Make this Cajun Butter Steak on your next date night to make your date come back begging for more… My Cajun Butter Steak is a tantalizing dance of bold flavors that seduce your taste buds from the first bite. Imagine a perfectly seared steak, its crust imbued with the deep, smoky heat of Cajun spices, teasing your senses with each mouthful. As you cut into it, the tender, juicy meat reveals itself, dripping with a rich, velvety butter that’s been infused with the special marinade mixture.
When you take a bite, the spiciness of the Cajun seasoning flirts with the savory, luscious marinade, creating an irresistible symphony of flavors that’s both fiery and smooth. The marinade richness envelops your palate, while the Cajun kick adds a thrilling edge, leaving a lingering warmth that beckons you back for more. It’s the kind of steak that’s indulgent, decadent, and utterly unforgettable—a delicious experience that leaves you craving the next bite even before you’ve finished the last.
Preparing the best steak involves selecting the right cut, using proper seasoning, and cooking it to perfection. Here are some of the tips to create a mouthwatering steak that’s tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
1. Choose the Right Cut:
- Select a well-marbled steak that’s at least 2,5 to 3,5 cm thick. The marbling (fat within the meat) is key to flavor and tenderness.
2. Bring to Room Temperature:
- Remove the steak from the fridge at least 30 minutes before cooking. Allowing the steak to come to room temperature ensures even cooking.
3. Season Generously:
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can also add a touch of garlic powder or other preferred seasonings, but simplicity often yields the best results.
- In this recipe, I used a marinade to give a special flavour to my steak. This marinade is a masterful blend of flavors designed to elevate any dish, particularly meats, with its rich, savory notes and balanced complexity.
The Symphony of Ingredients:
- Soy Sauce: The foundation of this marinade, soy sauce brings a deep, umami-rich flavor that permeates the meat, enhancing its natural taste with a savory, slightly salty profile.
- Olive Oil: Acting as a silky carrier for the flavors, olive oil not only helps to tenderize the meat but also imparts a subtle, fruity richness that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
- Cajun Seasoning: This blend adds a bold, spicy kick, infusing the marinade with a vibrant mix of paprika, cayenne, and garlic. It brings warmth and a touch of heat that excites the palate.
- Italian Mix: A classic combination of dried herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, the Italian mix introduces aromatic notes that add depth and a herbaceous freshness, balancing the marinade’s savory elements.
- Brown Sugar: This ingredient provides a sweet counterpoint to the saltiness of the soy sauce. Its molasses undertones create a caramelized glaze when cooked, enhancing the meat’s surface with a slightly sticky, flavorful crust. Alternating with honey can add a floral sweetness and additional viscosity to the marinade.
- Whole Grain Mustard: Whole grain mustard introduces a tangy sharpness and a delightful texture from the mustard seeds. It brings a bright, piquant flavor that cuts through the richness of the other ingredients, adding complexity to the marinade.
- Butter: Finally, butter is the luxurious finishing touch, melting into the marinade to add a velvety smoothness and rich, creamy flavor. It enhances the overall mouthfeel and helps to bind the marinade to the meat, ensuring every bite is infused with its delectable flavors.
4. Preheat the Pan or Grill:
- For stovetop cooking, use a heavy skillet like cast iron, or preheat a grill to high heat. The surface should be very hot before adding the steak.
5. Sear the Steak:
- Add a bit of olive oil to the pan or brush it onto the steak if grilling. Place the steak onto the hot surface and let it sear without moving it for 2-3 minutes, until a golden-brown crust forms. Flip the steak and sear the other side for another 2-3 minutes.
6. Add Butter and Aromatics:
- Once both sides are seared, reduce the heat to medium. Add butter, crushed garlic, and fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary to the pan. Tilt the pan slightly and spoon the melted butter over the steak repeatedly, basting it with the flavorful mixture. This enhances the taste and keeps the steak moist.
