Summer Steak Salad

A classic steak salad with a robust vinaigrette takes this 30 minute summer meal up a notch!

Summer Steak Salad

Another 30 minute meal is coming your way!  I'm on a roll this summer with fast, easy to make, yet screaming delicious food.  Continual heatwaves have left me with very little appetite so light meals that are quick to prepare have been my go to this summer.  This dish is all that and more.

A main entree dinner salad, like you would get at a restaurant, is a great way to eat light during the hot summer months.    Juicy sirloin steak is seasoned and grilled then cut in to strips and laid on top of a bed of spring mix, tomatoes, and radishes.  Then we make a easy homemade vinaigrette that is robust and compliments the steak so nicely.  The secret ingredients in the dressing are tomato paste and some chicken broth.  You have to try this dressing, don't skip this part....it makes takes the salad up a notch!  

All this in 30 minutes.  You've got only 5 ingredients for the entree and 6 ingredients for the dressing.  I call this a summer dinner winner!

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• extra virgin olive oil

• chicken broth

• balsamic vinegar

• Dijon mustard

• tomato paste

• garlic 

• sirloin steak

• Montreal seasoning

• Spring mix

• Cherry tomatoes

• Radishes 

• Bell peppers

• Avocado

Substitutions and Variations

• Veggies:  Add shredded carrots and cucumber slices.

• Greens:  try spinach or romaine for the lettuce choice.

• Protein:  try your favorite cut of steak such as New York, filet mignon, or flank steak.  Try grilled chicken or pork.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Allow the steak to sit out and come to room temperature before grilling, while you prepare the salad items.

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Summer Steak Salad

serves 4

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 Tablespoon chicken broth
2 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 teaspoons tomato paste
2 garlic clove, minced
1 pound sirloin steak
2-3 teaspoons Montreal seasoning
8 cups of spring mix
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup radishes, sliced thinly

1/2 orange bell pepper, sliced thinly

1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thinly

1 avocado, cubed

In a bowl or jar combine the first 6 ingredients.  Add salt and pepper to taste and whisk to combine.  Set aside.

Heat and outdoor grill or indoor grill pan over medium high heat.  Rub both side of the steak with the Montreal seasoning.  Rub with a little olive oil on each side and place on the grill/grill pan.  Cook to desired doneness.  About 8 minutes for medium-rare turning once or 10 minutes, turning once for medium.  Remove from heat and allow to rest 5 minutes.  Slice thinly against the grain.  

In a large bowl or platter arrange the lettuce spring mix, tomatoes, and radishes.  Top with the steak.  Drizzle with the dressing before serving and serve the remaining dressing on the side.  

30 Minute Meal: Italian Chicken Cutlet Paninis

Crunchy chicken cutlets surrounded by juicy tomatoes and gooey mozzarella are doused with a basil mayo and tucked into toasted sourdough bread.  I call this panini heaven!

 

Italian Chicken Cutlet Paninis

This heatwave is never going to end!  What do you do when it's too hot to grill, but you still need to feed the crew a nutritious and scrumptious dinner?  Make paninis!  Right now I'm all for keeping my dinners light and simple.  I don't want to heat up the house by cooking all evening.  That's why this sandwich fits the bill.  It takes just 30 minutes, one skillet, and a few ingredients to pull together but, the flavor is out of this world.  

These Italian Chicken Cutlet Paninis are made with chicken breasts that have been cut in half horizontally and pounded thinly.  You could also used thin sliced chicken breasts from the store but I find even those are really thick these days.  Either will do, but I would still pound them to about 1/3 inch thickness.  Then we bread them and cook them in a skillet until crispy.  The only thing left to do is build your sandwich, smear on some of this wonderful quick-made basil mayo throw the whole sandwich back in the skillet to melt the cheese and create a toasted panini.  No panini press needed!  The result is a very flavorful meal that took no time to make and very little cleanup.  I a one pan meal that is done in 30 minutes and requires only 8 ingredients.  Gotta love that in the summertime.  

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• boneless skinless chicken breasts - I used breasts and cut them in half horizontally to make cutlets.  You can also buy thin sliced chicken breasts.

• mayo

• fresh basil - fresh will give you a great flavor.  I don't recommend dried basil.

• eggs

• plain breadcrumbs - you could also used Italian style or panko.

• sourdough bread - this provides great flavor.

• tomatoes

• fresh mozzarella - I use the ball of mozzarella that comes in a package with water.

Substitutions and Variations

• Bread:  Use your favorite.  Keep in mind you want them large enough to cover a chicken breast.

• Add some greens:  Spinach or romaine would be a good addition.

