Beef Bolognese

This tasty Beef Bolognese recipe is taken from my new book Eat Right, Balance Hormones which helps you uncover the root cause of hormonal imbalances and shows how you can adjust your diet in order to achieve a better balance.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 500g Beef mince
• 150g Chicken livers, pureed
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• 1 Carrot, finely chopped
• 1 Stick Celery, finely chopped
• 1 Clove garlic, minced
• 250 ml Beef stock
• 700g Passata
• 2 tsp Dried oregano

Method

1. Heat the oil in a casserole dish and fry the beef over a high heat for 3-4 minutes until sealed. 
2. Add the pureed chicken livers and cook for 5 minutes until the beef is well browned. 
3. Transfer the meat to a plate then turn the heat down to low. Sweat the onion, carrot, celery and garlic for 10 minutes until softened then return the beef to the pan. 
4. Pour in the stock, passata and oregano then season with salt and pepper.
5. Bring to the boil then simmer for 45 minutes or until reduced by half and you have a thick ragu. 

Beef is a valuable addition to your diet during perimenopause for several reasons. It’s rich in nutrients like iron and zinc, which are crucial for overall health and well-being. Iron is particularly important for women during perimenopause, as menstrual bleeding can lead to a higher risk of iron deficiency. Adequate iron intake supports energy levels and helps combat fatigue, a common complaint during this stage. Additionally, zinc plays a role in immune function and skin health, which can be especially important as hormone fluctuations may impact the immune system and skin condition. Furthermore, beef contains high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle maintenance and repair. As muscle mass tends to decrease with age, including beef in your diet can help preserve muscle strength and metabolic health. Lastly, beef is a source of heme iron, which is more readily absorbed by the body compared to non-heme iron found in plant-based foods. This makes beef an excellent choice to support iron levels and overall vitality during perimenopause.