How We Grill Steak PLUS Blue Cheese Walnut Butter
A Perfectly Grilled Steak is one of my greatest eating pleasures. And when I say “perfectly grilled”, I very specifically mean a ribeye grilled by my husband.
I haven’t ordered a steak at a restaurant in years, as I’ve been disappointed too many times. Why waste money and all that chewing on something that’s just mediocre? No, thanks. I’d rather save myself for the perfection that belongs to Blake’s grilling expertise.
He’s just got it down.
And we’re happy to share our easy peasy and incredibly flavorful method with you!
“I ORDERED MY STEAK WELL DONE”
Besides using the seasonings we love, what makes Blake’s method so perfect is the steak’s doneness. I give him all the credit for teaching me how to get the most enjoyment out of a beautifully marbled cut of beef. And by that, I mean he converted me from a well-done girl to a medium-rare and much more satisfied girl. I’ve definitely been convinced of the flavorful merits of a steak with a firm char-grilled exterior that cuts open to a soft and juicy, perfectly pink center. I’ll never go back to well-done.
That photo is from our family trip to the Black Hills last summer, when we took part in a chuckwagon dinner. The host asked for a show of hands from people who like their steak well done, then asked those people to join him up front, at the chuckwagon stage. It’s a good thing this fella was such a good sport, as he really got picked on for not backing down on his preference for a well done steak! :grin:
To add a special touch to your grilled steak, be sure to also try this Blue Cheese Walnut Butter. This little luxury comes together very quickly and offers tremendous flavor. If you’ve ever paired up beef and blue cheese, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the very best marriage.
When making this flavored butter, I usually simplify things with a package of blue cheese crumbles, but I felt like being a bit more indulgent this past weekend. As Blake was leaving to pick up a steak at Kowalski’s, I asked him to also peruse the cheeses and bring home a blue that looked interesting. Once again, I was thankful for stepping out of the usual way of doing things, as Blake found the blue cheese of my dreams!
It’s called Roaring Forties Blue and is made by King Island Dairy. The name “Roaring Forties” refers to King Island as it sits on 40° latitude between Tasmania and Australia, infamously lashed by shipwreck-inducing gales.
This cheese is very creamy and rich in your mouth, with exciting pops of nutty saltiness. It is also quite beautiful on a cheese plate, wrapped in its starkly contrasting midnight blue wax coating. Studded with pockets of blue, rather than the more usual meandering veins, it is both lovely to look at and, of course, to indulge in.
How We Grill Steak PLUS Blue Cheese Walnut Butter
Ingredients
- for the steak:
- ¾ ” to 1-1/4” thick ribeye steaks
- olive oil
- Mignonette Pepper from Penzeys Spices a blend of cracked black and white pepper and coriander
- Dry-Aged Beef Seasoning from Lunds & Byerlys a very course blend consisting of big flakes of gray sea salt, plus onion, pepper, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, basil, fennel, and lavender
- for the blue cheese walnut butter:
- ¼ c. butter at room temperature
- ¼ c. about 1 oz. crumbled blue cheese – Try Roaring Forties Blue if you can find it!
- 3 T. chopped toasted walnuts
- freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
for the steak:
- This is all you need!
- Take steaks out of refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to putting them on the grill. Rub some olive oil onto both sides of each steak, about 1 teaspoon per large (1 lb. or more) steak.
- Sprinkle both sides fairly generously with Mignonette Pepper and Dry-Aged Beef Seasoning. Let rest. Blake usually asks one of the girls if they want to sprinkle on the seasonings. It’s become a coveted part of the process! You’ll have to experiment with how much seasoning to add, but here’s what ours looks like. No precise measurements here, we just know how we like it after preparing it so many times. See those big pieces of sea salt? It’s my favorite ingredient that produces bursts of flavor.
- Fire up your grill. You want it super hot. If your grates aren’t clean, give them a good cleaning next. Then coat your grill grates with olive oil. Blake likes to pour a few tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl. Then he folds up a thick paper towel into a 3” size piece and soaks it in the oil. With a grill tongs, he runs the soaked paper towel over the grill grates.
