Sexy Surf And Turf Food

SURF AND TURF FOR TWO

Steps:

• Make the herb oil: Pulse the parsley, chives and olive oil in a mini food processor until smooth. Thin with water, if necessary, and add 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl, cover and set aside. (This can be done up to 2 hours ahead.)
• Prepare the surf and turf: Toss the shrimp, olive oil, lemon juice, chopped thyme, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Wrap each shrimp with a piece of pancetta. Preheat the broiler. Arrange the shrimp on a foil-lined broiler pan. Season the beef with sea salt and pepper, press the thyme sprigs into the meat and set aside. Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus. Put the asparagus in a microwave-safe dish with 1/4 cup water and a pinch of sea salt. Heat a medium ovenproof skillet over high heat and add the butter. When the foam subsides, sear the beef until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, hold the meat and brown the sides. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and cook until a thermometer inserted into the beef registers 125 degrees F for medium rare, about 4 more minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to rest while you cook the shrimp.
• Broil the shrimp until the pancetta is crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Meanwhile, microwave the asparagus until tender, about 2 minutes. Slice the beef into 4 pieces. Serve with the shrimp, herb oil and asparagus.

SPICY SURF-AND-TURF

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle the chicken, flank steak and shrimp with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Grill the flank steak to the desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium. Add it to the platter with the chicken.
• Grill the shrimp until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
• Grill the scallions until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic and onions. Cook until the onions are golden, about 8 minutes. Add the oregano, cumin, bouillon, sugar and chiles. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the chiles are soft, 2 minutes. Let the mixture cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add 1 cup water and blend until smooth. Strain the sauce into a medium bowl.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Return the sauce to the pan and simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place 2 molcajetes (see Cook's Note) in the oven and heat them for 10 minutes (or use 2 small to medium cast-iron skillets). Using oven mitts, remove them from the oven and carefully transfer them to a heatproof surface (be careful, as the molcajetes get extremely hot).
• Bring the sauce to a boil. Cut the chicken and flank steak into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Arrange the chicken and steak strips, shrimp, scallions and cheese slices around the edges of the heated molcajetes. Pour the boiling sauce into the center. Serve very hot, with tortillas to make tacos.

SURF AND TURF SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat tabletop grill, grill pan, or outdoor grill to high.
• Combine first 10 ingredients in a shallow dish. Coat flank steak in mixture and reserve 10 to 15 minutes.
• Trim ends and 1 inch of tops off of the scallions. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over both the scallions and the shrimp and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Grill scallions and shrimp 2 minutes on each side. Then remove and reserve.
• Place meat on grill pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove meat and let juices settle, about 5 minutes.
• Combine greens and onions and parsley leaves on a large platter or individual plates. Cut scallions into 1-inch pieces, scatter over greens, and then evenly distribute the grilled shrimp over the greens.
• Mix the lemon juice, tomato paste, and Worcestershire in a small bowl and whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Season the dressing with salt and pepper and drizzle it back and forth over the arranged greens and scallions and shrimp. Slice the steak very thinly against the grain on an angle with a sharp knife and arrange it over the salad.

SEXY SURF AND TURF

Steps:

• Drizzle some EVOO over the steaks to coat them lightly. Get a nonstick skillet screaming hot and add the meat. Cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, 4 for medium to medium well. Transfer the steaks to a platter and pull the pan off the heat to cool for a minute.
• Pat the scallops completely dry. Drizzle some EVOO over the scallops and season them with salt and pepper. Get a skillet screaming hot and cook the scallops for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until they are well caramelized.
• Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a clean medium skillet for the asparagus.
• Return the pan you cooked the meat in to the stove over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of EVOO, once around the pan. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the sweet vermouth and cook until reduced by half, 30 seconds or so. Add the butter to the pan and swirl to incorporate to finish the sauce.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until just tender and bright green. Remove to a plate and dress the asparagus with the lemon juice, a drizzle of EVOO, and salt and pepper.
• Place each tenderloin steak on a plate and drizzle the Manhattan sauce over the top. Arrange 2 scallops on top of each steak and garnish with the chives. Serve the asparagus spears alongside.
• Your scallops may still have the adductor muscle-a thin, tough strip that attaches the animal to its shell-intact. If so, nick it off with your fingers.