Confit Olive Oil Steak Food

PAN-SEARED RIB-EYE WITH FRENCH ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• For the onion confit: Heat a large enameled cast-iron pot over medium heat. Add the butter; when it begins to foam, add the red onions, marjoram, thyme, bay leaves and sugar, and sprinkle liberally with salt. When the onions begin to caramelize, add the red wine and balsamic vinegar and reduce to dry. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add 1 cup of the beef stock; cook until reduced to a glaze. Repeat until all the beef stock has been used. Turn off the heat and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• For the rib-eye: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat; add the oil. Pat the steak dry with paper towels, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. When the oil is just below smoking, place the steak into the pan. Once a nice sear has developed, flip the steak and add the butter, thyme and garlic. If the garlic or steak begins to burn, reduce the heat. Cook, basting the steak with the bubbling butter, until an internal temperature of 125 degrees F has been reached for medium-rare. Remove the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 7 to 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with the French onion confit.
• Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with room temperature water and season liberally with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender. Drain the potatoes, saving 1/2 cup of the cooking water for thinning out if needed.
• Pass the potatoes through a food mill into a large bowl. Add the butter and heavy cream, and fold together with a spatula until combined. Fold in the shredded cheese. If the potatoes get too thick, thin them out with a little of the cooking water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with chives and a drizzle of olive oil.

OLIVE STUFFED FLANK STEAK WITH CHERRY TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Steak: (A step ahead: Make the olive stuffing a day or two ahead and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. Stuff and tie the steaks early in the day and store them, covered, in the refrigerator. Bring the steaks to room temperature about 1/2 hour before cooking) To make the stuffing: Heat the 2 tablespoons oil in a saute pan over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook until soft and caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, a few minutes more.
• Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl.
• Stir in the olives, herbs, pine nuts and currants.
• Set aside to cool.
• To prepare the flank steaks for stuffing: Place one of the steaks on a work surface, cover it loosely with a piece of plastic wrap, and use a meat pounder to pound the steak until about 1/3 inch thick.
• The surface area of the steak should increase by only about 25 percent.
• Then, use your knife to score the steak in a crisscross pattern, making 3 or 4 shallow cuts in each direction, not cutting all the way through.
• Turn the steak over to the unscored side and spread half the stuffing evenly over the surface of the steak, then roll it up the long way, like a jelly roll.
• Using kitchen twine, tightly tie the steak in 5 or 6 places to keep it securely rolled up.
• Season the outside of the steak with salt and pepper.
• Repeat with the other steak and the other half of the stuffing.
• To pan-sear and roast the steaks, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a roasting pan and place the pan over two burners over medium-high heat.
• When the oil is hot, put the steaks in the pan and sear them well on all sides, turning with tongs, until nicely browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the steaks to a plate.
• Discard any fat in the pan and scrape out any burned bits that may have escaped from the stuffing.
• Put the steaks back in the roasting pan, put the pan in the oven, and roast, uncovered, for 7 to 8 minutes.
• Turn the steaks over and continue to roast until the internal temperature of the steaks reads between 120 degrees and 130 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, after 7 to 8 minutes more.
• Remove the pan from the oven and allow the steaks to rest for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Cut and remove the kitchen string, transfer the steaks to a cutting board, and use a sharp knife to cut them into slices 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
• Arrange the slices on a platter and pour any pan juices that have collected over the top.
• Serve the steak with the cherry tomato confit.
• CONFIT: (A step ahead: Make the confit up to 5 days ahead and store, with the oil, covered and refrigerated. The flavor improves significantly after 1 day. When you are ready to serve the confit, bring it back to room temperature, drain off the oil, and season as ) Preheat the oven to 225 degrees.
• Put the tomatoes in a baking pan large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Pour the oil over the tomatoes, add the herb sprigs and garlic cloves, and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Roast, uncovered, until the tomatoes are swollen and the skins are wrinkled, about 3 hours.
• Remove the tomatoes from the oven, allow to cool, then pour into a small bowl.
• For the best flavor, cover and refrigerate overnight, bringing the confit back to room temperature when you are ready to serve.
• When you are prepared to serve, pour the tomatoes into a strainer set over a bowl, reserving both the tomatoes and the oil.
• Place the drained tomatoes in a small bowl, discarding the herb sprigs and garlic cloves.
• Add the vinegar, chopped thyme, and 1 tablespoon of the reserved oil (reserving the rest for another use).
• Mix gently, being careful not to break up the tomatoes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

PESTO STEAK CONFIT

Steps:

• Combine basil, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Rub salt over steaks. Spread some pesto evenly on both steaks and place into an oven-safe glass dish. Pour oil into the dish, ensuring there is enough oil to submerge the steaks.
• Cook steaks in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Drain steaks and blot off excess oil.
• Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear steaks in the hot oil on both sides and the edges for 30 to 45 seconds.