Two weeks ago I heard the keto carnivore argument that ribeye is the perfect food. Even though I’ve known about all the pieces of this equation – something clicked in me. Suddenly, it became clear that Justin Nault was right. Yet, while we love indulging in steak around here, I confess that I have a trump card in my back pocket. Let Seared Tongue replace your pricey ribeye tonight.
I’ve mentioned that tongue reminds me of Waygu beef, but I now see even more pleasure in that analogy than I had before. Yes, if ribeye is the perfect food; then so is tongue.
A quick lesson in macronutrients
Let me give some quick background. There are three macronutrients – proteins, fats, and carbs. In what I’ve seen over the years, protein weighs in at about 1/4 to 1/3 of the dietary intake. This might go as low as 20 percent, but I’ve never seen anything much higher than 35 percent in a traditional diet. So this is a pretty good range of what we need.
The other two macronutrients – fats and carbs – make up our energy stores. In traditional people around the world, the ratio between these two varies from almost entirely fat to something closer to half and half. (See #7.)
But before we start talking about a perfect meal comprised of a single food that consists solely of protein and fat, let me add a quick reminder:
Contrary to modern dietary guidelines, if you scour the biology or medical textbooks, you will find essential amino acids (proteins) and essential fatty acids (fats). Here, ‘essential’ has a specific definition meaning that the body cannot make these macronutrients and they must be consumed through diet. Meanwhile, there are no essential carbs.
Yes, you heard correctly that red blood cells and the brain require glucose. So how can it be that we don’t need carbs? Well, the liver has a handy tool called gluconeogenesis (gluco = glucose, neo = new, genesis = creation) where it creates glucose, supplying what we need for energy as long as fat supplies are adequate. Meanwhile, blood sugar remains stable.
Ok, that should be sufficient. Feel free to fact check all this heresy.
Do the math
So here’s the fun part. This is the part that somehow clicked for me, even though I’ve known the constituent parts for years.
We all know that 1 gram of protein and carbs lend 4 calories each, while 1 gram of fat lends 9 calories. (That is probably why they tell you fat is bad, they mistakenly focused on calorie counts instead of macronutrients and biochemistry.)
Anyway, if you have a cut of meat and the protein:fat ratio is 1:1, you have a calorie ratio of 4/9, or 44 percent. This might be a bit high for protein if you have no other energy foods on your plate. However, if you sear your meat in a fat of your choice and add a canoe-cut marrow bone as gravy (or a side of vegetables), you’re looking at a traditional meal in many ways – including the relationship between macronutrients.
Moreover, given the fact that most Americans are short on protein, this keto carnivore meal of 1:1 grams protein:fat is probably not going to hurt anyone. In fact, you may end your meal feeling truly satiated.
The perfect meal
So here’s the beauty of the ribeye – it generally meets the 1:1 ratio. (Insert heavenly chorus here.) This actually means it’s about a third protein, with the remainder of calories as fat. Mmmm.
But guess what? Tongue also meets (actually exceeds) the 1:1 ratio. (Amen.) It’s not a coincidence that tongue is one of the four fatty sacred organs.
In the 1830s memoir Life in the Rocky Mountains, Warren Angus Ferris describes how they relished in the female bison:
[We] feasted luxuriously on the delicate tongues, rich humps, fat roasts, and savoury steaks of this noble and excellent species of game… With it we require no seasoning; we boil, roast or fry it, as we please, and live upon it solely without bread or vegetables of any kind…
Easy Seared Tongue
I hate to give away all my secrets. But it’s really no secret at all. If keto carnivore is your jam, and you are looking for something a bit more exotic (or cheaper) than ribeye, look no further than Seared Tongue.
Easy Seared Tongue - A Perfect Keto Carnivore Meal
Notes
Note: Cook time is largely unattended, while tongue simmers on the stove.
Ingredients
- 1 beef tongue
- salt
- bacon grease, lard, or fat of your choice
- 3-4 canoe cut marrow bones, 1 for each guest
Instructions
- A day in advance, cover beef tongue with salt, place in a snug container and cover with water. Refrigerate overnight.
- Rinse beef tongue, place in a pot, add water to cover by a couple inches. Bring to a boil. Skim any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot. Let simmer for a couple of hours. Reserve skimmed broth for soup or other uses later in the week and remove tongue to a plate or cutting board. Let cool for about 10 minutes, until cool enough to handle, then peel the tongue.
- Meanwhile, place your marrow bones on a baking sheet under the broiler for 10 minutes.
- Heat the lard in a pan on medium heat. Slice tongue into strips, optionally season with salt, and sear in the pan for a couple of minutes on the first side and just a minute to warm through on the second side.
Leave a Reply