ‘incomplete proteins.’ Beef is also a healthy source of iron and vitamins – in fact, beef gives you 10 essential nutrients in just one 3 oz serving. Delicious and nutritious? Sounds good to us!
Protein
Is there anything protein doesn’t help? Not really! Protein is a powerhouse when it comes to helping your body. From rebuilding and maintaining muscles — even that main one, your heart — to helping your bones, organs, hair and nails, protein is essential.
Bonus: it also helps us feel fuller for longer. There’s a reason beef is so satisfying!
B Vitamins
B vitamins, such as niacin and vitamins B6 and B12, are essential to heart health, building your blood supply and helping your brain. The best news? Beef is bursting with them. Beef is a solid source of Vitamin B12 — which helps our nervous system and may be connected to reducing the risk of dementia as we get older. And, in combination with B6, it has been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease. You can’t even naturally get Vitamin B12 from plants, so, take that, produce!
Zinc
Beef is an amazing source of zinc, which helps heal damaged tissues and maintain our immune system so it can battle bacteria and viruses, we’ll skip the whole “apple a day, keeps the doctor away” and opt for a juicy burger instead.
Iron
Healthy red blood cells need iron and beef has it in spades. In fact, beef is one of the best sources of iron, and, as an added bonus, our bodies absorb it best when we get iron from eating lean, red meat.
Low levels of iron keep our bodies from making oxygen-carrying red blood cells and that can lead to fatigue, mental fogginess, and weakness — no, thank you!
2. So many meals
Whether you just want to whip something up quick or you’re trying to impress your crush — or your in-laws! — with your mad cooking skills, beef has your back.
As Beefitarians, we love how beef can go from comfort food to haute cuisine and still remain the oh-so-delicious star of the show. And that means any meal of the day too. Breakfast steak burrito, anyone? How about some late-night nachos while Netflixing?
3. #anyoccasion
Family dinners, backyard barbecues, hot dates, or even cozy nights at home – if beef is on the menu, it’s a recipe for a good time.
Roasts are the perfect center stage for those big Sunday night suppers — with all the fixings, please and thank you. Summers mean it’s time to fire up the grill. Throw on classic burgers, beefy kabobs or even a pizza for an easy meal in the great outdoors.
We’re not going to argue that the way to a person’s heart is through a delicious meal, so if romance is on the menu, beef should be too. A perfectly cooked steak is sexy any time of year, but to really wow, add a little surf (prawns, crab, lobster) to that turf to truly impress.
The important part, of course, is enjoying a good meal with people we love, but to up the ante, check out our tips for how to impress any guest.
4. Go international
Mexican steak fajitas, Irish stew, Italian meatballs tucked into tomato sauce. When it comes to international cooking, beef speaks every language
We love how well it plays with all the flavors of the world, like aromatic lemongrass in a Thai beef satay to sesame, garlic, and ginger in Korean BBQ skewers — perfect for summer grilling season! — or warming paprika and briny olives in a Spanish-inspired stew.
5. Easy as (beef) pie
If you’re feeling a little baffled by beef, you’ve probably been bamboozled by the big myth that it’s hard to cook. But there’s a recipe and technique for every skill level, from beginner to beloved chef.
Braises and stews are a beginner’s best friend. The low-and-slow method is incredibly forgiving. Not to mention, it makes your house smell amazing!
Pull out your Instant Pot or Crockpot for a dish that takes the guesswork out of cooking. Best part? This is no-fuss cooking at its finest. We love that we can walk away from the kitchen and still have an amazing meal.
Cooking burgers is as simple as firing up a pan or grill and slapping some patties onto the heat. Where you can really shine here is in the seasonings and toppings. Basic burgers? We don’t think so. (Check out our Farm Burger, which gets topped with zingy turmeric zucchini pickles, or this blue cheese fondue-topped version!)
And a simple steak may seem tricky to execute perfectly, but we’ve got all the tips and tricks for that too!
No matter how you want to dish it up, the nutritional benefits, versatility, and ease of cooking are some of the top reasons why we love beef. Check out a few of our favorite recipes to show your family and friends why Beefitarians do it best.
