New Year … New Healthy Resolutions

It’s the dawn of a brand new year, and along with it come new hopes, new aspirations, and of course, new resolutions! Are we just going to walk into this new year making resolutions that we secretly know we will never keep? We hope not!

As meat-lovers everywhere know, there isn’t much that motivates us as much as the idea of a delicious wholesome meal awaiting our palates. And while meat has always been associated with incredible flavours, merry-making, and nostalgia, is ‘healthy’ an adjective that automatically pops into our heads when we think of meat? Or, is doubling down on a hunk of meat ever mentally associated with being your most health-conscious self? 

So here’s a deal for you: we resolve to acquaint you with the myriad shades of meat, while you try out four of our meati-full new year resolutions. Here we go! 

Resolution 1 : Reinforce your Gut

Don’t you just love a steaming bowl of chicken soup on a rainy day? Well, you’ll be glad to know that along with being delectable, it also does wonders for your digestive tract – especially when it is enriched with chicken or even mutton bone broth! Even better, add in herbs like ginger, garlic, and turmeric to reap the benefits of their anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Here’s a quick Grandma’s Mutton Bone Broth Recipe for you to try out:

Ingredients:

• TenderCuts Free Range Goat Bones: 500g
• Toor Dal (Split Pigeon Peas): 1.5 Tbsp
• Red Onions: 3 (large)
• Tomatoes: 4 (medium sized)
• Crushed Ginger: 1½ tbsp
• Crushed Garlic: 1½ tbsp
• Turmeric Powder: ½ Tsp
• Freshly Ground Pepper: 2 tsp
• Jeera(Cumin) Powder: 2 tsp
• Chopped Coriander Leaves: 6-7 tablespoons
• Olive Oil: 2 tbsp
• Salt as per taste

The Process:

1. Wash your mutton bones thoroughly, and chop the tomatoes after blanching them.
2. In a well-heated pressure cooker, heat olive oil, and saute crushed ginger and garlic until the raw smell goes away. Next, add the onions and fry till they are translucent.
3. Add in blanched and chopped tomatoes, toor dal, half of the coriander leaves, pepper, cumin and turmeric powder and saute for a couple of minutes.
4. Add in the flavour-packed Free Range Goat Bones along with 3 glasses of warm water, and salt as per taste.
5. Close the lid and keep the flame high till the first whistle. Reduce the flame to low after this, and cook for 35-40 minutes. Turn off the flame.
6. Open the lid once the pressure has dropped, and taste for salt and pepper. Adjust as necessary while keeping the flame low.
7. And there you go! Serve as is, or with toasted multigrain bread for a wholesome, healthy and filling meal!

Resolution 2: Try Lean Meat Cuts

Trying out new types of cuts like boneless chicken breast, chicken drumsticks or chicken, go beyond the love of experimenting. There are cuts of meat that are specifically trimmed for our lean meat-lovers.

Case in point: Our Chicken Breast Boneless Cut. This is the healthiest cut to go for when you’re looking for a high-protein, low-fat option. For every 85g of chicken breast, you get 25g grams of solid protein, while clocking upon only 135 calories. The absolute leanest of cuts, it also packs a high dose of iron, zinc, and selenium.

Try this easy Desi Grilled Chicken Recipe for a hassle-free weeknight dinner:

Ingredients:

• TenderCuts Chicken Breast Boneless: 500 gms
• Pureed Onion: 1 large
• Lemon juice: ¾ lemon 
• Olive Oil: 2 tbsp
• Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tsp
• Pepper powder: 1 tsp
• Chilli powder: ½ tsp 
• Jeera powder: ½ tsp
• Garam Masala: ½ tsp
• Thick Curd: 2 tsp
• Salt as per taste

The Process:

1. For marinade, whisk curd, onion, lemon juice, oil, all masalas and salt in a bowl until smooth.
2. Coat chicken with the marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 
3. Preheat your grill to medium-high, and oil it. Make sure to not use a cooking spray on a hot grill though!
4. Grill the chicken, grilling it for about 6-7 minutes on each side.
5. Et voila! Serve your easy desi grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies for a complete meal.

Resolution 3: Drive the Meal Prep Home

For those looking to rein in those unhealthy cravings, a high-protein meal prep plan can work wonders. In general, a non-vegetarian meal plan that consists of over 50 percent protein can be classified as a high protein diet. Of course, it’s important to research well and consult with your nutritionist before transitioning into such a diet.

A super-easy way to ensure that your high-protein meal prep is on track is to fill up a little more than half your meal box with meaty favorites like grilled chicken or steamed lemon fish, while filling up the rest of your box with an equal proportion of healthy carbs and greens like roasted sweet potatoes and palak dal, for instance.

For example, combine our recipe for Grilled Vanjaram with a side of rice and veggies for an easy high-protein meal:

Ingredients:

• Tendercuts Vanjaram Slices: 500 gms 

 Marinade:

• Ginger garlic paste: 2 tsp 
• Fresh coriander: 2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder: 1 tsp
• Coriander powder: 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
• Red Chilli powder: 2 tsp
• Tamarind extract: 1 tsp
• Sea Salt
• Refined oil: 2 tbsp

The Process:

1. Crush ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin seeds and tamarind extract in a mortar and pestle until it forms a fine paste.
2. To this, add fresh coriander leaves and salt, and combine well for the marinade.
3. Wash your Vanjaram Fish thoroughly, and coat it with the marinade. Keep aside for at least half an hour.
4. Add 2 tablespoon of oil and Grill the marinated fish slices on a medium-hot grill until the fish comes off on a fork easily
5. Serve hot with grilled vegetables

Resolution 4: Eat Fresh Meat

If you’re a meat-lover, you probably already know that fresh meat is yummier, juicier, healthier, and more tender than, well, meat that’s not fresh. With TenderCuts, you already know it for a fact that your meat is going to be topping the freshness charts, but even so, you should always keep an eye out for the color, texture, smell, and appearance of the meat that you purchase.

Of course, consuming your meat fresh isn’t just about buying it fresh! You could also follow simple steps like storing your meat in your freezer as soon as it is delivered, and cooking it within 3-4 days of purchase to consume your meat as it’s freshest self!

If you’re looking for a recipe that accentuates the freshness of your meat, this is a Prawn Cocktail Salad Recipe that you should definitely give a shot:

Ingredients:

Salad:

• TenderCuts Tiger Prawns large (Cooked): 250 g
• Sliced ripe avocado: 1 (large) 
• Halved Cherry Tomato: 250g
• Sliced Spring onions: 4 

Dressing:

• Shredded Romaine Lettuce: 1 (medium)
• Olive Oil: 2 tbsp 
• Lemon juice: ½ lemon
• Salt to taste

The Process:

1. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together, and dilute with a little splash of water to desired consistency.
2. Add the cooked tiger prawns, cherry tomatoes, spring onions, shredded lettuce and salt in a large salad bowl, and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. 
3. Toss gently, and serve either with the dressing combined into the salad, or separately.

This new year is all about new beginnings, but as someone wise once said, self-love and experimentation starts at home! So give our new year resolutions a shot, and make your life healthier, yummier, easier, and of course, meatier!