If you want to impress, and love steak, this is the dish for you. It is simple, made of simple ingredients and prepared simply - simple, but packed with flavor. Scott delighted us with steak on Friday night. I was so impressed. The steak was wonderfully buttery, paired with a simple and light tomato sauce and served with rustic bread.
The original recipe comes from epicurious: Grilled New York Steaks with San Marzano Sauce. Scott used fresh yellow plum tomatoes instead of the San Marzanos. Grilling becomes an issue here in New York City so Scott pan fried the steaks and toasted the bread in the oven. Even though pan frying is no substitute for grilling, I thought everything about this meal was just perfect.
Grilled New York Steaks with Fresh Tomato Sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus additional for brushing
2 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled, de-seeded and coarsely chopped
6 large fresh basil sprigs plus additional for garnish
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
Coarse kosher salt
3 10- to 11-ounce New York steaks (preferably prime; 1 1/4 inches thick)
3 slices of your favorite rustic bread or ciabatta
1. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chopped fresh tomatoes; coarsely crush tomatoes with potato masher. Add 6 basil sprigs and dried crushed red pepper; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture is reduced to thick sauce consistency (about 3 cups), stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Season sauce to taste with coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush steaks and bread slices with olive oil. Sprinkle steaks with coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Grill steaks to desired doneness, about 7 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill bread slices until golden and grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
3. Spoon some of warm sauce onto 3 plates, then top each with 1 steak. Serve with bread.
Makes 3 servings.