7. Check for Doneness:
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature:
- Rare: 49-52°C
- Medium Rare: 54-57°C
- Medium: 60-63°C
- Medium Well: 65-68°C
- Well Done: 71°C+
- Remove the steak from the heat when it’s -15°C below your desired doneness. The steak will continue to cook slightly as it rests.
8. Rest the Steak:
- Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute within the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender steak.
9. Slice and Serve:
- Slice the steak against the grain, which means cutting perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers. This makes each bite more tender. Serve the steak as is, or drizzle with any remaining butter from the pan for extra richness.
Serving Suggestions:
- Pair the steak with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes. In this recipe, I served it a bit more vibrant with creamy cheesy gnocchi and sautéd baby asparagus.
- A glass of red wine, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec, complements the richness of the steak beautifully.
A date night with a delicious steak is the perfect blend of romance and sensuality. The dim lighting, the rich aroma of a perfectly cooked steak, and the shared pleasure of savoring each tender, juicy bite create an intimate atmosphere. As you enjoy the meal together, the indulgent flavors heighten the connection between you, making every moment feel more passionate and memorable. It’s a night where the food and the chemistry combine, turning a simple dinner into a deeply romantic and sexy experience. Enjoyyy!!! 🙂
Cajun Butter Steak
Equipment
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 Medium sized bowl
- 1 Pan 28cm diameter (you can use non stick or cast iron). I used it first for the steak and after I used it for the gnocchi.
- 1 Small pan to sautee the asparagus
- 1 Small sauce pan for the sauce/glaze
- 1 Ziplock bag big enough to fit the steak
Ingredients
- 2 pcs Irish ribeye steak It was about 350-400gr in total
- 500 gr Gnocchi I used the spinach one, but you can use whatever you want.
- 150 gr Baby asparagus trim the bottom about half cm
- 8 cloves Garlic minced, and divided into 3; 50% for the marinade, 35% for gnocchi, and 15% for the asparagus
- 20 gr Butter
- 2 tbsp Chopped parsley
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp White pepper
- 100 gr Quick melt cheese I often use mozzarella mixed with parmesan
- 1 tsp Flour optional, for extra thick cream
Marinade
- 200 ml Soy sauce
- 100 ml Olive oil
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp Italian mix
- 50 gr Brown sugar I alternate sometimes with 2 tbsp honey.
- 2 tbsp Whole grain mustard
- 20 gr Butter
Instructions
Preparing the steak
- First, let's start with the marinade; in a medium bowl, add in the Soy sauce, olive oil, mustard, cajun seasoning, Italian mix, and brown sugar. Whisk gently until well-combined. Set aside.
- Lay the steak flat on a cutting board and pat dry them with paper towel. After both side pat dried, transfer them into a ziplock bag.
- Pour in the marinade into the ziplock bag and spare about 150ml of the marinade to make the glaze later. Gently massage the steak and let it rest for at least 15min. Do not marinade too long, or else the steak will be very salty.
- Add the marinated steak to a sizzling skillet in medium high heat. I like my steak medium – medium rare, so for this steak thickness I cooked the first side for 3min and the 2nd side for 2min. Remove steak and transfer to a cutting board to rest for 5 to 10minutes to achieve an evenly moist, juicy, and flavorful steak.
Creamy Cheesy Gnocchi
- While waiting for the steak marinated, you can get busy with the side dishes. Pour gnocchi into a boiling water. You will see them float to the top when they are ready. Set aside.
- On the pre-heated pan, add butter, and then minced garlic and flour, stir until well-combined. Add cream , stir again, and let it simmer on low heat. Once it's simmer, pour in cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Stir, and then add the cooked gnocchi and stir again until the gnocchi well coated with the cream.
Sautéd Asparagus
- While waiting for the steak to rest, I sautéd the asparagus. Add in butter in a preheated pan, garlic, and the asparagus. Add a little bit of water and stir until fork tender.
Glaze
- In a sauce pan, add in the remaining marinade and butter. Let it simmer and stir until it becomes a glaze.
- Serve the steak with cheesy spinach gnocchi and asparagus and pour the glaze over it. Enjoy! 🙂
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