By In The Kitchen With Stefano Faita
Add together, the bold flavours of coffee, smoky spices and a rich meaty rib-eye steak and you have the perfect recipe to please your favourite cowboy on any special occasion..
INGREDIENTS
Spicy Rib Eye Steaks
2 tbsp. coffee beans
1 tbsp. peppercorns
1/4 cinnamon stick, about 1-inch piece
1 tbsp. fennel seeds
1 tbsp. coriander
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. dried chili powder, such as ancho, pasilla or chipotle
1 tbsp. kosher salt
4 rib-eye steaks
Maple Coffee Sauce
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 thyme sprigs
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1/4 cup coffee
1 1/2 cups beef stock
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp. maple syrup
2 tbsp. sherry vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. cold butter, cubed
Assembly
1 bunch grilled green onions, for serving (optional)
4 small baked sweet potatoes, for serving (optional)
PREPARATION
Spicy Rib Eye Steaks
For the coffee spice rub: Add coffee, peppercorns, cinnamon, fennel seeds, coriander, brown sugar, chili and kosher salt to spice grinder or clean coffee grinder. Grind until coarsely ground. Makes about 1/2 cup. Set aside.
Let steaks sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. (Room temperature steaks will sear better and cook more evenly than cold steaks.)
Preheat your grill to high. Clean grill and brush with oil.
Pat steaks dry with paper towel. Season both sides of each steak with the rub.
Grill steaks until medium rare, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Alternatively, grill steaks until done to your liking.
Let steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Maple Coffee Sauce
Heat saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. When hot, add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add thyme, coffee, beef stock, Worcestershire, maple syrup and sherry vinegar. Cook over medium high heat for 15 minutes until sauce has reduced to syrupy consistency.
Whisk in cold butter, one cube at a time, until incorporated and sauce develops a nice shine. Remove thyme sprigs before serving. Makes about 1 cup.
Assembly
Serve Maple Coffee Sauce over Spicy Rib Eye Steaks and serve with baked sweet potatoes and grilled green onions, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings