MONGOLIAN MEAT

Given the extreme meaty diet in Mongolia, you may wonder why people do not suffer from obesity and high cholesterol.

In tropical countries and for western office personnel, a low meat or even vegetarian diet can make sense and is certainly healthy. Given the extremely cold winter climate and the hard physical work of the mongolian nomads, the energy supplied by animal fat is simply necessary for survival. The same is true for the Eskimos and other cold and physically demanding regions of the world.

Hence, Mongolians who practise a traditional livestyle do not suffer from obesity and high cholesterol.  Under the extreme conditions in which Mongolians live, their diet is actually very healthy. The nutritional problems know to Westerners only appear with city dwellers in Mongolia, who consume industrially processed food.

MONGOLIAN BEEF  

1/2 lb. beef, sliced thinly across grain

Marinate beef in:

2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. sherry
2 tsp. ginger, grated

Prepare:

2 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 4 dried red chili, seeded and crushed
1 lb. bok choy, washed and sliced

SAUCE:

1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. broth or water
1 tbsp. sherry
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. hoisin sauce