Balsamic French Onion Smothered Steak Food

ONION GRAVY SMOTHERED STEAK (EASY 30-MINUTE!)

Steps:

• Place half of the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent, then add 1/2 cup beef broth and the vinegar.
• Continue cooking for about 10 minutes until onions absorb all liquid.
• Meanwhile, season the steaks with salt, pepper and optional herbs de Provence.
• Remove onions from skillet and add remaining oil and butter.
• Cook steaks for 4 minutes per side, until well browned. Add the onions back to the pan.
• Stir cornstarch (arrowroot powder or 1/4 cup heavy cream) into remaining broth and add to pan.
• Continue cooking until the liquid is reduced by half and turns into a thick gravy.
• Add one slice of mozzarella cheese (or 1/4 cup shredded) to each steak. (If it doesn't melt easily, place a lid on the skillet to assist.)

SMOTHERED STEAK

Steps:

• Pound the steak with a meat pounder to soften.
• Dredge meat in flour, salt and pepper.
• Brown in a skillet on both sides in hot oil or butter or both.
• Lower the heat and braise on very low heat until meat is fork tender (approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour) Remove meat from pan and set aside.
• Add more water to skillet, if necessary, and adjust seasonings (flour, salt and pepper) Stir constantly on low heat to make a rich, brown gravy.
• Place the meat into the gravy mixture and heat through.
• Serve on a meat platter.

BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut the onions in half and slice 1/4 inch thick. Place on a baking sheet and toss with 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the onions are tender. Remove from the oven, toss with 2 more tablespoons balsamic vinegar.

SLICED SIRLOIN SMOTHERED IN ONIONS, WITH ROQUEFORT POTATO PIE AND SPINACH SALAD WITH BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan to high heat. Remove meat from the refrigerator and unwrap. Let beef stand a few minutes, to take the chill off.
• Heat a medium skillet over moderate heat. Add butter and sliced onions to a hot pan and season with salt. Saute onions for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramel in color, tender, and sweet.
• Meanwhile, place peppercorns in a heavy-duty food storage bag. Hit peppercorns with a small, heavy frying pan to crack them. Baste meat with a little Worcestershire sauce on each side using a pastry brush. Coat steaks on 1 side with cracked black peppercorns. Grill steaks 5 minutes on each side for medium rare.
• Meanwhile, heat leftover mashed potatoes on high in microwave oven for 5 minutes. If you are using instant potatoes, prepare to package directions and transfer warm potatoes to a mixing bowl. Stir cheese and scallions into the mashed potatoes. Heat a nonstick skillet over moderate heat. Coat the inside of pan with butter to aid in crusting. Spread cheesy potatoes in an even layer in the skillet and allow them to crust and brown on the bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Cut the potato layer in half gently with a butter knife, careful not to scratch your nonstick surface. Fold one half over top of the opposite making a half moon shaped potato pie with a crusty outside and a cheesy, soft center.
• While steaks and potatoes cook, brown chopped bacon in the small frying pan you used to crack the peppercorns over high heat. Transfer browned bacon bits to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Wipe out skillet and return to heat. Add 1 /2 cup balsamic vinegar to the pan and bring to a bubble. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 to 2 minutes, until vinegar is reduced by half and thick. Turn off heat. Pour spinach into salad bowl. Top with bacon and mushrooms. Whisk extra-virgin olive oil into warm vinegar and pour over salad. Toss salad and serve.
• Season the cooked steaks with a little salt and remove to a carving board. Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes for the juices to redistribute through the meat evenly. If you slice into a hot steak, the juices will run out and the first bite will be the only tasty one.
• Slice steaks thin against the grain of the meat. Smother steak slices in onions. Cut potato pie into 4 wedges and serve along side steaks with spinach salad.

SMOTHERED STEAK DEEPLY SOUTHERN

Steps:

• In small bowl mix 4 seasonings.
• Place flour in a flat surfaced dish (save unused flour for smothering).
• Sprinkle front and back side of each steak piece and rub deep into groves of steak.
• Heat oil to medium high in skillet (cast iron is best).
• Dredge each piece in flour, press in with finger tips. Re-dredge in flour again and place carefully in hot oil for 1 minute and then turn back heat to medium.
• Fry steak 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove, drain on a separate plate.
• Remove all but 2-3 Tbs of oil, over medium high heat, sprinkle with 3 Tbs flour, whisking until well mixed and roux browns.
• Add water, bouillon cube and remaining seasoning. Mix until gravy begins to thicken slightly. Test taste for spice as this is the time to adjust (salt or water).
• Replace steak back in gravy and spread onion rings over the tops.
• Cover and simmer 30-40 minutes.

PAN SEARED STEAKS WITH BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions & salt and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out skillet with paper towels.
• Add remaining oil to skillet & adjust flame to medium high.
• Pat steaks dry & add to oil. Leave them alone for for 4-5 minutes then flip & cook other side 3-4 minutes. Remove & wrap tightly in foil.
• Discard any remaining fat in skillet, return onions to pan & reduce temp to medium. Add garlic & cook 30 seconds.
• Add 1/2 cup vinegar, rosemary and brown sugar and cook, scraping up browned bits, until thick & syrupy, about 2 minutes.
• Unwrap steak & pour any accumulated juices in skillet along with remaining vinegar. Salt & pepper to taste.
• Slice steaks crosswise in 1/4 slices & serve topped with onions & sauce.

STEAK WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet melt butter over medium-low heat.
• Add onions and garlic.
• Cook, covered, for 13-15 minutes or until onions are tender.
• Add brown sugar and salt.
• Cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat 4-5 minutes or until onions are golden brown, stirring constantly.
• Meanwhile, cut meat into 4 serving-size pieces.
• Sprinkle pepper on both sides of each meat piece.
• Place on the unheated rack of a boiler pan.
• Broil 3 inches from the heat to desired doneness, turning once.
• (Allow 10-12 minutes for medium rare.) Stir vinegar into onions.
• Spoon onion mixture over steak.
• Sprinkle with parsley.

FETTUCINI WITH FRENCH ONION SOUP SAUCE

Steps:

• saute ham until warm with cayenne pepper and about a table spoon of the soup mix.
• add sour cream, milk, and the rest of the soup mix.
• when bubbling (not boiling, burnt milk will be gross) add the noodles and remove from heat.
• add salt, pepper, and parmigan cheese.
• optional: if you really like onion some chopped green onion on top will add color for the presentation but remember there is already onion in the soup mix.