Not so much a recipe, this, more a series of suggestions. At its simplest a steak salad is just that, strips of juicy rare steak, hot from the pan, piled on top of a green salad. How you marinade the steak (if you do) and what you put in the salad is up to you. It makes a fast and healthy supper, if you politely ignore the fries Him Outdoors had on the side.
There are umpteen combinations. Lettuce, rocket, lambs’ lettuce, baby spinach, chicory or a mixture. Tomatoes, onion, avocado, spicy roasted peppers, asparagus, French beans; blue cheese, goats’ cheese or feta; herbs, croutons, hard boiled eggs. A straightforward vinaigrette dressing or one with added blue cheese, garlic, chilli, mustard, honey, ginger, lime. If you have time, a marinade for the steak: oil, a little vinegar, garlic, sliced chilli or hot sauce, soy sauce, herbs and spices, what you will. Not all of these all at once, obvs.
And the steak itself: fillet tail, sirloin, rump, feather steak, minute steak. I’d just suggest, as it’s the star of the show, that you buy the best you can afford. A little goes a long way in this recipe and you can easily stretch one steak to feed two people.
Hot and Spicy Steak Salad
Katsup manis/katsup medja is a thick, sweet Indonesian soy sauce. If you don’t have it substitute dark soy with a teaspoon of honey
Ingredients:
Around 200g steak (see above)
Your choice of salad ingredients
Optionally: 1/2 lime, quartered, to squeeze over
For the steak marinade:
1 heaped tbsp harissa
2 tbsp katsup manis/katsup medja
1 fat clove of garlic, crushed
Juice of 1/2 lime
Optionally: 1 tspn chilli powder, if you want it hotter
For the salad dressing (you won’t need all of it):
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tspn honey
1 small clove of garlic, crushed
1 heaped tspn Dijon mustard
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
50-75 ml extra virgin olive oil, or to taste
Method:
If the steak is very thick, place it between two pieces of grease-proof paper and bash it a few times with a rolling pin to flatten it slightly.
Mix the marinade ingredients in a non-reactive dish and add the steak, turning it to coat. Cover and leave to marinate for half an hour, longer if you have the time.
Whisk together the salad dressing, adding the oil last so it thickens. Check the seasoning, taste and adjust; I like my dressings sharp.
Heat a griddle pan until it’s smoking and quickly flash-fry the steak so it’s browned on the outside but still rare in the middle. Set aside to rest for a few minutes while you dress the salad.
Pile the salad onto plates, slice the steak into strips and heap it on top, adding a chunk of lime to squeeze over if you like. Eat immediately.
Loving the sound of this marinade; I have some kecap manis (is that the same thing?) buried away somewhere in the cupboard. Fillet steak please, rare. Watercress too, I think. Drool…
Yes, it sounds like the same thing … basically a thick, quite syrupy, sweetish soy. And thanks … hope you enjoy it if you tuck in. Lxx
What a perfectly cooked steak Mrs. P. I am particularly taken with your carving knife and fork. My late father used to use a fork almost identical. I have sought one out without success as I want to use it to dress my posts. The quest continues…
Thanks, Conor. Yes, this set belonged to my husband’s great grandfather. It’s even been suggested that he made it but that seems a bit unlikely, given that he was a GP. 🙂
My own father was a pathologist and prided himself on his carving skills. I work hard to try to emulate his wafer thin roast beef slices. I think of him every time I carve.
I suppose it goes with the territory. 😀
Wow – harissa and medja! I’ve got to make this!
I’d love to know what you think, Mimi, thanks. Lx
I’ve printed the recipe!
I am honoured 🙂
Steak and greens are wonderful together. My favorite—no surprise—is the Italian way, tagliata, sliced steak served over arugula drizzled with olive oil and topped with shavings of parmesan. Yummy!
Drooling here! Thanks for stopping by. Lx
Sounds like a wonderful salad. I really like that the meat is served rare.
Thanks, Donald, and thanks for the follow. Rare is the only way to go in our house!