Madeira Island is one of Portugal's most beautiful locations. You can visit open markets where cured meats are hung to dry and bought by the slice or cut. This (dried) beef jerky is an American improvisation and SCD-safe, and so good you cannot stop yourself from having another piece. My brother, Dave, helped me to perfect this recipe: to cut it, marinate it, and season it to be a mouthwatering snack. - Pam
Ingredients
1½ pounds (660 g) beef eye round 1½ cups (360 mL) red wine vinegar ½ cup (120 mL) sunflower oil 1 teaspoon cayenne powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
1. Cut the beef eye round into thin (¼-inch or less thick) strips about 1-inch wide by 3-inches long
2. Trim away any excess fat during this process
3. In a flat baking tray or pan, mix together the remaining ingredients (to make a marinade), and place the beef strips in them
4. Refrigerate them (covered with foil) for about 2-3 hours, and keep turning the beef in the tray so that the marinade soaks in on all sides
5. Preheat the oven to 170°F (or the lowest setting) and hang the strips on the oven racks
6. At the bottom of the oven, place a baking pan or foil sheet that will catch any excess drippings and prevent your oven from getting soiled
7. Low bake the beef strips for 6-8 hours (can vary with different ovens)
8. When removed, the jerky should be dry, yet chewy – not so dry that it snaps apart
9. It is recommended that you store the jerky in the fridge for up to 30 days in an airtight container
Yield
25-30 strips
This recipe originally appeared in the cookbook section of The SCD for Autism and ADHD by Pamela Ferro & Raman Prasad.
