Main Challenge Skirt Steak Tostada With Black Beans And Mango Salsa Food

SALSA-MARINATED SKIRT STEAK SOFT TACOS WITH REFRIED WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• MARINATE THE STEAK: Combine 1 cup of the salsa, the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the oil, the Worcestershire, and lime juice in a resealable plastic bag and add the steak. Shake to evenly disperse and marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• SET UP: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and keep warm in the oven.
• SEAR THE STEAKS: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the steaks from the bag, allowing the large salsa bits and extra marinade to drip off, and pat with paper towels to dry slightly. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a couple turns of pepper. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil into the skillet and cook the steaks on one side until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until charred and medium-rare, about 3 more minutes. Let rest on a cutting board before slicing.
• MASH THE BEANS: Add the beans with their liquid to the same skillet and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
• ASSEMBLE THE TACOS: Slice the steak against the grain into 2- to 3-inch-long pieces. Spread the center of each tortilla with 1 tablespoon of the beans. Arrange a few slices of steak on top of each with some of the remaining salsa and some cilantro. Serve the extra beans on the side.

KHICHDI

Steps:

• Soak the lentils and rice together in water in a medium bowl for 30 minutes; drain and rinse well.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and stir until they just start to fizzle, about 1 minute. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the turmeric, tomato, jalapeno and ginger. Cook, stirring, until the tomato softens, about 1 minute. Add the lentils, rice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the lentils have broken down completely, about 15 minutes. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter and season with salt. Stir in the cilantro.

BLACK BEAN AND MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Put the beans into a large bowl and add the diced mango, red onion, roasted tomatoes, grated ginger root, cilantro, lime zest, orange zest and juices and drizzle with the oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Lightly toss, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.;
• Preheat broiler on low. Quarter the tomatoes and place them on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and fresh black pepper, to taste. Place in oven and broil for about 5 to 7 minutes until slightly golden brown and softened. Cool.;

SOY-MARINATED FLANK STEAKS

Steps:

• Poke the steak all over with the tines of a fork; cut in half, against the grain, to make 2 steaks (1steak may be slightly thicker). In a non-reactive bowl or large re-sealable plastic bag, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire, vinegar, oil, garlic, sugar, and pepper, to taste. Add the steak, and turn to coat. Cover or reseal the bag and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour or refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
• Remove the steak from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels.
• Position the rack in the top position in the oven and preheat the broiler. Remove the steaks from the marinade and pat dry. Cook the steaks, for 5 to 8 minutes on each side for rare to medium-rare. Set aside on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
• Cut the steak against the grain, on an angle, into very thin slices. Arrange the slices on a warmed platter or plates. Serve.

SALSA ROSA TOSSED WITH SPAGHETTINI TOPPED WITH GRILLED FLANK STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat peppers with olive oil and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Salt liberally. Bake in the oven, turning every 10 minutes until peppers are blistered and black, about 20 to 30 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a hot saute pan. Add the serrano chiles and the garlic. Lower the heat to moderate, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chiles are softened, lightly browned, and blistered on all sides. Remove the pan from the heat and let the chiles cool in the oil for several minutes
• When the roasted bell peppers are blistered and blackened, removed them from the oven, place in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. This will steam the skins off and make them easier to remove. After 15 to 20 minutes, remove the peppers and peel. Remove the seeds, stems and ribs. Do not run under water - this will just wash the flavor off! You should have about 4 cups.
• Note: You can roast the peppers under the broiler or over a gas flame, if you prefer, but I like to do them in a hot oven. It takes a little longer, but you don't have to monitor them as closely.
• Chop the garlic finely, then use the side of your knife to mash them to a paste - a pinch of grey salt will help this process. Mashing insures that the garlic add just an undercurrent of flavor, with no big pieces to bite into. Add to the blender.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the chiles and remove the stems and seeds (or leave some or all of the seeds if you prefer a spicy sauce). Then add the tomato puree and the oregano (no need to chop the oregano because it's going to be blended in). Add to the blender the olive oil used to roast the chilis and garlic. Turn the blender on high until everything is smooth and thick.
• Turn a medium saute pan on high for 30 seconds with about 1/4 cup of olive oil. Stand back as you pour the blender mixture into the pan. Be careful, it can splatter. This second heating brings the flavors together. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and the red wine vinegar. The vinegar gives it a little sharpness and protects it in the refrigerator for about a week.
• Ladle it into canning jars and store in the refrigerator for a week. It can be frozen for 5 months.
• Preheat a grill to high. Season the steak with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Grill the steak to medium-rare, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes.
• To a large pot of boiling, salted water, add the spaghettini and cook to al dente. Drain and toss with the salsa rossa.
• Slice the flank steak thinly against the grain and place on top of the pasta.

FLANK STEAK WITH SAUTEED EDAMAME AND WASABI-MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add 3 cups Arborio rice. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Allow rice to cool and reserve it for meals later in the week.
• While rice is cooking, coat a large stove-top grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat. Season both sides of flank steak with salt, black pepper and mesquite seasoning. Place flank steak on hot grill along with the red pepper rounds. Cook the steak 3 to 5 minutes per side, until almost cooked through but still slightly pink. Cook the red peppers until slightly charred. Remove and set aside. Remove steak from grill pan and let rest 10 minutes before slicing crosswise on a diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices.
• Meanwhile, heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute. Add edamame and soy sauce and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, oil, mustard, and wasabi paste.
• Arrange flank steak slices and red pepper rounds on a serving platter. Top with half of the sauteed edamame (reserve remaining edamame for Edamame-Rice Salad with Teriyaki Tuna). Spoon wasabi dressing over edamame and steak. Serve with 2 cups of the rice. Reserve remaining rice for Asparagus-Wild Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan and Edamame-Rice Salad with Teriyaki Tuna.

SKILLET PASTA WITH HAM AND PEAS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the leeks are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ham and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until moistened, 1 minute. Add the half-and-half and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup fontina until melted.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the peas in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and peas.
• Add the pasta and peas to the skillet and toss to coat, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen; season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining 1 cup fontina and the parmesan. Broil until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.