(All Recipes have Gluten-Free Options)
Rib-Eye Steak Diane with Rosemary Potatoes (Serves 2)
Steak Diane is a recipe that shouts ‘special occasion’. This particular recipe for this well-known dish is from the cookbook, ‘Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain’, the addition of the roasted rosemary potatoes makes it extra special. It’s definitely worthy of a date night!.. (The recipe serves two but can easily be doubled)
2 rib-eye steaks (220g each)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 sprigs of thyme
30g butter
Sea salt and black pepper
For the Rosemary Potatoes:
400g new potatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 sprigs of rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped
For the Sauce:
30g butter
2 banana shallots, finely diced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
120g baby chestnut mushrooms, thickly sliced
40ml brandy
200ml beef stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
150ml double cream
1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon or parsley
- Take the steaks out of the fridge 30 minutes before you intend to start cooking to bring them to room temperature. Drizzle the steaks with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Place the new potatoes on an oven tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and roast in a preheated oven, 180’c fan, for 20 minutes. Take out the tray, sprinkle the potatoes with the rosemary and toss well. Roast for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes are golden and crispy.
- Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over a high heat. When it is smoking hot, place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½-2 minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on thickness. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds, to crisp it up. Remove the pan from the heat and add the thyme, then the butter. Baste the steaks with the butter as it melts. After a couple of minutes, transfer the steaks to a plate, pour over the butter and leave to rest in a warm place.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. Place the frying pan back over a medium heat and add the butter. When it has melted and foaming add the shallots and sauté for 2 minutes. Toss in the garlic and mushrooms and sauté for 3-4minutes . Now add the brandy, flambé if you like, and let it bubble away.
- Pour in the stock and simmer until reduced by half. Add the Worcestershire sauce and cream and continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir through the chopped tarragon or parsley. Add the resting juices from the steaks and stir well.
- Transfer the steaks to warmed plates, spoon on the sauce and serve the crispy rosemary potatoes alongside.
Beef, Root Vegetable & Mejool Date Stew (serves 6-8)
This stew from the cookbook ‘Sababa’ by Adeena Sussman is wonderfully comforting and flavourful; there’s a subtle sweetness from the dates whilst the unusual addition of preserved lemon at the end of cooking adds an interesting depth to the finished dish. Wonderful!
1125g beef stewing meat cut into 2 inch chunks
2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons flour (gluten-free if required)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, cut into chunks
5 whole garlic cloves, peeled, left whole
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon paprika
200ml dry white wine
825ml beef or chicken stock
2 thyme sprigs
½ teaspoon chilli flakes
900g mixed root vegetables (e.g. potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beets)
8 Medjool dates pitted but left whole
1 tablespoon chopped Preserved lemon (or finely chopped fresh lemon)
- Season the meat generously with salt and pepper. Place the flour on a plate and roll the meat cubes to coat, shaking off any excess.
- Heat the oil in a large pot over a medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the meat until seared on all sides. Remove the meat to a plate.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until softened, 6-7 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and paprika and cook, stirring, until slightly caramelised, 2 minutes.
- Add the wine and 2 teaspoons salt, bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the wine is mostly evaporated, 2-3 minutes.
- Return the meat to the pot along with 600ml of the stock, the thyme and chilli flakes. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, and cook for 1 hour, until the meat begins to become tender.
- Add the root vegetables and dates with the remaining 225ml of stock, return to the boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour more.
- Finally, stir in the preserved lemon 5 minutes before serving.
Seared Beef with Pomegranate & Balsamic Dressing (Serves 4)
This recipe is incredibly simple to prepare; the juicy slivers of steak are drizzled with a sumptuous, sharp yet sweet sauce whilst the sprinkling of brightly coloured pomegranate seeds create a spectacular looking dish! The recipe is from Sabrina Ghayhour’s wonderful cookbook ‘Persiana’ (I’ve halved the dressing as I felt that the original recipe made too much sauce but feel free to double it up).
4 sirloin steaks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
1 bag of rocket
100g pomegranate seeds
For the Pomegranate & Balsamic Dressing:
100ml pomegranate molasses
40ml syrupy balsamic vinegar
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 heaped teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Mix the sauce ingredients together in a jug, then set aside.
