Grilled Flank Steak And Mushrooms With Compound Butter

Grilled Flank Steak And Mushrooms 

With Compound Brown ButterBrowning butter before turning it into a compound butter gives it a nutty sweetness that flatters both grilled steak and mushrooms. The recipe will make more butter than you need, but it freezes well and is excellent on everything from steamed cod to boiled lobster to baked potatoes. Grilled flat beans or green beans make a great side for this dish.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb (225 g) unsalted butter
2 small cloves garlic, grated on a rasp, divided
1/2 tsp (2 mL) fine sea salt, plus more for seasoning
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely grated lemon zest
1 tsp (5 mL) finely chopped thyme
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped parsley
2 tsp (10 mL) fresh lemon juice
1 lb (455 g) flank steak
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 lb (455 g) small cremini or button mushrooms
Lemon wedges for serving (optional)

Directions
In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat, stirring often, until beginning to foam. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter smells sweet and nutty, and turns golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately pour butter into a large heatproof bowl.

Stir 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt, lemon zest, thyme and parsley into hot butter. Cool butter until it’s mostly solidified again—if your kitchen is warm, you might have to pop it in the fridge. Break up butter and beat with a hand mixer until whipped and emulsified.

Remove 1/3 cup (80 mL) butter for mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Scrape remaining butter onto a piece of parchment paper. Form into a small log and wrap well, twisting ends to seal. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 1 week. (It will also keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.)

In a small bowl, mix remaining garlic and lemon juice, and rub all over steak. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside at room temperature while preparing rest of dish.

Preheat grill to high, about 500°F (260°C).

Melt 1/3 cup (80 mL) reserved compound butter. Place in bowl with mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Thread evenly on 8 small metal or soaked wooden skewers.

Grill steak, with lid closed, until nicely seared, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, flipping once, until it’s done to your liking, about 2 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and place 2 to 3 slices of cold compound butter overtop. Tent
with foil and rest for 10 minutes.

While steak is resting, reduce heat on grill to medium-high, about 400°F (204°C).

Grill mushrooms, covered and turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter.

Slice steak against grain and transfer to serving platter with lemon wedges, if desired.   Serves 4

Roasted Leek And White Bean Soup

Roasted Leek And White Bean Soup

Friend of The Bean and Rancho Gordo pal, Arnab Chaladar, helps us out with Indian-inspired bean dishes, but here he goes for something simple and classic, perfect for soup season. 

Ingredients
2 cups cooked flageolet beans (beans cooked simply with a lot of water  A couple of small parmesan rinds and drained; bean broth reserved)
6 cups bean broth (from cooking the beans) or vegetable stock
The white (and light green) portions from four plump leeks cut into chunks. 4-5 chunks per leek. Reserve the greens proper for another use.
8-10 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil

Directions:
While the beans are cooking, place the leek portions in a small oven-proof dish with the garlic nestled inside/between them. Drizzle generously with olive oil, add salt and pepper and roast uncovered in a 400º oven till softened and lightly caramelized.

Puree the roasted leeks and garlic and keep aside.

Add the drained flageolets and 6 cups of the bean broth or vegetable stock to your soup pot and raise to a high simmer.

Mix in the leek-garlic puree and the fish sauce and simmer for another 5-7 minutes.

Adjust salt and pepper, drizzle olive oil over and serve with crusty bread.

Notes                                                                                                     For a variation, keep one roasted leek aside, chop it fine and use to garnish the soup.

For another creamier variation, puree 1/2 cup of the beans with the roasted leeks and garlic.

For a vegan version use veg stock instead of parmesan rinds and tamari instead of fish sauce

Vegan Green Curry With Tofu And Cashews

Vegan Green Curry With Tofu and Cashews

Fragrant and comforting, this verdant Thai-style curry requires a fair bit of advanced prep, but it comes together in minutes. Thai Kitchen brand curry paste is specified as it’s relatively mild and easy to find. Keep in mind that other brands may contain fish sauce and vary in heat level, so adjust accordingly.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp (15 mL) raw coconut oil
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp (30 mL) Thai Kitchen green curry paste
1 1/#2 cups (375 mL) vegetable stock
1 (400 mL) can full-fat coconut milk
1 tbsp (15 mL) soy sauce
1 tsp (5 mL) packed light brown sugar
Salt to taste
3 cups (750 mL) broccoli florets
1 medium zucchini, about 8 oz (225 g), trimmed, halved lengthwise and sliced on bias 1/3 inch (8 mm) thick
6 oz (170 g) green beans, trimmed and halved
1 (1-lb) block extra-firm tofu, drained, dried and cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes
1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed cilantro leaves
2 tsp (10 mL) lime juice
1 lime, washed
Roasted cashews and basil leaves for garnish
Steamed jasmine rice for serving

Directions:
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Add garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add curry paste. Cook for 30 seconds. Add vegetable stock, coconut milk, soy sauce, sugar and salt. Raise heat to high. When it comes to a ­boil, add broccoli, zucchini, beans and tofu. When it returns to a boil, partially cover and reduce heat to maintain a brisk simmer. Cook, gently stirring twice, until vegetables are al dente, about 4 ­minutes. Remove from heat.

Place cilantro in a food processor or mini food chopper. Pulse until finely chopped. Add 1 cup (250 mL) of hot cooking liquid. Run machine until cilantro is very finely chopped and liquid is light green. Return mixture to curry and gently stir in along with lime juice. Taste for salt.

Using a rasp, lightly grate a little lime zest overtop. Sprinkle with cashews and basil. Serve with steamed rice.
Serves 4