Although a hearty steak has become our oldest childs meal of choice, I don't often serve beef for dinner.
However, whether for friends, a dinner party, overnight guests, family, at home or while on vacation, beef seems to have been a frequent feature at our table lately. My husband even served marrow bone with crusty bread at a recent dinner party.
I also, have experimented with cuts of the cow I have never tried before, as well as followed more familiar recipes.
BEEF AND BLACK BEAN CHILI
1 pound of ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
3/4 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoons smoked paprika
green onions and grated cheddar cheese to garnish
In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, pepper and garlic over medium heat until browned.
Drain fat. Transfer meat mixture to a slow cooker. Add beans, tomatoes, broth, cocoa powder, chili powder, cumin and paprika.
Cover and cook on high heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
Garnish with green onions and cheese as desired
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens, December 2012
www.bhg.com/recipes/
BEEF CHEEKS STEW WITH CARIBBEAN SPICES
2 1/2 pounds beef cheeks, trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
6 garlic cloves (2 chopped and 4 whole)
pinch nutmeg
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cassareep (or substitute 1 tablespoon molasses, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, juice of 1 lime)
2 sprigs parsley
3 scallions, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 2-inch piece of ginger, finely diced
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 cups beef stock
4 bay leaves
Marinate meat for 8 hours or overnight in cider vinegar, 1 chopped garlic clove, nutmeg and 2 tablespoons of oil.
Heat pan over high heat. Add remaining oil and brown sugar. When sugar caramelizes, after about 3 minutes, add the beef and the cassareep. Cook meat, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add parsley, scallions, onions, shallots and remaining garlic. Saute until onions begin to brown, 5 to 10 minutes, then add ginger, thyme, cloves, allspice, salt and pepper.
Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, then add enough stock to cover the meat. Add bay leaves and lower the heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
Remove herb sprigs and bay leaves before serving.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Wall Street Journal, September 2012
online.wsj.com/public/page/magazine-food.html
FLEMISH BEEF STEW
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 pounds flank steak, cut into cubes
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups diced onions
1/2 cup flour
Three 12-ounce cans of beer
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
chopped parsley, for garnish
In a heavy pot or enameled casserole dish, melt the butter. Season the beef with salt and pepper and add it to the dish (add in batches if needed).
Cook over moderate heat until lightly browned. Transfer meat to a bowl. Add the onions to the casserole dish, cover and cook over low heat, stirring, until browned, 8 minutes. Stir in the flour until the onions are well-coated, then slowly add the beer. Return the meat to the casserole along with any accumulated juices. Add the thyme and bay leaves, cover and simmer over low heat, stirring until the beef is tender, 2 hours.
Uncover and transfer the meat to a bowl. Simmer the sauce over moderate heat until thickened slightly. Discard the bay leaves. Return the meat to the casserole and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Food and Wine, October 2011
www.foodandwine.com/recipes
MARINATED FLANK STEAK
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 2 pound flank steak
salt
Combine greeen onions, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, olive oil, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce and toasted sesame oil, in a large resealable plastic bag and mix well. Add steak, seal bag, pressing out excess air. Turn steak to coat. Refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally.
Heat grill to high. Remove steak from bag, season both sides lightly with salt. Grill steak until well browned, about 6 minutes per side for medium rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit, June 2012
www.bonappetit.com/recipes
STEAK PITAS
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 onions, cut into 1/8 inch thick slices
salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds of filet mignon, cut crosswise into 4 even pieces
4 plain pitas
handful of spinach leaves
Heat a grill to medium.
In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish and garlic.
Lightly brush the onions with olive oil, place them on the grill. Season with salt and pepper, cover the grill and cook, carefully turning once, until softened and lightly charred, about 5 minutes, transfer to a bowl.
Pat the beef dry and brush with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill for about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing crosswise.
Grill the pitas, turning once, until just warmed through but not crisp, about 1 minute.
Slice the pitas in half, spread the insides with 2 generous teaspoons of horseradish sauce, then stuff with the spinach, sliced meat and grilled onions. Finish with a dollop of the remainig sauce and serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine, June 2011
www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search
SWEDISH MEATBALLS
MEATBALLS
3 pounds ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
GRAVY
4 tablespoons flour
2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef consommé
1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
Place a large nonstick frying pan on medium-high heat. While pan is heating, thoroughly mix together ground beef, diced onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt and pepper. Form mixutre into 1 inch meatballs. Brown meatballs on all sides, in batches if necessary. Use a slotted spoon to remove browned meatballs to heatproof plate, leaving drippings in pan.
Sprinkle flour over drippings and whisk until combined. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or just until flour turns light golden brown. Slowly whisk in consommé and Worcestershire. Add milk, salt and pepper while whisking constantly. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or just until gravy starts to thicken. Add meatballs back to pan along with any accumulated juices, gently toss to coat meatballs. Lower heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes or just until meatballs are cooked through.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Dining Guide, June 2013
www.nwaonline.com/dining/
VAMPIRE STEAK
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 (1 1/2 pound) flank steak, trimmed
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika and tarragon. Score a diamond pattern on both sides of steak, rub juice mixture evenly over both sides.
Cover, refrigerate for an hour.
Heat grill to high heat.
Sprinkle both sides of steak evenly with salt and pepper. Place steak on grill rack coated with cooking spray, grill 6 minues on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove steak from grill, let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak across grain into slices.
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light, July 2012
www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/