- Once the grill grates are smoking hot, place your steaks on. Then close the lid and don’t peek. For a 3/4” thick, juicy medium-rare steak, grill for 2-1/2 minutes without peeking or moving the steak. Then flip and grill for another 2-1/2 minutes more on the second side without peeking or moving the steak. Increase grilling time for thicker steaks. The steak in this post’s photo was slightly more than 1” thick and was grilled 3-1/2 minutes per side. Immediately remove steaks from grill to a platter and tent very slightly with a piece of aluminum foil. Let rest for a few minutes to retain juices. Then serve as is or with a spoon of Blue Cheese Walnut Butter.
for the blue cheese walnut butter:
- Mix butter and blue cheese in a small bowl to blend. Then stir in the walnuts. Season with freshly cracked black pepper. Use as a topping for steaks or as a spread for rolls or popovers.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
that butter. that butter. oh that butter.
LOOKS AMAZING! i will be trying that soon!
happy new year!
Hope you like it, Bridgette – it’s pretty awesome! And Happy New Year to you, too!
Whew! After all the sweet food I’ve been testing, this looks like heaven!
Almost nothing better than a ribeye steak on the grill….done my husband’s way ;). I also don’t eat steak out because why set myself up for bitter disappointment knowing it will never come close to my husband’s???
That butter looks fantastic too! I’m only a fan of blue cheese paired with beef (little bits tucked in burgers, over a steak, etc) so I can’t wait to try it next time we have ribeyes (which may be this weekend if this gorgeous weather holds out!).
Thanks, Jen – hope you like it!
I love the sound of that blue cheese walnut butter, I’d be spreading that on everything!
Oh, yes…it deserves to be spread on everything in sight! ;)
That steak is beautiful. Like, REALLY beautiful. I cant wait to cook one like this… your recipe and technique are wonderful!
Thank you, dear Amanda. xo
You are right! Steaks at home are usually so much more delicious. Your steaks looks delicious with tasty looking grill marks. Guess it’s time for a ribeye!
Looks delicious!
We grill our steaks the same way, I’ve never seen the beef seasoning that you use, I will look for it, we usually use Mrs Dash. I am drooling over your butter, that looks amazing!
Thank you so much, Miss. I hope you find that seasoning – it’s amazing!
Thanks for linking up Brenda! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2011/great-fall-ideas/
Have a GREAT weekend!
I’m honored to be featured – thank you so much, Cheryl! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
grilling steaks at home is our specialty too!!
have you ever tried the “salt bath” http://steamykitchen.com/163-how-to-turn-cheap-choice-steaks-into-gucci-prime-steaks.html
I’ve been doing this to our steaks lately, and they’ve been even better!!
Can’t wait to try your butter Brenda!! YUM!!
Hi, Cheryl! I just read Jaden’s post on the salt bath – very intriguing. I passed it along to my husband. I have a hunch we’ll be trying that soon – thanks for passing it along!
We eat red meat on average, about once a week. My husband’s favourite is a perfectly grilled thick medium rare steak. He’s has his grilling down just like your Blake’s but unlike your Blake, he has been unable to convert me from a *well-done* girl. He always times his grilling and always has to put my steak on earlier than his so our meal is done cooking at that same time. Your spiced up cut of steak looks delicious. I’m afraid I’d be just like the fella in the picture with the noose around his neck, only my sign would read *I ordered my steak well done and I’m not a fan of blue cheese* (even though your your blue cheese and walnut butter recipe looks very appetizing)
And you, my dear, must be the sweetest person on earth. You don’t like medium-rare and you don’t like blue cheese, the 2 main points of my post. Yet you wrote the sweetest comment. We’ve drawn so many similarities between our husbands, I’m just wondering when he’ll actually convince you to convert from well-done? ;)
I am seriously craving a steak now! I do believe I will be trying this very soon.
Brenda, your blog is fantastic and I always look forward to what you have to share.
Thanks, Karyl – nice to hear from you again. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
My hubby does the best ribeye too. I am going to add your delicious recipe to our next grilling. Thanks! Have a nice weekend.
I figured there would be some comments from people who also make the best ribeye! ;) Love it! Nice to hear from you, Sherri – hope you’re having a great weekend.
My mouth is watering, Brenda. Great post!
Thanks, Mom! xo