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Recipe Detail Page
Strip-Loin Spoons with Balsamic Reduction
Early Summer 2010
While it may seem strange to use soy sauce with Mediterranean ingredients, it naturally contains glutamic acid that boosts beef’s flavour. This is important when consuming a mere morsel from a spoon! All the balsamic reduction will not be needed; however, it keeps for weeks, refrigerated, ready to use on hot barbecued steaks or kebabs or stirred into a sauce for a flavour boost.
Fills 24 spoons
10 oz (300 g) strip-loin steak, at least
1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil, divided
1 tbsp (15 mL) soy sauce
1 tsp (5 mL) brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
Several grindings freshly ground black pepper
½ cup (125 mL) balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter, softened
1¼ cup (300 mL) grated carrot
24 flat-bottom Chinese spoons
2 to 3 tbsp (25 to 45 mL) snipped chives
or thinly sliced green onions
1. Place steak in a plastic bag. Combine 1 tbsp(15 mL) oil with soy sauce, sugar, garlic and pepper. Spoon over both sides of steak; seal bag. Massage bag so whole steak is coated; refrigerate for an hour or up to half a day.
2. Preheat a medium frying pan, preferably cast-iron, over medium to medium-high until very hot. Pat steak dry with paper towel to remove most of marinade. Brush steak on both sides with remaining oil. Pan-sear steak on each side for 3 minutes for medium-rare; remove to a plate. (Steak can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Serve chilled or warm if preferred.)
3. Pour vinegar into hot frying pan; stir to get up all browned bits. Let bubble a couple of minutes or until reduced by half and quite syrupy; remove from heat. Briskly stir in butter.Pour into a small heatproof bowl. (If making ahead, cover and refrigerate. Reduction keeps well for 3 to 4 weeks.)
4. Hold a chef’s knife at a 45-degree angle to steak top to partially cut across grain; very thinly slice steak. Divide grated carrot among spoons. Top with steak, curling or stacking to fit as needed. Add a drop or two of balsamic reduction and scatter with chives.
Fills 24 spoons