- Lightly brush the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a little black pepper.
- Heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds to crisp it up.
- Remove the steaks to a plate to rest for 5 minutes. Then thinly slice the steak into slivers and arrange them on a platter. Take a generous handful of rocket leaves and place in the centre of the platter, then drizzle the sauce all over the beef (reserving some for the table). Finally, sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.
Savoury Mince (with Creamy Colcannon Potatoes) (Serves 4)
This isn’t your average beef mince; the recipe is from chef, Simon Hopkinson who takes this humble dish to higher levels with perfectly balanced flavours – a touch of mushroom and carrot, a good beef stock, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and tomato ketchup, herbs and a little fat from some streaky bacon, they all combine to make a dish that is the most gratifying of all comfort foods. You don’t necessarily need to serve it with the Colcannon, plain creamed potatoes would suffice, but I urge you to try this recipe for Colcannon (recipe here), it’s a classic from Delia Smith, need I say more?..
200g onions, peeled and chopped
75g butter
200g carrots, peeled and diced
200g flat dark-gilled mushrooms, diced
1 tablespoon groundnut oil
500g beef mince
200g streaky bacon, coarsely minced (leave the rind on as it will add more flavour)
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
½ tablespoon tomato purée
400g tin chopped tomatoes
200ml beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free if required)
Sea salt and plenty of white pepper
- Melt the butter in a large pan, fry the onion until well coloured. Add the carrots and mushrooms and continue to cook gently for a further 10 minutes or so. Then remove from the pan and leave to one side.
- Briefly wipe the pan and pour in the oil. Heat until smoking. Add the minced beef and bacon and briskly fry until golden. Add the mixed herbs and tomato purée and cook for 5 minutes over a fairly high heat until the purée loses its very red colour.
- Return the vegetables to the pan, together with the tinned tomatoes, stock, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, season and simmer very gently, uncovered for about 1 hour, stirring from time to time. The final consistency should be thick and rich and not at all too liquid.
- Serve with ‘Creamy Colcannon Potatoes’ (recipe here).
Veal and Lemon Meatballs ( Serves 6)
With their lemony sauce these meatballs have a rather refined flavour in comparison with those served in a heavier tomato sauce. They are fantastic served with baby roast potatoes (recipe here) or pasta. You can substitute the fresh breadcrumbs for gluten-free dried breadcrumbs, I like those by ‘Esgir’. This recipe is from Blanche Vaughan, food editor of House and Garden magazine.
800g minced veal
100g fresh white breadcrumbs (or gluten-free alternative – see above)
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
75g Pecorino or Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons milk
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
3 sprigs of thyme, leaves removed and chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
100ml dry vermouth or dry white wine
2 teaspoons tomato purée
500ml chicken stock
3 bay leaves
Sea salt and black pepper
- Mix the veal with the breadcrumbs, lemon zest and juice, garlic, cheese, milk, nutmeg and thyme. Season well with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a walnut. Place on a plate and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Heat half of the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meatballs all over working in batches. (Alternatively you can brush the meatballs with a little oil, and place on an oiled baking tray then bake in a preheated oven, 220’c fan, for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through). Set aside.
- Add the vermouth to the frying pan and let it bubble away to reduce by half. Add the tomato purée and mix well. Pour in the chicken stock and add the bay leaves, bring to the boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Add the meatballs to the pan and cook them gently for 20 minutes, turning them over every so often. (Do not cover the pan as you want the liquid to reduce as the meatballs cook).
- Serve the meatballs with baby baked potatoes (recipe here) or pasta.
Beef, Tomato and Fennel Pie with Mustard and Gruyere Mash (Serves 4 – 6)
This dish is reminiscent of ‘Shepherds Pie’ but only better. It does require quite a lot of chopping and slow cooking, but once it’s on the stove you can leave it to itself. Believe me, it really is a special dish, perfect on a chilly night – pure comfort!…
1kg beef (chuck), cubed
10g dried porcini mushrooms
Olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 fennel bulb, chopped
4 bay leaves
Bunch of thyme, leaves picked and chopped
Bunch of sage, leaves picked and chopped
300g chestnut mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons tomato purée
400g cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons redcurrant jelly
175ml marsala wine
175ml red wine
750ml beef stock
1kg potatoes
100g butter
25ml full fat milk
2 tablespoons mustard
200g gruyere cheese, grated
Sea salt and black pepper
- First of all put the porcini in a small boil, cover with boiling water and soak for 30 minutes. Drain and chop. Put to one side.
