Last December I posted my original Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe. This time, I wanted to recreate it but with a twist. I was recently talking with my acupuncturist about different ways of sneaking more organ meats into our diets, because let’s face it, it’s just not that palatable. He shared his go-to technique and it is brilliant folks!
He said that he makes a big batch of soup or stew and, after cooking, he’ll remove a portion of the liquid and veggies and blend it together with sauteed liver, incorporating it back into the soup to thicken it. Whaaat?? My mind was blown. I’m all about sneaking in those powerhouse nutrients, and this trick is totally sneaky.
Organ meat is truly a nutrient dense powerhouse. Liver is one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin A, a common nutrient deficiency in the United States. It’s also packed with vitamin D and B12 and minerals like copper, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Eating a variety of organ meat is a great way to address micronutrient deficiencies. (Ballantyne, 2013).
So, if you’re not totally on board the offal train or are just looking for creative ways of getting it into your diet, then give this recipe a try!
Hidden Liver Beef Stew (AIP/ Paleo)
Serves: 6 – 8
Ingredients
4 white sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into medium chunks
4 carrots, peeled and sliced in circles
½ yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks of celery, sliced
2 lbs, grass-fed stew meat
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper (omit for AIP)
6 cups bone broth
1 lb beef liver
1 TBS coconut oil
Salt and pepper (omit for AIP) to taste
Directions
Place the sweet potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and celery in the bottom of your Kitchen Aid 6qt slow cooker. Add the stew beef on top and season both the beef and vegetables with the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Add in the bone broth and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours.
30 minutes before serving, saute the beef liver in some coconut oil and season with salt and pepper (optional). Cook until completely brown on the outside and slightly pink on the inside. Remove 1 cup of liquid and a few onions and celery from the stew and combine with the liver into a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. Transfer the liver mixture back into the slow cooker and stir until combined and thickened. Serve and Enjoy!
Sources:
Ballantyne, S. (2013). The Paleo Approach: Reverse autoimmune disease and heal your body. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing Inc.
