Teach me what I’m doing wrong with beef

[curiosercurioser]

I cook rice, beef and vegetables for DH regularly. He likes it a lot but I find it mildly unsatisfying.

I’m hoping you lovely mumsnetters will help me discover why.

After we eat, I get a “dull” feeling, as if I’m not quite full. I often feel like I need bread to fill me up. This doesn’t happen with eggs. Eggs make me feel very satisfied and full and content. I thought it could be the protein or the fat? One idea I had was to sprinkle protein flakes on it but its not very natural, is it?

Can you help me understand what is happening and how to fix it? I’d like us to enjoy the same meal without looking like a greedy guts 30minutes later when I eat a sandwich.

[Georgyporky]

Depends what you mean by "beef", & of course the quantity you are eating.

A grilled T-bone steak?
A roast sirloin/topside?
Pot-roasted brisket?
Mince?

etc etc

[cockneygirl]

Following on to the above post my next question would be what proportions of rice, vegetables and beef? Not eating enough rice might be the issue... maybe?

[curiosercurioser]

Thank you both. I roughly split it into thirds and try to keep to 100g each rice, beef and vegetables for both of us. So 300g each all told. Beef is mince. I always measure the rice, but the beef and veg I simply eyeball.

[midgebabe]

More veggies

70 to 100g rice
100 -120g mince
300+ g veggies

Salt?

[curiosercurioser]

That's a lot of veggies. What would you use?

[shouldhavecalleditoatabix]

It doesn't sound very interesting either. Do you mean just plain beef mince? Do you add any flavourings or sauces? Onions, garlic, seasoning? With beef I usually make a bolognese with tomatoes, veg etc and pasta or I will make a cottage pie type affair again adding onions, garlic, carrots, peas etc. Also some stock cubes or similar. It does sound like a very small serving of vegetables as well. I have also been known to bulk out a little with lentils or oatbran if I want a bit more fibre.

[curiosercurioser]

I put spices yes, because DH likes spices and I do too. But not tomatoes. I do think it needs something else. I could try lentils maybe.

[combatbarbie]

Mince isn't a combination I'd usually put with rice tbh unless it's chilli con carne.

When I do mince it's with mash and veg, tacos with wedges/salad or stovies (my fave stodgy one pot wonder in the winter but the only veg is onions)

[midgebabe]

Always Onions or leeks

Then a selection from
Root veg such as carrot, turnip, swede, sweet potatoes
Squash,
Frozen veg like beans , peas, sweetcorn

Or peppers and mushrooms if using mixed herbs

[midgebabe]

I think my weights are per person also!

We are both slim/ normal weight

[SpaceOP]

I think mince dishes - bolognaise, lasagna, chilli etc are always slightly unsatisfying without a generous portion of vegetables or salad alongside. I don't know why.

[AriettyHomily]

It sounds really dull, what exactly do you cook it in?

Bland mince is pretty uninspiring.

We would have:

cottage pie
Keema
Make it into meatballs
spag bol
chilli / tacos / enchiladas / burritos
lasagne
make it into burgers

[AriettyHomily]

500g mince in a chilli with beans, tomatoes etc is enough for me, DH and two 8 yos. I'd be hungry after 100g mince.

[StickTheKettleOnAlice]

If I was to have mince in gravy I would have it with potatoes and not rice. If it was a chilli I'd have it with rice. What sauce or meal is it?

[curiosercurioser]

Your responses are helping me. I think maybe 300g isn't enough food. Now I think about it, DH always eats a hearty lunch whereas I don't, which may explain why he feels full.

@AriettyHomily do you mean 500g each or for all 4 for you? Are you adding rice to that, or just chilli?

[7to25]

Is that 50g meat each?
Not enough

[Atalune]

Just seasoned mince? Doesn’t sound very nice!

Mince can be transformed into-
Lasagne
Chilli
Tacos (chilli)
Moussaka
Spaghetti

It’s the sauces and cheese etc that make it delicious. Lots of veg in all the dishes too.

[curiosercurioser]

@7to25 it's 100g of meat each, which is roughly the suggested serving. But doesn't seem enough

[Grausse]

I don't think it's the quantity of meat that's the problem, more carbs and veg would fill you up. Beef, rice and veg sounds a bit tasteless though. What about a jacket potato instead of rice? Lots of onions and garlic for flavour, maybe some peppers and chillis? Do you make a sauce?
I've no idea about weight of food I just cook plenty and if there are leftovers I save or freeze them.

[Atalune]

500g of beef mice would feed my family of 4 with a little left over if I turned it into chilli or spaghetti sauce. But it’s the transformation into lasagne or whatever that makes it yummy! Served with salad.

The sauces are full of veges and served with pasta or rice or what have you.

Would you consider yourself a good cook?

[curiosercurioser]

@Grausse It definitely needs more carbs, you are right. Can you suggest something?

Good point on onions. DH loves them.

[Chewbecca]

500g beef mince = 4 person portion

I serve 62g rice per person - raw weight

Veg depends on the dish & I never weigh.

How are you cooking the mince?

[GreyishDays]

Are you following a recipe, for say a keema curry?

Does beef in other ways have the same effect, a roast etc?

What if you did a chicken curry? Same or different?

[curiosercurioser]

@Chewbecca That's something to think about. A 500g pack is usually 3 meals for DH and I. So maybe I need to increase the mince and decrease the rice. I'd like to lose weight anyway.

I'm frying the mince.

@GreyishDays good question. There's no issue with chicken, that always makes me feel full. That's why I thought it was a lack of protein in the mince.

Anyone know how I can easily add more protein to a dish? Is MN anti-protein flakes?

[Pinkstump]

Lentils and chickpeas are both excellent sources of protein, and very economical too.