Mens_Health_UK_March_2017

82 MEN’S HEALTH

Food, like fashion, is susceptible to trends.

Taste is subjective; it’s at the mercy of vagary

and whim. But what about nourishment? You

might think that nutrition – it being a science,

and therefore by definition objective – would

be impervious to impulse. Yet in 2017, ‘eating

clean’ remains as on trend as Yeezy Boosts.

Consequently, these are confusing times to

be a foodie with a vested interest in his health.

Never before has there been so much choice

between food that hardens arteries on sight

and so-called ‘clean’ fare that even the most

yielding Instagram filter can’t make toothsome.

While tenderstem broccoli sales are up 25%,

the most-watched programme on television is

sugar-laced GBBO. Which raises the question:

whatever happened to the middle ground?

Now, if the strain of this argument feels like

it’s headed toward a sensible conclusion that

moderation is key, fear not. We have tasked

nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert (rhitrition.com)

and a team of chefs to come up with recipes

that deliver on both gluttonous desire and

nutritional benefit. And as anyone who

has ever sunk their teeth into a hot dog on

legitimate health grounds can attest, these

guys have more than met the challenge. We

think these meals are worthy of their own

hashtag: #dirtybutclean. Each will satisfy base

instincts as keenly as it mitigates alimentary

fallout. Go on. Have your cake and eat it.

METHOD

01 Get ahead of

the game by mixing

200ml water, soy

sauce and sea salt in

a large container. Add

the chicken legs,

massage slightly, then

cover and leave in

the fridge overnight.

02 Post workout –

and approximately

30 minutes before

tasting – combine

the spices in a sauté

pan over a medium

heat, toasting for

five minutes or until

aromatic. While the

spices cool, mix the

mayo and wasabi

and set aside.

03 Now the fun part.

Roll up your sleeves

and get stuck in,

mixing the rice flour

FRIED WASABI CHICKEN KARAAGE

By Michael Reid, group executive chef at M Victoria St

INGREDIENTS

THE CHICKEN

Dark soy sauce, 50ml

Sea salt, 1tbsp

Chicken legs, 2

White rice flour, 60g

Rolled oats, 60g

Buttermilk, 150ml

THE COATING

Smoked paprika, 1tbsp

Onion salt, 2tsp

Sea salt, 1tsp

Chilli powder, 1tsp

Cumin, 1tsp

Ground ginger, 1tsp

Oregano, 1tsp

Turmer ic, ½tsp

(^) THE WASABI MAYO
Mayonnaise, 100g
Wasabi, 1tsp, grated
and rolled oats
together. Once you’ve
made enough of
a mess, remove the
chicken thighs from
the brine, rinse and
coat with buttermilk

• rich in bone-
  building calcium,
  phosphorous and
  riboflavin – before
  patting on your oats.
  04 Deep fry your
  chicken legs for five
  minutes, then drain
  and coat with the
  combined spice mix.
  Serve with a generous
  dollop of wasabi
  mayo to burn off
  fatigue and fire up
  your recovery.

RECOVERY

RUBDOWN
Post-gym pig-outs
will get you back to
the starting line
faster than forgoing
training altogether.
But while yet another
protein shake will
leave a hole no
amount of sweet
potato can fill, with
48% of your protein
RDA, our gourmet
chicken will give your
recovery the leg-up
it’s long been lacking.

DIRTY

BUT CLEAN