Best Ways To Spruce Up a Steak

When people think of steak, the first meal that comes to mind is steak and fries with a side salad. Don’t get us wrong, there is nothing wrong with steak and fries- but that doesn’t mean it can’t get boring after a while. That’s why we have put together some unique ways to spruce up a steak and make it a little bit more interesting. We present to you three different ways to serve steak; barbecued, dry aged and surf and turfed.

Barbecued steak

One of the most simple yet effective ways to spruce up a steak is by cooking it on the barbecue. Some people like to avoid this method of cooking because they find that barbecuing can make a streak dry and tough, fortunately, we have some tips to help you avoid that and produce the succulent barbecued steak you’ve always dreamed of.

Equipment:

• Barbecue
• Long handled tongs
• Oil bowl and pastry brush
• Large resting plate

Ingredients:

• Steak
• Oil
• Salt
• Garlic
• Pepper
• Soy sauce
• Dijon mustard

Step 1:

Preheat your barbecue on medium-high. Whilst your BBQ is heating up to the right temperature, mix together the pepper, garlic, soy sauce and dijon mustard in a bowl. Brush the steaks with olive oil before coating with the mixture using a pastry brush. Leave the marinade to soak into the meat for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle on some salt just before cooking. This is because salt draws out the juices from the meat making it tough.

Step 2:

Using long handled prongs, add the steaks to the barbecue, turning until it is evenly cooked on both sides. Cooking times vary depending on the thickness of the steak and preference. Some people recommend turning a steak only once to retain as many of the juices as possible, however turning it more frequently can help it to cook more evenly.

Step 3:

After your steak has finished cooking, transfer it onto a plate and cover with foil. Set it aside for around 5 minutes to rest, resting is important because it allows the meat to relax and the juices to distribute evenly throughout the steak- this makes it more tender and succulent.

Dry aged steak

If you’re looking for a method to truly transform your steak then dry aging is worth a try. Dry aging is a process that involves the controlled decomposition of meat in an environment with the right temperature and humidity levels. The outcome is a super succulent steak with intense umami flavors. Dry aging is unique in its ability to naturally amplify the existing flavors in meat, as the steak ages, the moisture is drawn out from the meat making the flavor much more concentrated.

If you are wondering how to get started with dry aging, we recommend investing in a meat aging fridge, the best one on the market right now is Steak Locker. Steak Locker is the world’s first Smart dry aging fridge, specially designed for dry aging with minimal risk. It has an integrated app which allows you to monitor your steak from anywhere and control the internal temperature and humidity levels within the fridge.

Surf and turf skillet

If you are on the hunt for a steak meal with a difference then you need to dry this surf and turf skillet. We have put together the ultimate steak and shrimp skillet recipe with a luscious garlic parmesan sauce which compliments the meat perfectly. This one skillet recipe is guaranteed to delight your taste buds, and the best part is that it can be ready in under an hour.

Ingredients:

• Sirloin steak
• Shrimp
• Oil
• Butter
• Seasonings
  • Salt and pepper
  • Onion and garlic
  • Paprika and chilli flakes
  • Parsley
• Spinach
• Lemon
• White wine
• Cream
• Parmesan cheese

Step 1:

Heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat. While your skillet is heating up, add oil to the skillet and season your steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Once the skillet has reached a hot enough temperature it is time to add the steaks to the skillet. We like to cook our steaks for 3 minutes on each side until a slight crust begins to form. Once cooked, set the steaks to one side to rest.

Step 2:

Add a spoonful of butter to the pan along with salt, pepper, paprika and chilli flakes. Now you are ready to add the shrimp to the skillet, the shrimps should already be peeled and deveined, it’s up to you whether or not you keep the tail on. The shrimp should be cooked for 1-2 minutes on each side. Once you are satisfied the shrimp is cooked through, remove them from the pan and set to one side.

Step 3:

Add another spoonful of butter to the pan, then add diced onion and salt and cook until the onion is browned. Next add in some garlic and cook for another 30 seconds or so. Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until it has all wilted. You are now ready to add in a squeeze of lemon juice and some white wine. Simmer this mixture for 3 minutes. Then mix in the cream and parmesan cheese, be careful to add in batches to create a complete melted sauce.

Step 4:

Add the steak and shrimp back to the skillet and top with parsley and more parmesan cheese. You are now ready to serve.

Overview of ways to spruce up a steak

We hope this has given you some ideas on how to make your next steak meal more interesting. Do you have any other methods we should know about to spruce up our steaks? Let us know, thanks for reading.