- Meanwhile heat some oil in large pan, add the beef in batches, sear and brown. Once browned remove from the pan and put to one side.
- Add the onion, garlic, fennel seeds, chopped fennel, bay leaves, sage and thyme to the pan and sauté for about 5 minutes until they are starting to caramelise. Add the mushrooms and cook for another few minutes before returning the beef to the pan. Add the tomato purée and the cherry tomatoes, mix and then add the porcini, red currant jelly, marsala wine, red wine and stock, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then cover and simmer for 2.5 hours until the meat has broken down. Now remove the lid and boil rapidly for 10-15 minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce.
- Meanwhile make the mash – peel the potatoes and chop into quarters, place in a pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil then simmer for about 20 minutes until cooked through. Mash until smooth, adding the butter, milk, mustard and cheese and season generously.
- Spoon the beef mixture into a large pie dish, probably you will not need all of the gravy, but keep it to one side (it’s delicious!). Top the pie with the mash, spreading it out to cover the meat filling – it can look a bit messy, but no worries it cooks up beautifully!
- Cook in a preheated oven, 200’c fan, for about 25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Allow to cool a little before serving, reheating any reserved gravy to pass around.
Spicy Beef with Coriander Relish, Mangetout & Steamed Rice (Serves 4)
This is a wonderfully fresh recipe from chef Bill Granger, the tangy coriander relish lifts the steak to higher realms. Served with mangetout and rice it makes a light yet fulfilling supper.
For the Steaks:
4 x 200g sirloin steaks
80ml rice wine or dry sherry
60ml oyster sauce (gluten-free if required)
60ml light soy sauce (gluten-free if required)
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
For the Coriander Relish:
50g coriander, chopped
60ml vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 large red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon caster sugar
Freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
200g mangetout
Steamed rice
- Place the rice wine, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil in a large bowl, stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the steaks, gently turning in the marinade, cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or more, bringing back to room temperature before cooking.
- Meanwhile prepare the coriander relish by simply placing the ingredients in a small bowl and stirring to combine.
- To prepare the mangetout blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then plunge into cold water and drain. Steam the rice according to the packet instructions.
- When you are ready to cook the steaks, heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds to crisp it up.
- Remove the steaks to a plate to rest for 5 minutes. Slice each steak into 1 cm slices, top with a little relish and serve with the mangetout, steamed rice and more coriander relish on the side.
Cowboy Chilli (Serves 6-8)
This Chilli is the real deal, a proper American chilli from a favourite cookbook of mine, ‘Five Marys Ranch Raised’ by Mary Heffernan. I recommend you serve it with ‘Cornbread & Honey Butter’ (recipe below) plus toppings of sour cream, grated cheddar and sliced spring onions…and perhaps some guacamole! The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it makes a large portion (enough for 6-8), so there are leftovers which can be frozen for another day or, even better, used to make another authentic American recipe – ‘Chilli Mac and Cheese’ (recipe below!)…
(I use a mild chilli powder as I prefer a milder flavour, but if you like more heat use a hotter chilli powder!)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
900g beef mince
25g chilli powder (see note above)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne
400g tin pinto beans, rinsed and drained
800g passata
400g tin chopped tomatoes
Sea salt and black pepper
To Serve:
Mild cheddar cheese, grated
Sour cream
A few spring onions, sliced
Cornbread with Honey Butter (recipe here)
Guacamole (recipe here)
- In a large casserole pot heat the oil. Add the onion, peppers and a pinch of salt, cook over a medium heat, stirring until the vegetables soften and start to brown – about 8 minutes.
- Increase the heat to medium-high, add the beef and cook stirring until it is just browned – about 5 minutes.
