Jun 26, 2015
Steak, Italian-Style
Makes 4 servings
Sometimes the simplest treatments are the best ones when you’re
grilling a steak.
4 well-marbled T-bone steaks, at least 1 inch |
2.5 cm thick
kosher or Maldon salt and coarsely ground black pepper
to taste
dried Greek oregano leaves
best-quality extra virgin olive oil
lemon wedges
1 bunch fresh arugula, washed and dried
Bring the steaks to room temperature by leaving them out of the
fridge for an hour. Season them generously on both sides with salt
and pepper.
Drizzle them lightly with olive oil. Prepare your grill for direct medium heat.
Grill the steaks 4–6 minutes per side, or until they’re done the
way you and your guests like them (I recommend taking the steak off
the heat when the meat springs back slightly when poked, which is
when it reaches an internal temperature of about 125˚F | 51˚C).
Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest, tented in foil,
4–5 minutes.
Make a little bed of arugula on each plate and put the steaks on
top. Crumble a little oregano on each steak, drizzle it with olive
oil, and season it with a little more salt and freshly ground
pepper. Garnish it with lemon wedges. The juice and oil from the
steak and the squeeze of lemon will create a fabulous natural
dressing for the slightly bitter arugula.
Lemony Herbed Flank Steak
This dish uses a lemony vinaigrette to marinate the
steak as well as to dress it. The clean, simple flavors make for a
perfect summer meal. Serve it with some boiled nugget potatoes
tossed with butter and fresh dill and some grilled asparagus.
Makes 4 servings
1 large flank or skirt steak
(about 11/2 to 2 lb | 750 g to 1 kg)
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the marinade/dressing:
1/2 cup | 125 mL lemon-infused olive oil
1 Tbsp | 15 mL finely grated lemon zest
3 Tbsp | 45 mL white balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp | 15 mL Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
½ cup finely chopped fresh herbs (oregano, thyme, and
parsley work well)
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to
taste
For the garnish:
sprigs of fresh herbs
lemon wedges
Place the flank steak in a baking dish and season both sides with
salt and pepper. Let it come up to room temperature for about half
an hour.
Combine the marinade/dressing ingredients in a bowl and thoroughly
whisk them together. Divide the mixture in half, and set aside one
half for finishing the dish.
Coat the steak with the remaining half of the mixture. Cover the
baking dish with plastic wrap and marinate it for 2 hours or
overnight.
Prepare your grill for high direct heat. Remove the steak from the
marinade and pat it dry. Place the steak on the cooking grate and
grill it on high for 30 seconds per side, just enough to get some
nice grill marks on the meat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook
it, turning it once or twice, for about 4–6 minutes per side, or
until the thickest part of the steak has an internal temperature of
125°F | 52°C. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it
rest, loosely tented in foil, for 5–10 minutes.
To serve the steak, carve it across the grain into thin slices and
arrange the slices on plates. Sprinkle it with a little salt and
pepper and spoon on some of the reserved dressing. Garnish with
lemon wedges and herb sprigs.
How to Feel When
A Steak is
Done
Most barbecue cooks use meat thermometers to carefully monitor the
internal temperature of big cuts of meat, but for most purposes,
you can easily tell whether a steak or chicken breast is done
simply by applying pressure to it with your forefinger. If the meat
does not spring back, it’s still pretty raw. If it has a soft
springiness, it’s medium rare and ready to take off the grill. If
you press it and it feels firm and stiff, it’s
overdone.
Here’s a great way to learn these hand readings. Hold your left
hand in front of your chest, palm side down. Touch the meaty area
between your thumb and forefinger. That’s what rare meat feels
like. Now, extend your fingers so they are evenly spread out in the
universal “stop right there” sign. Press the same place and you’ll
find out what medium rare meat should feel like. Now make a fist
and press again. That’s well done, and if your meat feels like this
you should make use of the fist you just made and punch yourself in
the forehead.