Beef and Veggie Sauce over Cheesy Grits

A Symphony of Flavors

In this recipe, I chose the savory notes of The ONE, my flagship spice blend, to complement the other flavors in this dish. The ONE is made with healthy, organic ingredients and no sugar, MSG, fillers, additives, or preservatives. It is robustly flavorful without heat, making it suitable for all ages.

Although I love The ONE’s savory and robust flavors in this dish, feel free to use your favorite seasoning. My goal is to get you in the kitchen creating healthy food, so make this recipe your own, if you want.

Choosing the Perfect Red Wine

If you prefer not to use wine, you can omit it since it reduces anyway, or substitute with about 2 tablespoons of balsamic glaze. For this recipe, I created a rich and flavorful reduction sauce using an inexpensive red blend that I had on hand. Now way am I a wine expert. Some experts say you should never cook with a wine you wouldn’t enjoy drinking, but I confess that I don’t always follow that rule. For example, if I buy a wine to drink and don’t love it, I save it for cooking. That said, because the flavors will infuse into the sauce, I recommend using a Cabernet Sauvignon or red blend that you enjoy sipping.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Grits

It may seem unnecessary for me to say “gluten-free grits” since corn is gluten-free. However, some grits are processed on shared equipment with wheat or other gluten-containing products. Thus, I seek out grits I know are not cross-contaminated, such as the Bob’s Red Mill brand. I know that if the GF logo is on one of their packages, it has been processed in their dedicated gluten-free facility.

This recipe can easily be made dairy-free. I can tolerate ghee, but not butter, so that’s what I use in this recipe. If you can’t eat any dairy, you can use a plant-based alternative like Miyoko’s Plant Milk Butter, or your favorite alternative. Extra virgin olive oil will work. It just won’t be quite as rich and creamy.

For the cheese, I used Violife just like Cheddar Shreds. I’ve tried several brands of vegan cheese, only to be disappointed, but I really like Violife. Since vegan cheese doesn’t melt as well as regular cheese, After the grits were done cooking, I kept the pan over the lowest heat setting on my cooktop and stirred it until it melted into the grits. Of course, you can use regular cheddar cheese if it meets your dietary preferences. Whichever you choose, your grits will be tasty and satisfying.

 Nextovers with the Sauce

The ONE Beef and Veggie Sauce is versatile for repurposing as a ‘nextover’. If you happen to have any leftovers (unlikely unless you plan for it since it’s so delicious!), consider mixing the sauce with elbow macaroni, penne pasta, or your favorite pasta for a quick and tasty meal. We like Banza brand chickpea pastas for their higher protein and fiber content. Be sure to use a generous amount of sauce, so the sauce’s flavor is more prominent than the pasta’s flavor.

Alternatively, you could serve the sauce on a baked potato or over a base of sliced pre-cooked polenta, easily available in a convenient a tube.

If you make The ONE Beef and Veggie Sauce over Cheesy Grits, you’ll have no doubt that food can be both delicious and nutritious. I hope becomes a favorite in your home, bringing joy to your taste buds and supporting your health journey.

Get in the kitchen and make healthy and delicious creations come to life! And let me know about it in the comments.

Bon Appétit!