Best Pepper Crusted Steak With Strawberry Zinfandel Sauce And Orange Mustard Aioli Recipes

THE BEST PEPPER STEAK

Steps:

• Freeze the flank steak until the meat is slightly frozen and firm enough to thinly slice with ease, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Finely grate 2 cloves of the garlic into a large bowl. Peel the ginger and cut it in half. Finely grate one of the ginger halves into the same bowl; reserve the remaining ginger. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of the Shaoxing wine, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar and several large grinds of pepper to combine. Set aside.
• Thinly slice the flank steak against the grain on a very slight bias into 1/4-inch-thick strips. Cut any extra-long pieces in half; the strips should be no longer than 3 to 4 inches. Add to the bowl with the marinade and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• About 30 minutes before finishing the dish, use tongs to transfer the steak to a large baking sheet lined with several layers of paper towels and arrange in a single layer. Lay additional paper towels on top to help absorb any excess marinade. Set aside to take the chill off the meat.
• Whisk together the beef broth, sesame oil, remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, remaining 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar and a couple large grinds of pepper in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Finely mince the remaining 2 cloves garlic and add to a small bowl. Finely mince the remaining ginger and add to the same bowl. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a large skillet over high heat. When the oil starts to shimmer, add a third of the steak strips in a single layer and cook until well-browned on the first side, about 1 minute. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, about 1 more minute. Transfer to a large plate. Cook the remaining steak in 2 additional batches, adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of canola oil per batch. Transfer to the plate.
• Lower the heat to medium high. Add the onion and a splash of water to the empty skillet and cook, scraping up any browned bits and stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the red and green bell peppers and cook, stirring frequently and adding another splash of water if the skillet starts to get too brown on the bottom, until the vegetables are crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 1 minute.
• Return the steak to the skillet and stir to combine. Whisk the cornstarch into the sauce, then pour it into the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick and glossy, about 2 minutes. Transfer the pepper steak to a large serving platter and top with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with a side of steamed rice.

PEPPER-CRUSTED STEAK WITH HORSERADISH CREAM ON GRILLED GARLIC CROSTINI

Steps:

• Combine the garlic, hot red pepper flakes, peppercorns, rosemary, and olive oil in a Zip-loc bag. Add the beef, coating it with the marinade. Squeeze all the air out of the bag so the beef is enveloped by the marinade, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat the grill or broiler for 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle the steak with the salt and grill or broil to rare or medium rare, depending on your preference.
• The cooking time will depend on the thickness and temperature of the beef, so push at the steak with your finger, and if it still feels totally raw in the middle, give it a little longer.
• This is one of the things that cooks just need to intuit and learn to read the silent signs. Better under than overcooked, so check often, and if your finger defeats you, cut the steak with a knife and have a look. Let the steak rest for at least an hour, to get the juices back into the meat, then cut into short, very thin slices. (The best knife for slicing is a bread knife with wavy rather than pointed teeth, which cuts through beef amazingly well.) Serve on Grilled Garlic Crostini.
• Arrange a few shaved slices of beef on each piece of bread, top with a pungent dot of Horseradish Cream, scatter with minced Italian parsley, and dust on a little kosher salt.