- Add all the spices, plus a teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper and stir until well combined.
- Add the beans, passata and chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the temperature to low and cook, stirring occasionally until the chilli is thick and rich – about 1 hour (if it gets too thick you can add a little water).
- Serve bowlfuls of chilli topped with sour cream, grated cheddar and spring onions plus, on the side, cornbread (recipe here) and/or guacamole (recipe here).
Leftover Chilli Mac & Cheese (Serves 4-6)
Another favourite recipe from Mary Heffernan’s cookbook ‘Five Mary’s Ranch Raised’. It’s worth making the ‘Cowboy Chilli’ (recipe above) just so that you have the leftovers to make this recipe! It’s a real crowd-pleaser, feel free to add some sautéed mushrooms, peas or blanched broccoli into the mac and cheese before baking if you want a more veggie-based version.
450g macaroni or penne pasta (gluten free if required)
75g unsalted butter
40g plain flour (gluten free if required)
700ml whole milk
225g mild cheddar, grated
About 900g leftover ‘Cowboy Chilli’, warmed (recipe above)
Sea salt and black pepper
*9×13 inch (or similar size) baking dish, greased
- Cook the macaroni or penne according to the packet instructions until just al dente (it will continue to cook in the oven, so it is best to have it slightly underdone). Drain, rinse in cold water and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over a medium-low heat. Sprinkle over the flour and whisk until smooth. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes until it is slightly thickened, then slowly add the cheese, whisking until smooth. Season with salt and pepper
- Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce, stir until well combined.
- Spread the warm chilli in an even layer over the baking dish, then top with the mac and cheese. Bake in a preheated oven, 200’c fan, for about 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned around the edges. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Bloody Mary Steak & Avocado (Serves 4)
In this recipe from Hugh Fearnely-Whittingstall’s cookbook ‘Light & Easy’, the flavours of a ‘Bloody Mary’ cocktail are used to inspire a delicious sauce for steaks. The tangy flavour of the piquant, tomatoey dressing complements the meaty steaks wonderfully. I have used sirloin steaks here but rump steaks would work just as well. This recipe is particularly good with Homemade Oven Chips (recipe here!)
*If you are gluten free note that Worcestershire sauce may contain traces of gluten from barley.
2 large, ripe avocados
300g cherry tomatoes, quartered
Large bunch of flat leaf parsley, leaves chopped
4 sirloin steaks at room temperature
A little olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
For the Bloody Mary Dressing:
100ml tomato juice
4 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon celery salt
10-15 drops Tabasco sauce to taste
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (see note above)
A good squeeze of lemon juice to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
- Firstly make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly combined – tasting to adjust the seasonings, the lemon juice will temper the heat.
- Halve and stone the avocadoes and cut into 3cm chunks. Place them in a bowl with the tomatoes and parsley, add about two tablespoons of the dressing and mix lightly.
- Lightly brush the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a little black pepper.
- Heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds to crisp it up.
- Remove the steaks to a plate to rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Arrange the avocado salad on plates. Slice the steak thickly over or alongside the salad and trickle over any of its juices from resting. Serve with the remaining dressing spooned over.
Fillet Steak with Tarragon (Serves 4)
I do love meat, so can never say no to a piece of steak, I also adore tarragon, so the combination of the two in this recipe is, in my opinion, heaven!…This recipe is delicious served with steamed asparagus and homemade oven chips (recipe here).
25g butter
4 large open flat mushrooms
Olive oil
3 shallots, diced
120ml white wine
60ml double cream
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1 clove garlic, crushed
A bunch of tarragon, leaves chopped
Sea salt and black pepper
4 fillet steaks (about 150g each)
- Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the mushrooms on both sides until golden. Keep warm until needed.
- Heat a little olive oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat and fry the shallots until soft and golden. Add the wine and simmer for 3 minutes, then reduce the heat and add the cream, mustard, garlic, tarragon and seasoning – do not allow to boil. Remove to one side and keep warm whilst you cook the steaks.
- Lightly brush the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a little black pepper. Heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste.
- Serve the steaks on the cooked mushrooms topped with the sauce. They are delicious served with steamed asparagus and some homemade oven chips (recipe here).
