Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 70°C (150°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the beef strips on the baking sheet in a single layer, making sure not to overlap them. As the beef dries, it will shrink and become chewy, with a deep reddish-brown colour and a tender texture that's slightly firm to the touch.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Brush the mixture evenly over the beef strips, making sure they're all coated. The aroma of the soy sauce and smoked paprika will fill the air, tantalising your taste buds and making your mouth water.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and dehydrate the beef for 2 hours, or until it reaches your desired level of dryness. Every 30 minutes, flip the beef strips over to ensure even drying. As the beef dries, it will start to develop a rich, meaty flavour that's both savoury and slightly sweet.
- While the beef is cooking, toast the almonds in a large frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they're lightly browned and fragrant. The sound of the almonds sizzling in the pan will be music to your ears, and the aroma of toasted nuts will fill the air, making your mouth water.
- Once the beef is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. Then, chop it into small strips and mix it with the toasted almonds, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips in a large bowl. The combination of textures and flavours will be amazing, with the chewy beef, crunchy almonds, sweet cranberries, and rich chocolate all working together in perfect harmony.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, then portion it out into individual servings and store them in airtight containers for up to a week. As you portion out the mixture, the sound of the ingredients clinking together in the containers will be satisfying, and the knowledge that you have a healthy, delicious snack ready to go will be comforting.
Notes
For best texture, slice beef against the grain. Store in airtight containers for up to a week.
