If you're planning to host a steak dinner that rivals your local steakhouse, one of the things you need to consider is what kind of sauce you're going to put over that steak when you serve it. There are many different options to choose from, depending on what you're planning for the night. Here are some of the most common options that you can consider.
Compound Butter
A compound butter is one of the simplest toppings you can put on a steak, but it's just as flavorful as its richer cousins. One of the best things about compound butter is that you can make it in most any flavor you want. When it comes to steak, there are a few popular ones.
Steak sauce butter is made from softened butter topped with a moderate layer of steak sauce, which is then rolled up and refrigerated. You can slice rounds to melt over the top of a steak on the plate. Garlic butter is made by grating several cloves of garlic into butter, then melting it over the steak in the pan. That way, the grated garlic cooks in the few minutes that it's in the pan.
Marsala Sauce
Marsala sauce is a rich sauce made from Marsala wine, and it pairs beautifully with the deep flavor of a steak. To make it, saute minced shallot in a little bit of olive oil, then add two cups of Marsala wine with a cup of beef stock. Whisk in a tablespoon of finely chopped thyme, then let the sauce simmer till it reduces by nearly two-thirds.
Strain the sauce to get rid of the pieces of shallot and herbs. This creates a smooth sauce. Whisk in about six tablespoons of butter. The butter adds richness and thickens the sauce. Season it with salt and pepper, then serve it hot. You can also add extra bulk and richness by adding sliced, sauteed mushrooms.
Cheeses
Steak is also a great vessel for cheese sauces. Whether you want to make a creamy white cheese sauce, crust the steak in Parmesan or sprinkle it with crumbled blue cheese, all of these options work well. In fact, some places use crumbled blue cheese and chopped bacon for a bit more flavor.
If you're not sure what your guests will like or you're concerned about differing palates, you can offer a topping bar that includes several sauces and toppings for people to choose from. If you aren't comfortable tackling the preparation yourself, talk with a local steakhouse about catering.
Share18 August 2016
I simply adore preparing meals for my family. However, due to work responsibilities, I don’t always have much time to cook dinner on weeknights. Thankfully, I’ve collected and developed a ton of easy, pasta recipes over the years. Delicious, filling pasta dishes only take minutes to cook. And, everyone in my family loves them. Some of my favorite Italian dishes to prepare on weeknights include chicken pasta, hamburger macaroni, tuna macaroni, macaroni and cheese, and spaghetti with meatballs. On this blog, I hope you will discover the reasons pasta dishes are the perfect complements to your weeknight, menu plan. Enjoy!