| It cannot be stressed just how important meat has | | | | vegetable components of the diet may be). |
| been in both human evolution and human history. Meat | | | | Out teeth and our digestive systems allow us to eat |
| allowed us to evolve large brains by giving us a | | | | just about anything and it's one reason we are so |
| high-engergy, high-protein food source that was easy | | | | successful as a species and part of that success is |
| to digest (the trade-off for our big brains was a | | | | the ability to eat that most nourishing of foods, meat. |
| shrinking of the length of the gut). Meat allowed our | | | | So, to celebrate the carnivorous side of our nature |
| hunter-gatherer ancestors the luxury of lots of idle | | | | here's a classic recipe for beef steak: |
| time. Time to tell stories, to be artistic and to invent. | | | | Pepper Steak |
| The domestication of animals let to meat on demand | | | | Ingredients: |
| and from that grew specialization in tasks which | | | | 675g boneless steak, cut into cubes |
| allowed diversification of the jobs human did and the | | | | 2 tbsp vegetable oil |
| beginnings of civilization. It's the consuming of meat that | | | | 450ml strong beef stock |
| made human culture possible. Yet, as Europe moved | | | | 450g canned, diced, tomatoes (with juice) |
| into the Middle Ages, as land became owned by the | | | | 200g chopped green bell pepper |
| aristocracy rather than the people meat became a | | | | 100g chopped onion |
| rare commodity, only for the tables of the rich. | | | | 3 cloves garlic, minced |
| Thus we have the modern paradox. Meat commands | | | | 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce |
| a premium as meat requires more land to nurture than | | | | 1 bay leaf |
| do crops. But the human digestive system has evolved | | | | 1/2 tsp dried basil |
| to process meats. We are deficient in certain amino | | | | 1/8 tsp salt |
| acids that we must derive from our food. And whilst a | | | | 1/2 tsp black pepper |
| mix of beans and grains will provide us with those | | | | 1 tsp paprika |
| essential amino acids and it's possible to develop an | | | | 2 tbsp cornflour |
| extensive culture on this mix (as the Mesoamerican | | | | 2 tbsp water |
| civilizations demonstrated) it's still easier for us to obtain | | | | Method: |
| these essential components from the meat in our diet. | | | | Add the oil to a large frying pan and cook the beef |
| And, yes, humans also crave meat. We crave the fats | | | | until browned then drain. Add the stock, tomatoes, |
| in meat and the taste of cooked meat. This is | | | | green pepper, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and |
| hard-wired into our brains and is an essential part of | | | | seasonings along with the beef to a pan then bring to |
| who we are, as omnivorous apes. We can deny that | | | | a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover and |
| part of ourselves and live without meat, our brains let | | | | cook for 1 hour or until the meat is tender. Discard the |
| us do that. But our teeth are designed to eat meat and | | | | bayleaf at this point. |
| it is an essential part of what we want in our diet. | | | | Meanwhile combine the cornflour and water into a |
| After all why is the combination of meat and | | | | smooth slurry then stir into the mixture. Bring to a boil |
| vegetables such an essential component of the meals | | | | then cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes or until well |
| of just about every civilization on earth (regardless of | | | | thickened. Serve on a bed of rice or noodles. |
| what, precisely, the meat component and the | | | | |