Valentine’s Day Goes Paleo for Pleasure
Forget a Hallmark card, go Paleo for Pleasure on Valentine’s Day and say I Love You with this delicious Seared Lamb Recipe instead!
Celebrate with your love by bringing pleasure to the palate and the body with a delicious paleo-inspired meal this year. Valentine’s Day originated in honor of St. Valentine—the patron saint of lovers; and in Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty and pleasure.
Common to all saints and goddess’ was the beauty, love and pleasure derived from a delicious meal. So skip the chocolate aisle and go paleo for pleasure with your beloved Valentine and return to the days of saints and goddess’.
Seared Lamb Steak with Asparagus & Chianti Reduction
Easy. Red. Hot. The star is the sauce! Feel free to substitute any red meat that appeals to you such as lamb chops, lamb steak, buffalo steak, or grass-fed beef steak. Ask your butcher what cuts do not require braising time.
Steak and Asparagus
Time to prepare: 45 minutes
Yields: 4 to 6 servings
Equipment needed: Grill
Ingredients
2 6 to 9 oz. lamb steaks, chops, buffalo steaks, or grass-fed beef steaks
3 tablespoon liquid cooking oil: avocado oil, extra-light olive oil, macadamia oil, or rice bran oil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, or 3 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
½ bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
Salt and freshly ground pepper
preparation
Set your grill to medium-high heat.
Allow the steaks to come to room temperature.
Combine the oil and rosemary in a small bowl. Rub it on the asparagus and rub the remainder on the steaks. Sprinkle the asparagus and steaks with salt and pepper.
When the grill is hot, using tongs, lay the asparagus across the grates, and continue to move them around, ensuring that the tips are on the coolest part of the grill and the fat part of the spears are on the hottest part of the grill. Best to continue moving the asparagus around, so they stay hot, but don’t burn. Remove them to a plate or baking sheet while you grill your steaks.
Lay the steaks on the grill on a diagonal. Allow grill marks to form (about 45 to 60 seconds). Turn steaks a quarter turn to form cross-hatch marks. Allow to cook for another minute. Flip the steaks and repeat on the other side, for a total of 3 to 4 minutes on the grill for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the steak. Cook to your desired doneness.
Slice steaks, drizzle with Chianti Reduction and place asparagus on plates.
Serve remaining sauce on the side.
Chianti Reduction
This sauce is always a star. It is rich, sexy, and I love making it for that special someone. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and while it reduces you can grill your meat! Serve it over a nice cut of lamb or bison. I even love it on salmon or grilled Portabello mushrooms!
Time to Prepare: 30 minutes
Yields: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
2 teaspoons cooking oil/fat: ghee, coconut oil, avocado oil, macadamia oil, rice bran oil, lard, chicken fat (schmaltz), tallow (beef or lamb fat)
½ onion, minced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon high-mineral sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme, or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 cups Chianti
2 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
Preparation
In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, warm the cooking oil, and cook the onion until caramelized, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Add the garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf and cook for another minute until the garlic sizzles and turns golden.
Add the wine, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high, and reduce the liquid by half. This should take about 10 minutes depending on the width of your pan.
Add the chicken stock, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high, and reduce the liquid by half again.
Add the parsley, and taste for salt and pepper. Serve and devour!
Aphrodisiac Foods, Paleo-style
Did you know that many paleo foods induce a feeling of euphoria, sensuality or increased libido over time?
Not only are these foods paleo in nature they are just incredibly delicious.
Consider using these tasty ingredients to create a love-inspired meal and go paleo for pleasure today!
Avocado
Asparagus
Arugula
Basil
Garlic
Ginger
Mustard
Nutmeg
Oyster
Pine Nuts
Salmon
Walnuts
Vanilla
Red wine
“It’s my feeling that if you put love into what you cook, that’s what really matters. Love what you cook. Love who you are cooking it for, especially if it’s just for you.”