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Sunday Dinner: Harissa-Crusted Tri-Tip Roast

partysugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:11:52 -0700

Tri-tip is one of my favorite cuts of beef because it's affordable and feeds a crowd. Besides being lower in cost, tri-tip is also incredibly flavorful with a lower fat content. If you have never experimented with it before, I suggest you do so tonight.

This simple recipe coats the steak with a spicy African sauce known as harissa. While the meat cooks, the sauce forms a delicious crust.

To see how it's made, read more.

Harissa-Crusted Tri-Tip Roast
From Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients

1 3/4 teaspoons caraway seeds
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves
1/4 cup chili paste (such as sambal oelek)*
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1 1 3/4- to 2-pound tri-tip beef roast, most of fat layer trimmed

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Toast caraway seeds in small nonstick skillet over medium heat until seeds darken and begin to smoke, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Add olive oil and garlic cloves to caraway seeds in skillet. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 1 minute.
Pour caraway mixture into processor. Add chili paste, tomato sauce, cumin, and chili powder and blend until garlic cloves are pureed. Season harissa to taste with salt.
Sprinkle beef all over with salt and pepper; place beef, fat side down, on rack on rimmed baking sheet.
Spread with half of harissa. Turn beef over; spread remaining harissa over top and sides.
Roast beef until thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F to 130°F for medium-rare, about 35 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice and serve.

Serves 4-6.

*Available in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets and at Asian markets.

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You Call That a Skewer? This is a Skewer!

YumSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 01:48:32 -0700

A few months ago, my friends and I embarked on a magical meat journey at Espetus, a Brazilian steakhouse (churrascaria). Taking a cue from Brazilian Gauchos - who would skewer meats and roast them over a large fire pit - churrascarias serve their clientele barbecued meat directly off of large sword-like skewers. In most places, the servers continue bringing meats until you've had your fill and in our case, we had a wheel that displayed green for more or red for stop. While there we ate at least seven different kinds of meat, including a delicious bbq'd tri-tip roast called picanha. If you can't find a churrascaria near you, I've got a recipe you can try at home, to check it out, read more

Picanha
From Touch Family Recipes

1 tri-tip roast (2-4 lbs.)
5-6 cloves garlic
1/2-3/4 cup coarse salt (0.5-0.75 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil

Trim excess fat from the meat. There's one side that is mostly a large slab of fat; trim down to 1/8" approx.
Mix salt and garlic together to make a paste, rub all over the meat. Add a little olive oil if the paste won't stick. Marinate the tri-tip several hours (2-3 at least), turning it over once an hour or so. Liquid should come out of the meat.
Scrape most of the mixture off the roast, esp. the large chunks of salt. Don't worry about getting all of it, but try to get most of it off. Rub the meat with a little olive oil, and a little more garlic. Do NOT add pepper - it burns on the grill.
Grill over very high (highest setting) heat. Do NOT turn over until the first side is nearly burnt, but the meat is still about 20-30 degrees F from being 'done'.
Turn ONCE, cook until 'done' (rare using a meat thermometer). Take off heat and let sit for 5 minutes before carving.
Carve perpendicular to the grain in 3/16"-1/4" slices (around 5mm). Try to catch the 'juice' for the serving plate. Serve warm or cold.

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Sunday BBQ: Shiraz-Soy Tri-Tip

YumSugar — Sun, 13 May 2007 03:37:19 -0700

This week I thought I'd we'd get the grill going with a nice big tri-tip. My mom is a sucker for bbq and I know she especially loves a good tri-tip, so when I saw this recipe I thought it would be nice to try on Mother's Day. The tri-tip is marinated in a nice shiraz (aka syrah) and soy combination, making it the perfect dish to throw onto a smokey bbq. Do all the hard work today and let mom relax with a glass of the fruity, yet somewhat rich, wine. To check out the recipe, read more

Shiraz-Soy Tri-Tip
From Sunset Magazine July 2005

3/4 cup Shiraz (Syrah) wine
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 beef tri-tip (about 2 1/2 lb.), fat trimmed, rinsed and patted dry

In a gallon-size zip-lock plastic bag, combine Shiraz, soy sauce, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire, mustard, and garlic. Add tri-tip and seal bag. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 1 day, turning occasionally.
Lightly oil a barbecue grill over a solid bed of medium coals or medium heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds). Lift tri-tip from marinade and lay on hot grill; discard marinade. Close lid on gas grill. Cook tri-tip, turning every 5 minutes, until rare in center of thickest part (still pink; cut to test), 125° to 130° on a thermometer, about 25 minutes, or until as done as you like.
3. Let meat rest 5 minutes, then cut across the grain into thin, slanting slices.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 151(38% from fat); FAT 6.3g (sat 1.9g); PROTEIN 21g; CHOLESTEROL 59mg; SODIUM 342mg; FIBER 0.0g; CARBOHYDRATE 0.8g

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Steak With Fennel, Lemon, and Mozzarella

partysugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:30:11 -0700

If you're sick and tired of the average steak dinner, consider giving this creative recipe a whirl. The preparation is simple and straightforward grilling, but the combination of ingredients - tri-tip, fennel, lemons, and mozzarella - is out of the ordinary and unexpected. Each element serves a purpose: the hearty, charred steak is juicy, the anise-flavored fennel is crunchy, the soft, melted cheese is creamy, and the tangy, caramelized lemon is sour. It makes for an exciting meal that comes together in just 20 minutes. Pour a glass of wine and let the weekend begin! For the recipe please, read more.