Five Marys Spiced Fillet of Beef with Caramelised Onion Sauce & Bay Leaf Baby Roast Potatoes (Serves 4)
This wonderful recipe for beef is one which I have taken from the ‘Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook’. I bought this book recently and have enjoyed reading it, not only for it’s wonderful meaty recipes, but also for the wonderful photos which take the reader on a tour of the authors Californian ranch. It all looks wonderfully idyllic, with the mountains in the background, cattle in the fields, lots of checked shirts and cowboy boots! This recipe uses a lovely ‘five spice’ mix to flavour the meat which is then simply cooked in the oven for about 30 minutes – you may notice that this is a slightly longer cooking time than my recipe for Beef Fillet & Port Sauce, this is because the beef is not seared beforehand, in order to avoid burning the garlic marinade. The Caramelised Onion & Red Wine sauce which accompanies the beef is the ‘icing on the cake‘, complementing the meat with its richness. I like to serve the beef with Bay Leaf Baby Roast Potatoes (recipe here); together they make a deliciously easy meal. You could also serve some greens or a salad on the side.
Five Marys Spice Rub
This is a wonderful spice rub to make and keep in your cupboard – it can be kept in a jar for up to 6 months. It is a good seasoning for steaks or chops, it will also give a kick to soups or stews and is wonderful sprinkled over eggs or avocado toast!…
3 tablespoons rock salt
2 tablespoons chilli flakes
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons salt flakes
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Simply mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight jar!
Five Spice Roast Fillet of Beef with Caramelised Onion & Red Wine Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon M5 Spice Rub (recipe above)
2 teaspoons thyme leaves, chopped
2 x fillets of beef, 450g each – nice even pieces
For the sauce:
90 g butter
2 onions, sliced
480ml red wine
240ml beef stock
3 sprigs of thyme
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
Sea salt and black pepper
- Combine the olive oil, garlic, spice rub and thyme. Rub it over the fillets of beef, cover and leave at room temperature for an hour or refrigerate if longer – bring to room temperature before cooking if refrigerated.
- Place the beef in a preheated oven, 180’c fan, for 25 -30 minutes for medium rare (a meat thermometer will read 55’c). Move to a plate to rest for about 15-30 minutes, loosely covered with foil.
- Meanwhile make the sauce. In a large pan melt 30g of butter, fry the onions with a big pinch of salt, until golden and caramelised – about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the wine, stock and thyme, increase the heat and boil for about 10 minutes until the liquid is reduced by half.
- Stir in the balsamic vinegar and sugar, continue to cook for 1 minute longer.
- When ready to serve, remove the thyme sprigs from the sauce, reheat gently and add the remaining 60g butter – a little at a time to allow it to emulsify. Finally add any juices from the rested meat.
- Cut the beef into thick slices, serve topped with the warm sauce.
Steak with Peppercorn Sauce (Serves 4)
This is a super simple way to take a steak dinner to an even higher level! The sauce is quickly cooked in the pan after frying the steaks. You could serve this simply with Homemade Oven Chips or for pure indulgence, serve French style, with Aligot potatoes (recipes here), I also like a green salad with a little torn parsley on the side, dressed with a classic vinaigrette (recipe here).
4 sirloin steaks (or a steak cut of your choice)
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
For the Sauce:
170ml brandy
370ml beef stock
250ml double cream
4-6 teaspoons whole black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
- Lightly brush the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a little black pepper.
- Heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds to crisp it up.
- Remove the steaks to a plate to rest whilst you make the sauce.
- Add the brandy to the pan and let it simmer rapidly, scraping the bottom of the pan, when most of it has reduced (and lost its harsh alcohol smell), add the stock and simmer to reduce by half.
- Lower the heat. Add the cream, peppercorns and any juices from the resting steaks, stir, then simmer for about 2 minutes until it thickens (do not let it boil). Season with salt.
- Transfer the steaks to plates and spoon over the sauce.
