This week Izelle Hoffman is making us Soy and Sesame beef strips!

This week it's all about sesame seeds! In her soy and sesame beef strip recipe she's hidden a load of anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and just all round good for you ingredients! 

Soy and sesame beef strips

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 spring onions, chopped 

1 heaped tsp crushed garlic

1 medium red, orange or yellow bell pepper, cut into strips (keep the seeds)

600 g beef strips

5 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari

2 Tbsp sesame seeds

1 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 cup raw honey

½ tsp Oryx desert salt

handful of chopped fresh Italian parsley

1. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the spring onions, garlic, bell pepper and reserved seeds for about 5 minutes to release flavour, then add the beef strips and fry until the meat is golden brown.
2. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce or tamari, sesame seeds, black pepper, honey and salt. Add this to the pan once the meat is cooked, and simmer for about 15minutes or until most of the moisture has evaporated.
3. Add the chopped fresh parsley, remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before placing in an airtight container and storing in the fridge to use when needed.

Be on the look-out for tamari, a more mature gluten-free alternative to soy sauce.

a winner with rice and green beans!

Why do we make use of these ingredients:

Oryx Salt What is the purpose of adding salt during cooking? It’s to enhance flavour, right? So why not start by using a good-quality salt to do the job? Sun-dried and unrefined with no additives will bring out the best in your food in the healthiest way possible.

Raw Honey Salt needs sweet and vice versa to enhance taste and flavour. So when you add sweetness, choose a sweetness that has a healing effect on your body and health. Raw honey is antiviral and anti-fungal, and contains powerful antioxidants. Its helps ward off allergies, stabilise blood pressure and balance blood sugar levels. It also boosts the immune system and promotes digestive health.

Garlic Antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory, garlic assists in detoxification and boosting the metabolism, and is a natural dewormer that kills parasites. I use both black and white fresh garlic, and keep dried garlic powder and flakes in my pantry.

Olive Oil We all have our reasons why we prefer certain oils, but without a doubt my oil base of choice is olive oil, specifically for its amazing health benefits. Olive oil helps reduce inflammation and prevent osteoporosis, and is essential for bone health because it assists in the absorption of calcium and the mineralisation of bones, all of which are qualities I look for in a product, given my hip dysplasia and related joint pain.

Onion Onions are a natural antibiotic and antiseptic, so are a big YES, especially in winter. They purify the blood, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. They are also anti-inflammatory. In addition to fresh onions, in my pantry you will find dried onion powder and flakes.

Ground Black Pepper Why do we add pepper to our food? When I ask this during cooking demonstrations, I always get the most interesting answers, but mostly people cannot tell me why they add pepper to their meals. My reason? It increases nutrient absorption and improves digestion, so you can get the most out of every meal, every time.

Sesame Seeds Sesame seeds are anti-inflammatory and high in protein. They improve bone health, prevent osteoporosis and aid digestion. 

Peppers Sweet peppers are anti-inflammatory, loaded with antioxidants and a great source of immune system-boosting vitamin E. I always have pimiento and bell peppers in my fridge.

Parsley It is so much more than just a garnish; it packs an unsuspecting nutritional punch. High in vitamins A and C and calcium, it is anti-inflammatory, improves bone health, is a blood purifier and boosts the immune system.

Listen here:

Another one ingredient challenge: What's in your fridge?

If you would like Izelle to use your ingredient idea to create a recipe that the whole family will love, send us a message on our Facebook page or leave a comment here and you could win a copy of her eBook - 'Mindful Eating'! 

You can also buy your copy here!