Pan Seared Steak with Sweet and Sour Tomato and Onion Sauce


Great as a sandwich

2 tablespoons cooking oil (peanut, canola or vegetable)
Four 1 1/4 inch thick steaks, cut your choice, at room temperature
salt and pepper to season steaks
1 whole onion, sliced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 whole tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges each

Sauce (whisk in small bowl)
1 tablespoons ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce


Heat a large skillet over high heat until a bead of water sizzles upon contact and immediately evaporates. You want that pan super hot to get the best sear on the steaks as possible. Add just 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the pan and let the oil heat up.

While the pan is heating, brush the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil on each side of the steaks. Season with salt and pepper and carefully lay them in the hot pan, not touching. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until you reach your desired level of doneness. Instant read thermometer should read 120F at the center of the steak for medium-rare.

Remove steaks to a plate and tent loosely with tin foil. Return the skillet to medium heat. You should still have some oil left in the pan. Add the garlic and onions to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Push the garlic/onions to one side of the pan and add the tomato wedges. Cook the tomatoes 1 minute.

Add the sauce mixture and simmer until slightly thickened and the tomatoes and onions are nicely coated with the sauce.

Now you’ll have to taste and adjust – how sweet and how sour is a personal preference, plus your tomato may be juicy sweet or a bit acidic. (Make sure you taste a bit of the tomato too)

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Artichokes with Itialian Sausage


OK, here is the 1st recipe and one of my favorites from Culinary School.

Ingredients

Artichokes

4 ea

Sausage, ground

Onion, chopped

Garlic, minced

½ lb

½ lb

2 cloves

Cumin

Cilantro, chopped

Thyme, fresh

Breadcrumbs

Tabasco

Salt

Pepper

4 oz

TT

TT

TT

½ tsp

2 oz

1 tsp

Chicken stock

1 pt


Procedure

Trim the stem and barbs from the artichokes. Using a tablespoon, scoop out the choke from the center of each artichoke.
Cook the sausage meat, breaking it up into small pieces. Pour off the fat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until tender.
Add the cumin, cilantro, thyme and bread crumbs. Season with Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper.
Stuff the artichokes with the sausage mixture. Place in a braising pan and drizzle with oil. Add the stock. Bring the stock to a boil. Cover and braise until the artichokes are tender, approximately 1 hour.


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