Steak With Fennel, Lemon, and Mozzarella
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds tri-tip or sirloin steak, cut into 4 pieces
kosher salt and black pepper
1 fennel bulb, cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high. Season the steak with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill to the desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, gently toss the fennel, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes; transfer back to the bowl.
Grill the lemon slices until slightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Toss the lemons with the fennel and thyme. Serve with the steak and mozzarella.

Serves 4.

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Happy Hour: 2004 Château Clarke Listrac-Médoc

partysugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:15:54 -0700

Although one normally thinks of pairing a burger or hot dog with an ice cold beer, when grilling other meats, like tri tip, chicken, or pork, don't be afraid to pour wine. When selecting a wine, take into consideration the meat's type of sauce (is it spicy, sweet, herby, etc.?) or seasoning.

I recently enjoyed this 2004 red Bordeaux ($27), by Château Clarke, with grilled boneless pork ribs. It has a rich purple color and berry and dark stone fruit aromas. Smooth and well-bodied, this red has a velvety finish. A blend of 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 70 percent Merlot, this silky wine is drinkable now or can be aged.

Do you enjoy wine with barbecue? What's your favorite pairing?

Monday's Leftovers: Thai-Style Steak Salad

partysugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:12:41 -0700

Giving leftovers a whole new taste - with seasonings from another culture - is a great way to make last night's meal more appetizing. For example, turn leftover African inspired harissa crusted tri-tip into a Thai-style steak salad.

The sliced steak is tossed with a lime soy oil. Then, the steak is mixed with shaved carrots, romaine lettuce, and fresh mint for a scrumptious and filling salad. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Thai-Style Steak Salad
From Everyday Food magazine

Ingredients

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 boneless rib-eye steaks (each 8 ounces and 3/4 inch thick)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 pound carrots (3 to 4 medium)
1 medium head romaine lettuce, cut crosswise into 1-inch ribbons
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1 cup fresh bean sprouts (optional)
1/3 cup salted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Make marinade: in a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, red-pepper flakes, and oil.
Season steaks generously with salt and pepper; place in a baking dish. Pour 1/4 of marinade over steaks (reserve remaining marinade); turn steaks to coat. Let steaks marinate up to 30 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook steaks on medium-high heat, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare.
Transfer to a cutting board; tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest, 5 to 10 minutes. Slice steaks across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices; halve slices crosswise.
Transfer to a large bowl, and toss with reserved marinade.
With a vegetable peeler, cut carrots into long ribbons. Add to steak in bowl, along with lettuce and mint; toss to combine.
Divide salad among four shallow bowls. Sprinkle with bean sprouts and peanuts, if desired.

Serves 4.

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Camping Gone Gourmet Side: Grilled Lettuce

partysugar — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:31:58 -0700

The next time you're camping, serve grilled lettuce instead of a predictable side salad. Grilled lettuce makes for an excellent twist on a salad and it's deliciously crisp. Make the blue cheese dressing and bacon crumbles before you leave for the campground and pack both in your cooler with the lettuce. Grill the lettuce like you would any other veggie and pair with sliced tri-tip or barbecued chicken. It's the perfect camping gone gourmet side, so check out the recipe read more

Grilled Lettuce With Blue Cheese Dressing
From Fine Cooking magazine
Image Source

For the dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whole milk; more as needed
6 oz. crumbled blue cheese, such as Roquefort or Danish Blue; more to taste
1-1/2 Tbs. finely grated shallot
1 clove finely grated garlic
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; more to taste
For the salad:
2 hearts of romaine lettuce, bases trimmed but left intact, halved lengthwise
Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 slices smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled (preferably applewood)

Make the dressing: in a medium bowl, stir the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, blue cheese, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to let the flavors develop. Before using, taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. The dressing will thicken as it sits and may need to be thinned with more milk.
Prepare the salad: once the dressing is chilled, heat a gas grill to medium low or prepare a medium-low charcoal fire. Be sure the grate is hot, too.
Lightly brush olive oil all over the romaine hearts, taking care not to break the leaves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Put the lettuce cut side down on the grate, directly over the heat. Grill until the outer leaves are charred and wilted and the lettuce is warm and just barely tender all the way through to the core, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the heat of your grill.
Transfer the lettuce to a clean platter and let rest for 5 minutes.
To serve: place half a heart of romaine, cut side up, on each plate, top with about 2 tablespoons of the blue cheese dressing, or more to taste, and sprinkle with the crumbled bacon. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Steak Salad

YumSugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 07:58:32 -0700

I'm a really big fan of salads, in fact I once went through this 9-month phase where I ate one everyday. There's something about them that is just nice and refreshing, and even though they usually consist of veggies only, they're often quite filling. However sometimes you just need something more than veggies. When that time comes along, I love to top my salads with some leftover chicken or steak. If you have any of yesterday's Shiraz-Soy Tri-Tip left, I suggest you give this recipe for steak salad a try. To check out the recipe, read more

Steak Salad
From Giada De Laurentiis

1/2 head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces
1 large head Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
3 cups fresh baby arugula
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 ounces Gorgonzola, coarsely crumbled
Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound steak (such as New York, rib-eye or filet mignon), pan-fried or grilled and chilled

In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, Belgian endive, red onion, baby arugula and cherry tomatoes, and half of the cheese. Toss the salad with enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the salad on a platter.

Cut the steaks crosswise into thin slices. Arrange the steak slices atop the salad and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the steak slices and serve.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil.

Yield: 1 2/3 cups

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