We’ve been trying to perfect the ultimate steak sandwich for years! But we have to give credit where credit is due and the recipe below is quite simply outstanding! It was created by Gordon Ramsey, but this should not put you off! Make the spicy tomato relish the day before as it takes longer to perfect than Gordon would have us believe. Then set about everything else the next day and follow each step of the recipe. It really is a super easy and delicious lunch for when you have friends and family (or in our case guests) that you want to spoil.
FOR THE ULTIMATE STEAK SANDWICH
- Olive oil, for frying
- 700g fillet of beef
- 1 whole head of garlic, cut in half horizontally
- 3–4 thyme sprigs
- Butter
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 baby gem lettuce, to serve
FOR THE SPICY TOMATO RELISH
- Olive oil, for frying
- ½ red onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 red chillies, deseeded and chopped
- 250g mixed red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1–2 tsp sherry vinegar, to taste
- Small handful of shredded basil leaves
FOR THE MUSTARD MAYONNAISE
- 3 tbsp good-quality mayonnaise
- 3 tsp wholegrain mustard
FOR THE TOASTED CIABATTA
- 12 slices of ciabatta, about 1.5cm thick
- 2–3 tbsp olive oil
METHOD:
Serves 4–6
Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.
Heat a large ovenproof frying pan until hot and add a glug of oil. Grind a generous amount of salt and pepper onto a board and roll the fillet in the seasoning. Fry over a high heat for 1–2 minutes on each side until gently coloured all over, including the ends. Add the garlic and thyme sprigs, heat for a minute, then sit the beef on top of them. Add a couple of knobs of butter, spooning it over the steak to baste.
Place the beef in the preheated oven and roast for 15–17 minutes until rare or medium rare. It should feel springy when pressed. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 15 minutes, basting now and again with the juices from the pan.
Meanwhile, make the relish. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and chillies and fry over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomatoes, then season and cook for 6–8 minutes until the tomatoes are beginning to collapse. Add the vinegar and stew down over a medium heat for about 6 minutes until reduced to a rough relish consistency. Remove from the heat, stir in the basil and season well. Tip into a serving bowl and set aside.
Combine the ingredients for the mustard mayonnaise. Season, then spoon into a serving bowl and set aside.
To make the toast, heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Drizzle the sliced ciabatta with the olive oil, season and then griddle for 1–2 minutes until golden on both sides. Repeat until all the bread is toasted and then place on a serving platter.
To serve, thickly slice the rested fillet of beef, place on a platter and put on the table with the toast, mayonnaise, relish and lettuce leaves to be assembled by your guests. The ultimate steak sandwich is served!
Recipe and image courtesy of Gordon Ramsey. .
We love indulging our guests in gourmet getaway experiences and we hope to one day have you at the umSisi table!
