SERVES: 1 (or as many gammon steaks as you buy)
PREP TIME: 10 mins
COOK TIME: 7 mins
DIFFICULTY: simple
IDEAL FOR: midweek meals; ‘Me’ day’s
BUDGET: £ £
Ever find yourself with that rare opportunity to have a ‘Me’ day?
I got an unexpected one recently. Tim headed off to do man-stuff and the boys went off to see some friends.
So, it looks like it’s just me and Bella.
Can’t complain. A day to potter and belt out my chosen tunes around the house – I love a bit of house music; Bass turned all the way up!
Later, I realised that my usual default of preparing food in the morning to cook up a nice family meal had left me desperately hungry and unsure of what to make myself.
The bad habit of throwing some bread in the toaster or snacking on fresh bread and cheese wasn’t going to cut it on my unplanned ‘Me’ day.
So, into the freezer to see what I have neatly stored away.
Enter, The Gammon.
What do we know about Gammon and its potential health benefits?
Ok, we know it’s a 70’s classic.
But it also provides support for your DNA, heart, immune system and eyesight!
Turns out my eyes weren’t just ‘tired’. And holding a menu arm’s length all the time really should’ve been my first clue. I need reading glasses… or more gammon.
As always, it’s about moderation and balance. Have it now and again to get the benefits. Have it everyday and you’ll be at the doc’s quicker than you can say ‘bacon makes everything taste better’.
A great way to add balance to your plate is to add good pile of veges and in this recipe, kale.
Yes, I know, kale has already had its ‘15 minutes of fame’. Avocado has now elbowed its way into the hearts and minds of hipsters alongside their flat whites (careful now, I don’t mean be down on hipsters, I cling to a little bit of the hipster-vibe myself).
But check this out…
Kale is among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! It’s an honourable member of the Cabbage family and knocks it out of the park when it comes to packing a punch with its daily value in things like; Vitamins A, C, K, B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Magnesium, the list goes on. And on.
You see, balance. It can happen.
So, next time, if you’re wondering what to cook for the week ahead or to put in the freezer for an ’emergency meal’, think gammon. And think about giving kale another go.
It’s probably one of my favourite easy meals. Check out the recipe inspired by Nigel Slater.
Btw, try a SMALL beer to go alongside. And if it’s your lunchtime meal, less than 2% and delicious!
What is your favourite ‘Me’ Day dish? Let me know and I’ll give it a go…
Gammon with Kale
Ingredients
- 1 piece gammon
- 2 handfuls kale
- 1 x 400g tin butter beans
- salt and pepper to season
- 4 tblsp olive oil for the butter bean mash
- chilli flakes Optional
Instructions
- Take a thick slice of gammon and grind a little black pepper over it (approx 250 g or more)
- Open and drain out the tin of butter beans – give the a little rinse to get that liquid off them.Then tip them into a saucepan, covering with water and bring to the boil. Once they boil, turn down the heat and simmer for around 7 minutes. Then drain and leave in the saucepan
- Next, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in your frying pan and add in your gammonFry for approx 6 minutes per side (or until firm) and you see that nice light golden colour on the fat. Take off the heat and put on a plate.(*you will need the frying pan in a minute so don't wash away the lovely gammon juices)
- In the saucepan the beans are in, add 4 tablespoons of olive oil, grind in some black pepper and a pinch of sea salt and using just a fork 'mash' the beans. NB. if you want ultra smooth beans, use a food processor but this is a quick, less 'clean-up' method
- Lastly, take two handfuls kale and fry in the pan the gammon was in so it gets all those juices and flavours. Keep stirring it around so it doesn't burn. I add a few chilli flakes here as well just for a bit of heat but it's up to you
- Serve up and enjoy
Notes
References include:
Healthline