Two words: Shaved Steak.

Have you ever had shaved steak? If the answer is no, then you are missing out, and I need you to promise me that you will consider giving it a try. I’m that happy about this grocery find. You might be having a hard time thinking about what shaved steak resembles. Think deli meat thin sliced, but uncooked steak. It is what you would find on a Philly cheese steak sandwich.

I’ve already thought of a dozen different ways to use shaved steak other than with this meal starter kit from Knorr. Full disclosure, I have zero connections with this company (or shaved steak, ha), my goal is to share recipes and food finds that are easy to cook, good to eat, and nourishes the body.

I’m consistently on the lookout for new food products at the grocery store that helps put a healthy, and delicious dinner on the table quicker. I came across this meal starter kit at Kroger where you find the different kinds of rice. Looking at the instructions, it seemed easy enough, add meat, a few vegetables, and a liquid. Sold.

As a dietitian, I always check out the nutrition fact panel and additional ingredients, first. While it is higher in sodium than desired (see it says 18%), I rolled with it because the ingredient list on point and no one in my family is managing high blood pressure. Looking at the rest of the ingredients to grab, I made a few tweaks.

There is no need for three tablespoons of oil (of any kind). I skipped the oil to cook the meat in (found in step 1) and utilized one tablespoon for cooking the vegetables (found in step 2) and omitted the oil recommended for the rice (found in step 3). That brings it from a recommended three tablespoons to just one tablespoon with step 2 when sautéing the vegetables. You can keep the 2 cups of water, but I had low-sodium vegetable broth (photo to come) leftover and decided to add more flavor. It was a good choice.

STEP 1: Cook the shave steak till done and set it aside.

STEP 2: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and sauté diced vegetables. I did add half a zucchini, and half a yellow squash to the recommend two bell peppers and onion.

STEP 3: Add in the 2 cups of liquid (water or vegetable broth) and cooked meat.

STEP 4: Simmer for 20+ minutes with a lid until rice cooks. Check in around 10 minutes. You may need to add more liquid. You can be the judge of that. You know it’s done with the liquid is gone and the quinoa and brown rice is soft.

You can pair this with a side salad, or steamed vegetables. Rate Your Plate: You get a protein (shaved steak), a carbohydrate (quinoa and brown rice), even though there are vegetables in the recipe its not enough to be a serving (add a side salad or steamed veggies), no fruit or dairy here, but a healthy fat (olive oil).