Peppered Fillet of Beef with Port Sauce (Serves 4)
This fillet of beef recipe, is one that I have been doing for years. I particularly like that the sauce can be made in advance, so there is no last minute rush. I like to serve it with Dauphinoise Potatoes, I rather like the cheese version for this dish, but you could also serve it with my simpler recipe without cheese (recipes here). In addition, a great accompaniment is Green Beans with Shallots & Sherry Vinegar or simply Sautéed Spinach (recipes here).
2 x fillets of beef, 450g each – nice even pieces
2 teaspoons black peppercorns, lightly crushed
Olive oil
400ml port
2 sprigs of thyme
2 cloves of garlic, halved
300ml beef stock
2 teaspoons cornflour made into a paste with 2 tablespoons of the port
Sea salt and black pepper
- Season the beef with salt and evenly coat it with the crushed peppercorns.
- Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and brown the beef all over, then transfer to a roasting tray.
- Place the beef in a preheated oven, 180’c fan, for about 20 minutes for medium rare (a meat thermometer will read 55’c). Move to a plate to rest.
- Meanwhile put the port, thyme and garlic in a small saucepan and boil to reduce by half, then whisk in the beef stock and the cornflour paste. Cook, whisking for about 1 minute until the sauce has thickened.
- Check the sauce for seasoning, adding any juices from the resting beef.
- Slice the beef into thick slices and serve with the sauce, Dauphinoise Potatoes and Green Beans with Shallots & Sherry Vinegar (recipes here).
Beef Stroganoff (Serves 4-6)
This recipe for Beef Stroganoff is very quick, it just requires the beef to be flash fried, therefore it is important to use good fillet steak. With the addition of soured cream, dill and lemon juice this simple recipe is extremely special! I like to serve it with white long grain rice and a green salad.
4 medium onions, 400g
6 tablespoons groundnut oil
700g fillet steak, cut into thin strips, about 1cm thick
80g butter
500g button or small mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons paprika
300ml soured cream
1 lemon
Large bunch of dill, finely chopped
Sea salt and black pepper
- Peel, half and thinly slice the onions.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of the groundnut oil in a frying pan. Pat the meat dry, season generously with salt and pepper. Add half the meat to the pan and stir-fry briskly for 30 seconds to brown and remove to one side. Repeat with the remaining oil and meat.
- Add half the butter to the pan and stir in the onions. Cook slowly until golden, sticky and softened. Tip on to a plate.
- Add the remaining butter to the pan and stir-fry the mushrooms with the paprika for about 4 minutes until dark and soft.
- Return the onions to the pan and add the soured cream. Warm through.
- Add the meat, return to simmer, season with salt and pepper and a good squeeze of lemon juice.
- Finely stir through the chopped dill.
- Serve with rice and a green salad.
Thai Steak Salad with Ginger (Serves 4)
This salad has a lot of ingredients but is very simple to make and ready in 10 minutes! It is a recipe I found in the cookbook ‘Tom Aikens Cooking’, a book which I bought many years ago when he had his Michelin starred restaurant, ‘Tom Aikens’. Nick and I were lucky to eat there a few times and I must admit that the food was outstanding. The cookbook, as you can imagine from a chef of this calibre, has quite a few complicated recipes, however amongst them, it is possible to find a couple which are easy to cook on a midweek evening, such as this steak salad. The flavours of this salad are great; fresh and light, with a sweet ginger taste rather than a hot fiery one! If you are gluten free use gluten free soy sauce and oyster sauce.
3 – 4 sirloin steaks (depending on how hungry you are)
Olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
1 red onion, thinly sliced
150g mixed salad leaves
For the Sauce:
2 tablespoons of chopped bottled stem ginger and syrup
6g piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped
2 fresh red chilles, finely chopped (or less according to your taste)
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 small bunch fresh mint, leaves picked
1 small bunch fresh Thai basil or regular basil, leaves picked
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2½ tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds
1 teaspoon caster sugar
50ml sesame oil
- For the sauce, grind together the gingers, the chilli, the garlic and half of the mint and basil leaves. Mix in the remaining sauce ingredients including the remaining whole herb leaves.
- Brush the steaks with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a griddle pan (or frying pan) until very hot and cook each steak for 1½-2 minutes on each side.
- Remove the steaks from the pan and whilst they are resting put the red onion in the pan to cook for a few minutes until caramelised.
