04 Say Adios To Winter Ails
Stop your immune system from heading south of the border this winter with a warming Mexican hot-pot
CORNBREAD & CHILLI CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS SERVES 2 THE CHILLI • VEGETABLE OIL, 1TBSP • A RED ONION, DICED • GROUND ALLSPICE, 1TSP • TURKEY MINCE, 300G • RED WINE VINEGAR, 2TBSP • TOMATO PASTE, 2TBSP • SMOKEY CHIPOTLE PASTE, 2TBSP • TURKEY STOCK, 350ML • IRISH MATURE CHEDDAR, 40G THE CORNBREAD • STONE-GROUND CORNMEAL, 80G • BAKING FLOUR, PINCH • AN EGG • BUTTERMILK, 100ML • EXTRA-VIRGIN ORGANIC OLIVE OIL, 2TBSP THE SALSA • AN APPLE • A CELERY STICK • OLIVE OIL, 2TBSP
Hard training and dark nights can cause your immune system to take an unplanned siesta. Fortunately, our casserole is bubbling with all you need. “Turkey is a lean protein, plus it has zinc to support testosterone production,” Lambert says. Factor in the meat’s leafy green-beating levels of antioxidant selenium and ‘gym flu’ hasn’t got a leg to stand on. Ándale!
01 Heat the veg oil in an ovenproof skillet, then add three-quarters of the onion and some salt. Cook for five minutes then add the allspice and mince until browned. Put the leftover onion in a bowl with salt and red wine vinegar and leave it to pickle. Stir the pastes and stock into the mince. Simmer for six minutes. 02 Grains play their part in your health boost, too: cornbread packs the full spectrum of amino acids, along with iron to prevent post-gym fatigue. And, of course, carbohydrates. “Carbs make up roughly 76% of cornmeal’s calories, providing immediate muscle-building blocks,” says Lambert. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper. Combine the egg, buttermilk and oil in a separate bowl, then mix the lot together.
03 Spread the batter over the chilli and bake at 200°C for 15-20 minutes. Rustle up the salsa by dicing the apple and celery and adding to the pickled onion. Sprinkle the chilli with cheddar for bonus calcium. Now Mex-out your immunity.