Sometimes life is busy. Sometimes you look at your spouse and think, “When was the last time one of us finished a sentence without an interruption?” And sometimes it seems the only thing that will fix your troubles is a good old-fashioned steak dinner, but who can afford to go out and drop $100 – plus the babysitter, parking and a bottle of wine?
Luckily, a fabulous steak dinner doesn’t have to require a night out. Few things are more indulgent – or easier – than a steak slathered with a compound butter. The anchovy and garlic flavors are similar to those in bagna cauda, and the leftover butter is excellent served with salmon, potatoes, Brussels sprouts or green beans.
Strip Steak with Anchovy Butter 2 servings
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp. anchovy paste or 8 anchovies, finely minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. fresh lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 strip steaks
1 Tbsp. canola oil
• Using a hand mixer, combine the butter, anchovy paste, garlic, lemon zest, parsley and a pinch of salt and pepper in a mixing bowl, scraping the sides as needed. Place the butter into the middle of a 12-by-12-inch piece of plastic wrap, molding it into a cylinder. Wrap the butter log tightly and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Generously season both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper. Add the canola oil to a cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the steaks to the skillet and sear, undisturbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes, or to desired doneness. Place the steaks on a plate, cover with foil and let rest 10 minutes.
• To serve, unwrap the compound better and slice off 2 ½-inch thick discs. Plate each steak and top each with a piece of butter. The remaining butter will keep, frozen, up to 6 months.
This article appears in October 2014.