Posts

How to grind your own beef mince ground grinder paleo network-min

How to Grind Your Own Ground Beef Mince

A while ago I wrote about why I don't buy ground beef (or any mince meat for that matter). But I love cooking with it. Making it yourself is the only way you can possibly:

  • Know exactly what's in it
  • Be sure it only contains good cuts of meat
  • Know how fresh it is
  • Know it's safe to eat medium-rare
  • Know it will taste good

How to grind your own beef mince ground grinder paleo network-min

The first time I tried it I used an old fashioned mincer like the one in the photo above. It was a total mess, with meat juice going everywhere! So since then, I've worked out how to do it properly with the mincer – but also far faster with my food processor.

How to Grind Your Own Ground Beef Mince:

1) Find a good cut of meat, not too lean – a bit of fat makes all the difference. I often buy a cut that is on special offer, then freeze the ground meat that I make.

2) Depending on what you're making with the mince, you might also grind another type of mince too. For example, I like to make my bolognese with half beef and half pork mince.

3) This is the step I found out the hard way. Cube the meat evenly, then put in the freezer for a couple of hours. Do this, it makes a huge difference and stops your kitchen resembling a crime scene. I've even taken to putting the grinding plate into the freezer too. Without it being super cold it won't grind properly and will be a mushy nasty mess. You have been warned.

4) In small batches feed the meat cubes into the food processor or grinder

5) Check for any un-ground pieces to put through again, and get rid of any gristle that has made it's way through.

6) Whatever you don't use, straight away freeze in small batches for use in a future recipe.

And once you've ground your meat? Try some of these recipes:

Chilli and Cumin meatballs with a mango and pomegranate salsa
Texan Style Sweet Potato and Bison Burgers
Spiced Beef Kofte with a Pomegranate Glaze
Tomato-Free Bolognese Recipe
Mexican Turkey Burgers with Coriander Guacamole

Recipe paleo Perfect Almond Butter peanut butter nut-min

Recipe: Perfect Almond Butter

Not only is almond butter absolutely delicious on its own, its great to use in loads of different Paleo desert recipes. It’s a store cupboard staple in my house, and this recipe is perfect every time.

Almond Butter Ingredients:

  • 250g organic almonds
  • Pinch of sea salt

Almond Butter How To:

1)     Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4. Cover an ovenproof tray with some baking parchment and lay out the almonds, making sure they are spread out next to, and not on top of, one another.

2)     Roast for 6 minutes, then shake, then roast for another 6. Remove from the oven, then leave to cool for 10 minutes.

3)     Pop the almonds into a food processor with a pinch of salt. On the highest setting, blitz for around 10 minutes. At first, the ground nuts will stick to the side of the food processor – just push them back in to the barrel with a spatula. You may have to do this 4 – 5 times depending on your food processor!

4)     You should watch the nuts turn from solid, into a ball, into a thick liquid. At this point, YOU ARE NOT FINISHED! Keep processing until a thin layer of oil begins to rise to the top. Here, the nuts have released their natural oils, and at the optimum for taste, texture and digestion. Pour into an empty jar, then keep in the fridge. What’s the best thing about making your own almond butter? Scraping the remains off the side of the food processor!

Have you tried making your own nut butter yet?

Recipe paleo Perfect Almond Butter peanut butter nut-min