• Change the flavor profile:  This is an Italian sandwich, try Southwestern by swapping chili powder for the basil, jack cheese for the mozzarella and sauteed bell peppers for the tomato.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Bread Choices:  Make sure your bread is large enough to cover the chicken breast.

• Toast the bread after the sandwich is assembled (like making a grilled cheese) in a skillet and use a lid so the cheese melts)

• Pound your chicken breasts to about 1/3 inch thin.  This allows them to cook quickly and evenly.

Serve this with:

Asparagus Salad with Oranges and Feta

Green Bean, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Easy Greek Pasta Salad

Red White and Blueberry Salad

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Italian Chicken Cutlet Paninis

serves 4

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut in half horizontally to make 4 cutlets
1/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoon olive oil
8 slices of sourdough bread
2 tomatoes sliced
8 slices of fresh mozzarella

Place cut chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound to 1/3 inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Repeat for the remaining chicken. Set aside.

In a small bowl mix together the basil and mayo. Set aside. Set up your breading station by using two pie plates or breading dishes. Add the beaten eggs to one and the breadcrumbs to the other.

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt. Dip each breast in the egg mixture then coat with the breadcrumbs. Over medium heat place a large skillet adding the olive oil, allowing to heat. Add cutlets (may need to cook in batches depending on the skillet size) to the skillet and cook about 4 minutes per side. Breadcrumbs should be golden brown. Flip and cook the other side ensuring chicken is cooked all the way through. Repeat with the remaining breasts if necessary.

Spread one side of each slice of bread with the basil mayo. Top 4 of them (mayo side up) with tomatoes, chicken, and cheese. Top with the other 4 bread slices mayo side down to close the sandwich.

Add cooking spray to the same skillet and add the sandwiches back to the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook flipping once until lightly browned and the cheese has melted. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.

Asparagus Salad with Oranges and Feta

The perfect light and refreshing, go with everything summer side dish!

 

Asparagus Salad with Oranges and Feta

I love changing up my side dishes during the summer.   I always have a cold salad dish that I  can serve with any grilled protein or burger, or even sandwiches.   This salad has nothing to do with lettuce but has everything to do with crispy green veggies.  Asparagus to be exact. 

Raw Asparagus is the star of the show. It remains crunchy by cutting it thinly on the bias and then is doused in a mint basil pesto and tossed with oranges and feta for some tang and sweetness.  My husband said I knocked it out of the park on this one! (Sounds like a keeper).

Pull this together in under 30 minutes and bring this Mediterranean style salad into your summer menu rotation. 

Enjoy! 

What Ingredients do I need?

• fresh mint - you want that bright flavor you get from fresh herbs

• fresh basil - again fresh herbs should be used in this dish

• Romano cheese

• fresh lemon - you will use if for the zest and the juice

• fresh garlic

• Olive oil - extra virgin is best. You want one that you enjoy the flavor of since it will be prominent in the dish.

• 2 bunches of asparagus - I used the thin stocks but you can use the regular if you like.

• naval oranges

• feta cheese - I always by the block of cheese and then crumble off what I need.

Substitutions and Variations

• Crunchy additions: try adding chopped hazelnuts, pine nuts, or chopped almonds

• Cheeses:  This is a part of the pesto which binds it.  Try parmesan cheese instead.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Asparagus - You can use thin or regular sized asparagus in this dish.  The key is how you slice it.  Slice it on the bias to keep the stocks crunchy instead of being woody.  To do this slice on an deep angle in 2 inch pieces.  Make sure to cut off the woody part of the stock toward the bottom first.

• Segmenting an orange - The easiest way to do this is to cut across the bottom so the orange will lie flat on your board.  Then cut off the top and start going down the side cutting away the peel and the white pith below.  You will be left with just orange flesh.  Hold the orange in your hand over the serving bowl to catch any juices. This will add some sweet flavor to the pesto sauce. Slice along the side of the membrane on each side of the segment and release the segment.  Do this, rotating the orange until all segments are free.

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Asparagus Salad with Oranges and Feta

serves 6

Pesto:
2 Cups fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup Romano cheese
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin Olive oil

Salad:
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
2 naval oranges
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
Salt and pepper

In a food processor add basil, cheese, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and 3/4 teaspoon salt.   Process until finally chopped, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Transfer to a large bowl and add in oil, whisking to combine.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the woody ends of the asparagus.  Cut asparagus tips from the stocks into 3/4 inch long pieces.  Slice the remaining stocks on the bias thinly into 2 inch lengths.  Cut away the peel and the pith from the oranges holding the fruit over the bowl and using a pairing knife to slice between the membranes to release the orange segments. Add The asparagus tips, stocks, orange segments, and feta to the pesto and toss to combine.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Either serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until serving.

adapted from America's Test Kitchen - The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook