Whether you go with a classic take on steak or try something a little more avant-garde, the right recipe will enhance any cut of steak. Grilling and broiling are just a couple of possibilities for preparing steak. These quick, simple steak recipes will broaden your repertoire beyond the usual meat-and-potatoes basics. The right steak recipes will take your steak from good to great!
Steak au Poivre
Poivre is French for pepper, and that’s the main flavoring of the creamy sauce at the heart of this elegant steak dish. Prepare your steaks as usual; covering the meat with foil after it’s cooked so it rests as you prepare the pepper sauce. Crush two tablespoons of whole black peppercorns and a tablespoon of green peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Dice a whole shallot and sauté it in butter, then add the crushed spices to the mixture. Cook it over medium heat until the shallots become tender, about four or five minutes, then add a cup of heavy cream and salt to taste. Reduce the sauce until it browns and thickens enough to coat the spoon. Serve the sauce over or alongside the steak.
Cajun Steak
New Orleans is rightly famous for its food, and while the port city serves up plenty of seafood, it also knows how to handle a great steak. Make a marinade of enough vegetable oil to coat the steaks, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, a dash of allspice, diced onions and diced green peppers. Soak the steaks overnight in the mixture, then cook the steaks as desired. Top the steaks with a dab of butter before serving.
Herbed Butter Steak
One of the easiest steak recipes is also one of the best. Chefs rely on compound butter to make their recipes sing, and you can do the same. Cook your steak however you like, then add herbed butter just before you serve it. Make your own butter a day in advance by mixing a stick of room-temperature butter with chopped parsley, chives, finely minced garlic, dill, smoked paprika or any other flavors you enjoy.
Korean Bulgogi Steak
Traditionally, Korean bulgogi is thinly sliced and served with rice, but you can use this magnificently flavorful marinade for whole, uncut steaks as well. Combine half a cup of soy sauce, a tablespoon of dark sesame oil, three cloves of minced garlic, half a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger and chopped green onions to taste. Add red pepper flakes and a tablespoon or two of toasted sesame seeds. Let the steaks marinate in the mixture for four to six hours or overnight before cooking. This recipe works especially well with the smokiness of grilling over charcoal.
Whichever steak recipe you choose, make it your own by tweaking the spices and herbs. Add a little tarragon here or some cumin there. You can’t go wrong with a great steak.