Cabbage and Pasture Raised Pork

I welcome the opportunity to incorporate easy to find and raise, nutritionally dense vegetables to make simple meals that leave you feeling really energized. Cabbage is a humble vegetable packed with a punch of vitamins and minerals. It is a low calorie, high fiber, Brassica genus that has been grown around the world for centuries. Many cultures have appreciated the value of this round head of goodness. In Oriental cultures kimchi is used daily, in Scandinavian cultures sauerkraut is enjoyed. In ancient Rome, sauerkraut had a reputation as a food that was easy to digest. In today’s world of lacto fermentation we too appreciate the value of sauerkraut. In the book “ Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon, she writes about the history and great nutritional benefits of cabbage.

Wholesome protein sources are essential to our overall function and health. We have tasted and been told by our customers the difference in flavor of pasture raised meats. Our pigs are fed a wide range of wholesome foods, given ample room to roam, root and find a muddy spot to wallow in. The health benefits are often discussed in the meat industry.

Here are the 3 main health reasons you’re body will appreciate a juicy pork chop, ground meat, or breakfast bacon:

1. High Quality Fats: pastured pork has a significantly better ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty-acids compared to factory farm raised. Green grass and leaves are major sources of Omega-3 fats. A diet of whole grain barley, grass and alfalfa hay along with milk from our dairy cow and fruits and vegetable scraps from the kitchen complete their diets. Compare that with the typical diet for factory-farmed pigs, which is largely based on corn and soybean meal.

2. Vitamin Difference: The high quality lard from pastured pigs also contains high amounts of vitamin D (which many Americans are deficient in) & vitamin A, while conventional pigs contain minimal amounts. Rendering the lard fat to then cook and bake with add beautiful flavor.

3. Antioxidants: Pasture raised pigs have 74% more selenium than pigs raised on factory farms. Selenium needs Vitamin E to work as an antioxidant, which makes pork such an amazing food since it has both. Antioxidants like selenium help fight damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Selenium plays a role in thyroid function, specifically related to the immune system as well.

So with the knowledge and understanding of the goodness of cabbage and pork I invite you to try this family favorite, Asian Pork Bowl.

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Asian Pork Bowl

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Blooming Joy Farm ground pork
• 1 Tablespoon roasted sesame seed oil
• 4 large garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup freshly grated or minced ginger
• 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 5 cups shredded or thinly sliced cabbage a mix of green and purple
• 1 cup shredded carrots

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet on medium high heat, add sesame seed oil.
• When oil is warm, add ground pork. Sauté until pork is lightly browned. Drain fat from pan.
• Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce & rice vinegar to pork.
• Stir together until combined.
• Add cabbage and carrots.
• Cook until vegetables are lightly cooked and still crisp.
• Serve over rice. Enjoy this goodness in a bowl!!

Notes

Serve with:
Thinly sliced green onions
Fresh cilantro leaves
Slivered almonds
Steamed white or brown rice