Summer family fun destination meal

July is closing to an end and before we know it fall will be here. Be sure to soak up the warmth and spend additional time with your family before school and the busy fall season begins.

When searching for quick weekday meals or planning for special occasions, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com is a great resource to consider. It not only includes a variety of delicious beef recipes, but it also provides helpful information at your fingertips, including an interactive butcher counter, cooking tips with cooking technique guides, and family favorite menu ideas.

My family loves to try new recipes and experience a variety of ethnic flavors. Creating great tasting global meals doesn’t mean recipes are difficult and time consuming. This time of the year makes cooking especially quick and easy with an abundance of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. Ethnic flavors are very popular right now so why not try something new? How about creating a fun family destination-themed dinner in your own backyard?

Try taking your family on an imaginary trip to North Africa! North African Spiced Beef Wraps with Crunchy Confetti Slaw is just the recipe to do the trick. Not only does this recipe provide great ethnic flavors but it also creates a way to slip some extra veggies into your diet.

The recipe combines beef Strip Steaks seasoned with Ras El Hanout, a stable spice used in North African and Moroccan cuisines. Simply scoop the beef mixture into crunchy romaine leaves. Top with coleslaw mix, apple, green onion and ginger and you’ve got a unique, quick meal that will help transport your mind to a destination flavor experience!

For more beef recipe ideas, contact Holly Swee, RD, LN, South Dakota Beef Industry Council at 605-224-4722 or visit www.sdbeef.org.

North African Spiced Beef Wraps With Crunchy Confetti Slaw

Recipe developed by Ally’s Kitchen and The Beef Checkoff

• Total Recipe Time: 25 minutes

• Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 beef Strip Steaks Boneless, cut 1 inch thick (8 ounces)

1/2 cup carrot or orange marmalade

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon ras el hanout spice blend

10 to 12 leaves romaine, iceberg or butter lettuce

Coleslaw:

2 cups packaged coleslaw mix

1 crisp apple, unpeeled, diced

1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

Toppings (optional):

1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts

Instructions

1. Combine cole slaw mix, apple, green onions, ginger, lemon juice, and lemon zest in large bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Place marmalade and soy sauce in small heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.

3. Meanwhile, cut beef steak lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/4-inch thick strips. Toss beef with spice blend.

4. Heat 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add half of beef; stir fry 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until outside surface of beef is no longer pink. Repeat with remaining beef.

5. Remove skillet from heat; return all beef to skillet. Stir in sauce, tossing until beef is coated.

6. Divide slaw and beef evenly among lettuce leaves. Drizzle with any remaining sauce. Top with pistachios, if desired.

• Test Kitchen Tips – Ras el hanout is a spice mix from North Africa, although generally associated with Morocco. The name is Arabic for “head of the shop” (similarly to the English expression “top-shelf”) and implies a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer. It can be found online and in specialty and ethnic grocery shops.

Recipe photo courtesy of the Beef Checkoff Program.