10 minute dish: Steak and sort of Mash...
Plus tips for cooking restaurant-worthy steak
What do you cook when you need something really quick but also really truly delicious? I was thinking about this last week, what do I cook time and time again when I have no energy or patience but I need something a little bit special? And this is my answer to that question. It takes less than 10 minutes to pull this together but it’s going to taste restaurant-worthy. As in, it’s going to knock your socks off, it’s so good.
And to me steak is a treat. A treat I think a lot of people reserve for going to a restaurant, perhaps because it’s expensive? Definitely. But also I think because people are a bit nervous of cooking steak at home. And I promise there is no need to be. A few simple rules and you’ll be cooking steak better than any restaurant and it’s much cheaper to do it at home too.
And if you have been following me for a while or have ever listened to the podcast, I know there is no need at all for me to assure you that I love mashed potato. Probably far more than the average person in fact. To me mashed potato is perfect. Truly perfect, except for one thing, it does take some time to make. And while it’s obviously always worth the wait, sometimes I just don’t have the time or energy to peel potatoes and wait for them to boil. Sometimes I need all the creamy comfy coziness that mashed potato can bring but I need it in mere minutes and this is where these amazing mashed beans come in. They take just a few minutes to make and are so incredibly good.
Talking of the podcast and while I’ve got you here I wondered how many of you do listen to the podcast? I want to make this newsletter the best it can be for you and I wondered if you’d like me to share things about the podcast? Extra questions, things about the guest, the dishes / books / restaurants / recipes they recommend? Was thinking of potentially doing a midweek email to you in addition to the Sunday recipe, but wanted to gauge whether that might be something you’d like?
Let’s do a poll! I’d be so grateful for your answers! Thank you.
And if you have no idea what I’m talking about…well I have a podcast called Desert Island Dishes. Every week I talk to a special guest about the dishes that have shaped their lives. Here you will find conversations with a whole range of different people discussing their 7 Desert Island Dishes. Previous guests include Stanley Tucci, Dolly Alderton, Diana Henry, Prue Leith and David Gandy. There are over 130 episodes for you to listen to! Find them all here.
We find out about their favourite childhood dishes, the dishes they eat the most often, and the dishes that mean the most to them. And of course we will also discover what their last dish would be before being cast off to the desert island.
If you haven’t listened yet, do have a look and a listen and let me know what you think!
And now without any more waffling, on to today’s recipe…
Okay so now let’s start by talking about cooking steak. I’ve gathered together a few simple tips which I really do think make all the difference plus a very easy guide for how you can test your steak without the need for a thermometer. I haven’t used a thermometer in my kitchen for years and I don’t think it’s an essential piece of kitchen kit for you to have at home. I had to cook steaks to order in the restaurant and it was terrifying but it has stood me in good stead, so here are my tips plus advice on the best cuts of steak: