PERFECT STEAK FOR A SPECIAL SOMEONE,

For carnivores, a good steak is the ultimate food

Valentine's Steak, cooked restaurant-style 

Steak dinners often mark Valentine's Day or other special occasions.  

Steaks are not cheap; two decent sized rump steaks (4 oz each) will cost about a tenner.  Rib-eye, the butchers' recommendation, will be a couple of pounds more.  

At those prices, it's importantly to cook the steak perfectly. 

This recipe is based on the 'restaurant' method, taught to 67 by Angela Hartnett many years ago.  It involves searing the meat in a hot pan then flash-cooking it an oven.

Before the meat is exposed to heat, the meat is brought to room temperature and dried with a paper towel.  Because 67 prefers the flavour of rump steak, the meat is also marinated for tenderness and flavour.  The recipe was for a time regularly served in the Chairman's dining room of a major FTSE-100 company.

Marinading is optional.

Cost: £10+, depending on size and cut of the steak
Serves: 2

Ingred:
   2 steaks, equiv  8-10oz/375-450g
   oil 

   Marinade: 3 tbsp dry sherry
                   2-3 tbsp reduced salt soy sauce
                   1 med clove garlic coarsely grated
                   1 inch piece root ginger peeled & coarsely grated

   Garnish: baby vine tomatoes

  Special Equipment: 

• a large frying pan that can handle high temperatures 
• tongs; do not use a fork; it pierces the meat and releases vital juices
• warmed plates for serving

                
Method:

1. Bring meat out of the fridge at least one hour before cooking
2. Mix marinade ingred in a flat bowl; add steaks; leave 10 min, use tongs to turn over meat; leave 10 mins; remove from marinade; pat dry with a paper towel, removing any garlic or ginger.
3. (If not using marinade, pat meat dry with a paper towel}
4. Preheat oven to 450f/250c; place a baking tray in the preheating oven 
5. Place frying pan on highest heat
6. Brush the steak with oil on both sides (oil goes on steak, not in pan)
7. Do not season at this stage
8. When pan is smoking hot add steak with tongs; sear for 90 sec to 2 mins on each side - if there are a few crispy black bits that's fine but it probably won't happen unless your kitchen has a gas cooker
9. Remove pan from heat
10. Place steaks on baking tray and add tomatoes; cook 6 min for med, 9 mins for well done  
11. Meanwhile, add a 1/4 cup water to the frying pan, scraping up any meat residues on the bottom; keep warm
12. When steaks are ready, remove to warmed plates with a jug of juices and tomatoes.  To check how well the steaks are cooked, make a tiny slice in the middle with a sharp knife to check the colour
13. Serve alongside baked potatoes with sour cream & chopped spring onions (green only) plus a side salad or mixed tender stem broccoli, mange tout and green beans stir-fried or cooked in boiling water 3-4 minutes  

For more meat dishes go to Nav Bar: Recipes: Beef/Chicken/Lamb 

(Questions & comments, pls email  b67goingon50@yahoo.co.uk )

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.