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As I help customers fill out his/her processing form for our grass fed beef, a very common question arises: “What are cutlets and what do you do with them?” Cutlets are thin-cuts of meat usually taken from the leg section. The processing plant tenderizes them. The cuts are about the size of the palm of my hand, if not a tad larger.

I like to use cutlets to make a version of a Southern favorite, chicken-fried steak. Since many people choose to purchase grass fed beef for healthy diet reasons, many customers eat few grains, if any. Diets like the Paleo Diet, GAPS, and/or Specific Carbohydrate Diet rely on grass fed meats, but no grains. Therefore, here is a delicious grain-free version of chicken-fried steak with gravy.

Since I cook for a small army daily and most people do not, I am cutting back my recipe to make it more standard. This recipe is written for 4 servings.

Breaded Beef Cutlets
1 pkg grass fed beef cutlets
1 clove garlic
2 eggs
1 cup blanched almond flour
salt and pepper to taste

Before you start breading the cutlets, bring broth and onion to a gentle boil. Allow it to cook just above a simmer. When the cutlets are almost done, puree the onion with a handheld blender. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. The onion thickens the broth nicely without need for any flour. Serve on top of breaded cutlet.

I hope you enjoy this much healthier version of chicken-fried steak with grass fed cutlets. It is a grain-free recipe that is sure to make your family happy.

Most of our customers order grass fed beef for health reasons. A doctor has recommended grass fed beef as an alternative source of protein for those with heart conditions. A mom has been reading into the health benefits of grass fed beef on her own. A vegetarian has chosen grass fed beef as a healthy option for her omnivorous children. Our customers might come from all different parts of Texas with completely different backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common is the desire to consume healthy, nutritious grass fed beef.

Many of the same health conscious people today are striving to live on the Primal or Paleo Diets. Both of these ways of eating encourage the consumption of grass fed meats. They also limit the consumption or even remove altogether eating starchy vegetables like potatoes. My family ate for an entire year on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet protocol, another healthy eating plan to heal one’s gut which also does not allow potatoes.

Beef and potatoes pair so well. At first it was hard, especially for my husband to not eat potatoes. You can only have so many grass fed hamburger patties with roasted vegetables before you want to expand your horizons. One of my husband’s favorite dinners is Super-Healthy Shepherd’s Pie.

Super-Healthy Shepherd’s Pie

2 pounds grass fed ground beef
1 sm onion
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp cumin
2 Tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound frozen peas
2 head of cauliflower, washed and cut into florets
1 stick of butter
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
parsley flakes

In a 3 qt dish, build the first layer by placing the seasoned beef and onion mixture on the bottom. Pour the frozen peas over the beef to make the second layer. Spread the mashed cauliflower as your third layer. Then the grated cheese will be your last layer. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

This recipe serves our family of seven well. It can stand alone as a dish without sides or add a nice fresh salad or green beans.

I have spent a lot of time telling you about the benefits of eating grass fed beef compared to the beef readily available in your local supermarket. Comparing grain fed beef to grass fed beef is something that interests me in my line of work as well as a mother of five children. I try my hardest to feed my family in a healthy manner, and beef for the most part gets a bad rap in health news. In my opinion, the two products are really two different things.

I don’t want to compare the two in this article. I have already done it several times, including on our website. To look at that information again, please click here. What I have not done is just tell you the benefits that grass fed beef can offer your family.

I was reading an article by Scott Morefield on Natural News entitled, “Four Great Reasons to Eat Organic, Grass Fed Beef.” In his article, Mr. Morefield reminded me that beef has health benefits in and of itself. He created a short list of four reasons to consume grass fed beef.

Since the T-Factor Diet in the late 90s became popular, people have become obsessed with grams of fat. Food companies responded by making many products fat-free. However, fat is necessary in our diets. Grass fed beef offers fat in a healthy ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6s.

A healthy diet is filled with rich sources of protein. Our bodies need essential amino acids to function properly. I know that I personally feel better throughout the day when I rely on different sources of protein instead of the sugar blues that I get when I eat starchy foods. Grass fed beef is a delicious way to add healthy fats into your daily regimen.

Not only is grass fed beef a great source of protein, but it is also full of necessary vitamins and minerals. Scott Morefield writes, “Beef is a one-stop-shop, a rich source of B vitamins, zinc, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, etc.”

Grass fed beef can be a part of a healthy diet. The GAPS diet, Primal diet, and Paleo diets all promote grass fed meats, including beef. This delicious red meat has many benefits on its own, but compared to your alternative in the stores is much better for you.