- Slice the steaks into thin slices, trimming any excess fat.
- Finally toss the meat, onions, salad leaves and sauce together in a large bowl and serve straightaway.
Tagliata Steak with a Herb Dressing (Serves 4)
The Italian word ‘tagliata’ means sliced and this is exactly what ‘Tagliata’ is – sliced steak. Often in Italy they use the T-bone cut for this recipe, so that you get both the fillet and sirloin. However I find that it is easier and quicker to cook sirloin steaks at home, and to slice these before serving. The dressing is one which I have taken from Nina Parker’s ‘Nina’s St Tropez’ cookbook, it is quite light so does not overpower the steak. I would serve this dish with baby roast potatoes or the oven chips from my ‘staple side dishes’ and a salad of your choice dressed with a tarragon vinaigrette.
3-4 sirloin steaks (depending on how hungry you are)
Olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
Herb Dressing
1 anchovy fillet, chopped
60ml olive oil
Large bunch of tarragon, chopped
Handful parsley, chopped
Juice of ½ lemon
½ teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
20g unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
Sea salt and black pepper
- Remove steaks from fridge to bring to room temperature
- Meanwhile make the sauce – put the chopped anchovy in a bowl with all but 1 tablespoon of the oil, add the herbs, lemon juice, sugar and vinegar. Then, in a small saucepan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil with the butter, when hot add the garlic, cook for a moment before adding the mixture to the bowl with the herbs. Give everything a good stir and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm whilst you deal with the steaks.
- Lightly brush the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a little black pepper.
- Heat a frying pan until very hot. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for about 1½ minutes on each side for rare or a little longer depending on your taste. I also like to turn the steaks on their ‘fat’ edge, for 30 seconds to crisp it up.
- Remove the steaks to a plate to rest for about 10 minutes in a warm place.
- Pour the juices which will have seeped from the resting steaks into the bowl with the dressing. Slice each steak.
- Serve the slices on a large plate with a little of the dressing sprinkled over and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to the table so that everyone can help themselves, with the remaining dressing in a bowl.
Spiced Steaks with a Whisky Sauce (Serves 4)
Whisky and spices may sound a strange combination with steak, but believe me they really work and add an extra special dimension to a simple steak. I urge you to try this recipe!…The quality of the whisky does make a difference, so use the best you have, the smokier the better. I would serve the steaks with homemade oven chips and a salad with a honey-mustard vinaigrette, you can find these recipes on my side dishes and salad dressings pages. Start by making the chips and the salad/vinaigrette; cook the steaks about 5 – 10 minutes before the chips have finished cooking .
2 teaspoons Schwartz Jamaican Jerk seasoning (or mix one teaspoon each of allspice and chilli powder, plus a generous pinch of sugar)
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons mixed peppercorns
4 beef fillet or sirloin steaks
4 tablespoons olive oil
10 tablespoons whisky
15g butter
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
150 ml beef stock
2 level tablespoons redcurrant jelly
6 tablespoons double cream
- Crush together the salt and peppercorns with a pestle and mortar (or the end of a rolling pin), mix with the jerk seasoning (or spice and sugar mixture).
- Use 1 tablespoon of the oil to lightly coat the steaks and press each side into the spice mix. Leave for 20-30 minutes.
- Heat a frying pan with the remaining olive oil and add the steaks (normally I don’t add oil to the pan when I’m frying steaks, I just oil them, but this recipe needs extra oil in the pan otherwise the spices will burn). I like my steak on the rare side, so I cook them for 1½ minutes on each side depending on the thickness. Cook for longer, depending on your taste.
- Remove the steaks to rest on a plate whilst you make the sauce. Add the knob of butter to the pan, along with the chopped garlic and the whisky.
- When the whisky has warmed through, very carefully light the sauce using a long kitchen match. When the flames have died down add the stock, redcurrant jelly and double cream.
- Lightly whisk, so that the redcurrant jelly melts into the sauce. Continue to heat through gently, until it is reduced and slightly thickened.
- Serve the sauce straightaway with the steaks and their juices, the oven chips and a salad with honey-mustard dressing.
Menu Mistress 