Tasty Tuesday- Greek Bowl

Greek food has taken the United States by storm. In the past five years, it's popularity has increased exponentially, and that's because a Greek diet goes hand-in-hand with a a healthy diet. Conveniently for those of you who enjoy beef in your lifestyle, one of the prime ingredients in Greek food is red meat. 

Bowls With Balance- Greek

Today's #Tasty Tuesday features both Greek food and our favorite protein, beef. Nestled in a balanced, Greek-inspired bowl is a great lean cut of beef, Strip Steak. Get this recipe and more like it at Beef, It's What's For Dinner. 

Bowls With Balance- Greek

Total Recipe Time: 25 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 beef Strip Steak Boneless, 1 inch thick (about 8 ounces each)
• 2 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise in half
• 2 medium red bell pepper, cut into quarters
• 1/2 cup non fat Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup lemon juice, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup reduced fat feta cheese
• 1/3 cup sliced olives

Instructions

1. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11-14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 11 to 15 minutes) for medium rare (145F) to medium (160F) doneness, turning occasionally.
2. Place zucchini and peppers on the grill. Grill Zucchini covered for 7 to 10 minutes and peppers covered for 11 to 14 minutes.
3. While steaks and vegetables are cooking, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and salt to make Tzatziki sauce. Dress quinoa with the remaining lemon juice and parsley. Divide quinoa equally among four bowls.
4. Slice steaks into thin slices. Chop zucchini and peppers into bite-sized pieces. Divide steak and vegetables evenly over the quinoa in each of the bowls. Garnish with olives and feta and finish with a dollop of Tzatziki. Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Tasty Tuesday: Mediterranean Beef Pitas with Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce

Get your lean beef, veggies and Mediterranean fix with this

#TastyTuesday recipe for Mediterranean Beef Pitas with Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce. It’s a light, delicious way to follow your New Year resolutions and #LiveAFlavorfulLife. This recipe not only would make a delicious dinnertime meal, but it's lightness would go great for your lunch hour, too! That's a win-win. Get additional information and nutrition facts at Beef It's What's For Dinner. 

Mediterranean Beef Pitas with Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds Top Round Steak, cut 1 inch thick
• 1-1/2 cups nonfat plain Greek or regular yogurt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 medium cucumber
• Salt and pepper
• 6 white or whole wheat pita breads
• 3/4 cup plain or seasoned hummus
• 10 cherry tomatoes, quartered or 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 cup halved Kalamata olives
• 3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

1. Combine yogurt, lemon juice and garlic in medium bowl. Place beef steak and 3/4 cup yogurt mixture in food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight.
2. Meanwhile, cut cucumber in half lengthwise; cut one half crosswise into 1/4-inch slices and reserve. Chop remaining cucumber half into 1/4-inch pieces. Add chopped cucumber to remaining yogurt mixture; season with salt, as desired. Cover and refrigerate.
3. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place steak on rack of broiler pan so surface of beef is 2 to 3 inches from heat. Broil 13 to 18 minutes for medium rare (145°F) doneness, turning once. (Do not overcook.) Carve steak into thin slices. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
4. Spread pitas with hummus. Evenly top with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and steak slices. Sprinkle with olives and feta cheese. Serve with reserved yogurt mixture.

Tasty Tuesday: Layered Beef Salad On-The-Go

The New Year is a time for resolutions. Those resolutions often revolve around improving your health and fitness, kicking bad habits or mending/strengthening relationships. Well our challenge to you is to embrace all three of those categories with one grocery item- lean beef! It can help improve your health, power your fitness, kick unhealthy eating habits with great taste and bring families around the dinner table. That sounds like a recipe for a flavorful life, and that's what lean beef can offer you this New Year! 

Don't leave those resolutions behind when you head back to school or work! Take them with you with this week's #TastyTuesday recipe for Layered Beef Salad On-The-Go! It's healthy, delicious and mobile! New Year. New You. Lean Beef.

Get all the information from Beef It's What's For Dinner.

Layered Beef Salad On-The-Go

Total Recipe Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients

• 3 ounces cooked lean beef (such as Top Sirloin Steak, Strip Steak, Tenderloin Steak or Flank Steak), cut into slices
• 3 cups mixed salad greens or chopped romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup assorted vegetables (such as shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, grape tomatoes, sliced radish, sugar snap peas)
• 1/4 cup cooked small pasta, rinsed drained chickpeas or Great Northern beans

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup Greek or plain nonfat yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon chipotle pepper sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons orange juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Combine dressing ingredients in bottom of medium container or small bowl with lid.
2. Layer salad greens, vegetables, pasta or beans and beef on top of dressing. Close lid securely or cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Before serving, shake covered container to coat salad well.

Beef Fact Friday: Benefits of Beef

Not only does beef taste wonderful, but it’s an excellent way to take in a lot of protein without as many calories. According to this #BeefFactFriday graphic, research shows that consumers should aim to eat 25-30 grams of protein per meal, and with some proteins 25g means a lot of calories. For example, to get 25g of protein from quinoa, you’d have to eat 666 calories worth! That’s not exactly a “balanced” diet.

So this October Beef Month, grab some beef to get your protein fix! Check out these fun facts: