The Easiest Dinner Menu That Will Nonetheless Blow Your Date Away
BY PAULA FORBES
Good day, lovers. Now that you simply’ve mastered the essential guidelines for date-night cooking, it’s time to place these abilities to make use of on the final word romantic menu: steak for 2. You shouldn’t be daunted by steak. Steakhouses have fancy eating rooms and fancy wine lists and fancy menu costs, however cooking meat for your loved one is about as primal as you will get. If it obtained the early people laid, who’s to say it received’t be just right for you?
When you’ve efficiently cooked your hunk of meat, all it’s a must to do is put one thing good subsequent to it and also you’ve obtained a meal. Need to hold issues mild? Make a salad. Need to go all out? Mash the hell out of some potatoes. It’s all fairly easy. So get away the sharp knives and take the batteries out of the smoke alarm: It’s time to get your steak on.
First issues first: You want some meat. Except you realize considered one of you likes it burnt and considered one of you likes it bloody, get a giant steak to separate. It’s extra romantic that approach, and extra enjoyable. One thing within the 18-ounce vary if it has a bone; 14 ounces if not. Don’t sweat the reduce an excessive amount of: Rib eyes are in all probability your finest guess, however something that’s about an inch thick and properly marbled with fats will do the trick. Go to an excellent butcher, since they may have extra choices so that you can select from. (This isn’t the time to get the cling-wrapped stuff in a styrofoam container.) Spring for an aged steak in the event you like—it’ll have an excellent beefy, virtually blue cheese-y funk to it—but when not, purchase one of the best you’ll be able to afford and transfer on.
When you get it dwelling, put that hunk of meat within the fridge till about an hour earlier than you’re going to cook dinner it—you need it to return as much as room temperature.
Add Some Sides
You will have a potato, almost definitely. Mashed potatoes will do the trick in the event you’re into them, or if you would like one thing ultra-easy, go for baked potatoes. (Gussy them up with crumbled bacon and bitter cream and chopped herbs after they’re achieved.) If you happen to belief your cooking abilities, go forward and make a traditional (learn: fancy) potato like Potatoes Anna or a gratin.
You additionally want a vegetable. Ideally one thing inexperienced. If you happen to’re feeling spunky, swing by the farmers’ market and take a look at what’s in season. Proper now, you may strive snap peas or asparagus, shortly cooked in well-salted boiling water for a minute after which tossed with a little bit of butter, salt, and pepper. Or make a easy salad: Purchase essentially the most stunning lettuce you could find and toss it with a little bit of oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper earlier than serving. Increase, achieved.
Get Some Wine
Purple wine. The precise pink wine is your name, but it surely must be pink, and once more one of the best you’ll be able to afford. That is date evening: You’re seeking to impress. In case you have no concept what you’re doing, go to an excellent wine store and ask for assist. Put a little bit of a chill on the wine, however don’t get it completely chilly: Put it within the fridge about 20 minutes earlier than your date exhibits up. Serve it in wine glasses if in any respect doable, however quick glass tumblers will do in a pinch.
Get a Pan Actually, Actually, Actually Sizzling
Ideally, you must use a cast-iron pan. If you happen to don’t have one, use essentially the most heavy-duty pan you personal that can match the large steak. Whereas the pan is heating up, season the steak with salt and pepper generously on either side. When the pan is absolutely ridiculously scorching—virtually smoking—open the closest window to the range and add a graceful of vegetable oil to the pan. Add the steak. It’ll smoke and spit like loopy. (Aren’t you glad you opened a window?) That is, maybe, the one disadvantage to creating steak for date evening, however additionally it is dramatic and thrilling, so possibly it will depend on what sort of individual your date is.
Sear, Child, Sear
Go away the steak to cook dinner on one aspect for a couple of minutes, then flip. You’re searching for that good brown sear to type on either side, and when you’ve obtained that, you solely wish to cook dinner it to only the way you prefer it. There are all types of the way to check how achieved a steak is, however typically, discover the a part of the steak that’s farthest from the sting or a bone and poke it along with your finger. You need it to be harder than it was when it was uncooked, however nonetheless have an excellent quantity of give. In case you have a meat thermometer, 130°F will get you a medium-rare steak, whereas 150 will get you a extra well-done however nonetheless rosy steak.
Dinner Is Served
Your steak will want a while to relaxation when it’s completed. Set it on a plate with a chunk of butter on high, and end your sides. (Additionally, pour some wine to your date who simply obtained smoked out by the steak scenario. Make a bit joke about it. It’s high quality.) As soon as it’s rested, slice it into skinny strips. If you happen to actually wish to get fancy, dot it with a sauce like chimichurri or Béarnaise. However truthfully? The steak, a glass of wine, and your smile ought to do the trick. Now go get ’em.
