Braised Cube Steaks With Orange Food

BRAISED CUBE STEAKS WITH ORANGE

Steps:

• Pat steaks dry between paper towels and season with salt and pepper. In a heavy skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown steaks. Transfer steaks with tongs to a plate and in drippings remaining in skillet cook onion over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Stir in zest and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, soy sauce, and steaks and simmer, uncovered, until steaks are tender, about 5 minutes.

GRANDPA'S BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil. Add the onions, and garlic to the hot oil and sweat them until very soft and very light caramel in color, 20 to 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the pan. Pat the meat dry and season very liberally with salt and pepper. Brown the meat to a deep brown all over, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Peel the potatoes and very thinly slice them lengthwise into planks. Slice the tomatoes working over a bowl to catch their juices.
• Arrange 1/2 the onions over top of the meat, season with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon thyme. Arrange 1/2 the potatoes over the onions and dress the potatoes with a liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon, salt, pepper, rosemary, and a handful freshly grated cheese. Top the potatoes with 1/2 the tomatoes and their juices, and season with salt and pepper. Scatter a few leaves of torn basil. Repeat the layers. Do not add basil to the top layer of tomatoes.
• Cover the pan and roast the meat in the oven until very tender, 4 hours. Cool and store for make-ahead meal.
• To reheat: Reheat, covered, in a preheated 325 degree F oven until warmed through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take off the lid of the pot, drizzle the top of the meat with oil, sprinkle with cheese, and broil to lightly crust the top. Cut down through the layers of the potatoes, tomatoes, and onions to portion the meat, serve in shallow bowls with crusty bread and pan juices.

STEAK WITH BEER-BRAISED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 6 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, then add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the thyme sprigs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook until the onion is lightly browned, about 5 more minutes. Add the beer, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until reduced by three-quarters, about 15 minutes. Increase the heat to high, pour in the beef broth and simmer until thickened, about 2 more minutes; season with salt and pepper. Discard the thyme.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs, adding the peas in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and return to the saucepan. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter and season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
• Season the steaks with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the steaks until lightly browned and just cooked through, about 1 minute per side. Serve with the noodles; top with the braised onions and parsley.

BRAISED CUBE STEAK

Steps:

• Heat oil in large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and pepper.
• Put 1/2 cup flour on a plate, and coat each piece of meat. Shake off excess flour and add steak to pan, working in batches. Cook about 3 or 4 minutes per side, or until browned, and remove to a platter.
• Add onions to skillet and cook about 3 minutes or until wilted. Stir to help loosen browned bits from bottom of pan. Lower heat, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour. Stir constantly, cooking for about 4 minutes.
• Gradually add water or stock, continuing to stir to keep lumps at bay. Bring mixture to a boil, then turn heat to low and add steaks to pan. Simmer, partly covered, for 45 minutes. Remove to a platter and taste pan sauce, correcting for seasoning.

BEER BRAISED BEEF STEAKS

Steps:

• Chop onion and garlic and set aside.
• Pound steaks with meat mallet.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Dredge in flour, and set aside.
• In a non stick pan, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Fry steaks in oil just until brown.
• (If the pan gets dry add a little more oil.) Remove steaks from pan.
• While pan is still hot, add remaining 2 tables spoons of oil.
• Add chopped onion and let cook 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and let sauté for 2 minutes.
• Add beer.
• Dissolve bouillon cube in beer.
• Once the cube is dissolved, add steaks back to pan.
• Let everything slowly simmer for about 30 minutes or until braising liquid has thickened up.
• If sauce needs to be seasoned, season it after it has thickened.

CUBE STEAK WITH CUBAN LIME MOJO

Steps:

• Smash and peel garlic and place in a mortar; sprinkle with salt and let sit for 5 minutes to soften the garlic.
• Use the pestle to form the garlic and salt to a paste; in a small bowl, combine the garlic paste, oregano, cumin, pepper, lime juice and orange juice.
• Place the steaks in a single layer in a baking dish; pour the marinade over and let sit about 20 minutes.
• Heat a skillet over high heat, add oil, and cook the onions and peppers, while stirring, until softened, anout 2 minutes; remove to a bowl.
• Place steaks into the skillet and cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
• You will probably have to do this in two batches.
• Return the onions and peppers, along with the steaks, to the skillet, cover, and cook another minute.
• Place steaks on a serving plate covered with the onions and peppers.
• If desired, you can cook the marinade for a couple of minutes and spoon that over the steaks.

STOUT-BRAISED STEAK WITH STACKED CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Season the steaks well on all sides, then heat a frying pan with 2 tsp of the oil. Brown the steaks well on all sides, then transfer to a snug casserole or narrow, deep baking dish.
• Tip the Guinness into the frying pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up any stuck meaty bits. Pour over the steaks along with the stock cube, Worcestershire sauce, brown sauce, bay and skin-on halved shallots (leave the skins on to save time - they are removed from the sauce later). Cover the dish tightly with foil first, then add the lid (or a flat baking tray). Bake in the oven for 3 hrs until the meat is meltingly tender. Can be done up to 1 day in advance, then cooled and chilled.
• For the chips, 1 hr before serving, turn up oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil while you cut the potatoes into as many 3cm fat chips (save the trimmings in a bowl of water and use for mash another night). Par-boil for 3 mins, then drain and let steam-dry for a few mins. Tip onto a baking tray, toss with the polenta or flour and some sea salt, then drizzle over the oil and toss again. Roast for 45 mins until really crisp and golden.
• When the chips have 20 mins left, lift your steaks from their cooking liquid and use a few sheets of baking parchment to wrap them in a parcel, followed by foil. Put on a low shelf in the oven to heat through for 20 mins. Meanwhile, strain the cooking liquid into a pan, discarding the herbs and shallots. Boil fiercely until reduced by three-quarters. Taste for seasoning, then keep warm.
• Whisk the chopped shallot, horseradish, remaining 2 tsp oil, vinegar and 1 tsp water with some seasoning, then use to dress the watercress.
• To serve, carefully open the meat parcel over your saucepan to catch any juices, and add your beef to the sauce to coat. Stack your chips between 2 plates and add a pile of dressed watercress. Lift a steak onto each plate and spoon over the syrupy juices. Any extra can be served in a jug on the side.