Recipe: Salt and Pepper Fillet Steak Kebab w/ Green Peppers (Successful Experiment)

by Simon Fernandez of ferdiesfoodlab

I think the idea for this had been brewing in my subconscious after I was reminded the other day what a great combination of flavours peppers and steak are. I've been hankering for a (good) salt and pepper vibe, be it squid, ribs or prawns, but I've been sorely disappointed in my new hood. So the only way to remedy this . . . (dramatic pause) is to create my own! (evil villain voice) Whuar ha ha haaar!

keeping the mix pretty pure - one variable at time and all

Sooo goood . . . . so moist and juicy . . . that is a Saturday foodgasm!

My usual salt and pepper concoction contains ginger and various other things, but I wanted to get more of a handle on the flavour Szechuan pepper so I've tried to keep the mix fairly pure leaning heavily toward the Szechuan. (It could handle more!)

Left alone with this kebab, the temptation of it's rare and sultry nature, is simply too great - resistance is futile! The rewards to the taste buds? When you bite into that soft warm naan, and the flavour combo of the juicy steak and pepper, followed by salty heat and sharpened by the lime and coriander you will be in heaven! It’s out of control!

Not to be missed!

fresh ingredients = good kebab

ingredients (serves 1 - hungry type)

for the szechuan salt and pepper seasoning

25g salt

20g szechuan pepper

4 small chillies

10g black pepper corns

for the beef

1 large fillet or sirloin steak

for the vegetables

6 peppers (cut into rings) (capsicum anuum, aci sivri or charli)

1 onion (sliced into strips)

for the coriander and lime sauce

5g coriander (finely chopped)

1/2 lime (zest & juice)

30g mayo (or yoghurt)

use mortar or spice mill

for the naan bread

1 naan bread (buy or make you own)

for the garnish

coriander

apparatus / equipment

mortar and pestle or

spice mill

fine sieve

method

beef

Before anything make sure you've taken the beef out of the fridge so that it's at room temperature before you do anything to it.

Coat it in oil and salt and pepper mix.

Sear it in a hot heavy based pan (griddle pan if you like) until you have it cooked how you like, I like mine medium rare. There are some tips on how to cook a steak here.

for the szechuan salt and pepper seasoning

Collect the ingredients together and, either put them into a spice mill or a mortar and pestle. Mash 'em up until they for a smooth powder, then pass that through a fine sieve. Done

for the vegetables

Prep them, then dust them (heavy handedly) with the salt and pepper mix  and put them into a hot pan with a touch of olive oil.

Keep them going until they're charred on the edges to give you a really god char grilled flavour.

coriander and lime sauce

Mix the ingredients. If you do this first, (ahem, after you’ve taken the steak out) the flavour will develop more while you prepare everything else.

naan bread

Check out my previous post here on how to make really soft and delicious naan bread, or if you're feeling a touch lazy get some from the local store or kebab shop. You can try and get a kebab like this but, well, you wont! NO chance!






to serve

Lay out that naan, add a touch of mayo or yogurt, cover in vegetables, and sliced beef, give a squirt / dollop of coriander sauce.

Roll.

Devour.

what could go wrong? 

Some one steals it from you just after you're finished and you have to make another.

Don't let that mistake loop, you'll be there for days if the word gets out!

S N O R K!!! Sooo goood . . . . so moist and juicy . . . that is a Saturday foodgasm!

Recipe: Zero Fat Red Pepper and Spinach Soup - 10 minutes!

by Simon Fernandez of ferdiesfoodlab

I was after making myself something light for my lunch the other day - as in zero fat!

That’s a tricky business if you want something to taste even half decent. I think this one met the brief! Even better, it takes almost no time to make!! Less if you already have some cooked peppers in the fridge!

I had some enoki mushrooms and tobiko left over from some Japanese I’d made a few days prior, I was surprised how mush they brought to the party!! The tobiko is optional, the sesame seeds bring a similar texture and the fish sauce overpowers their subtle fishiness, I added them any way, quite nice!

ingredients (serves 1)

for the soup

1/2 pepper (cooked until soft and slightly charred)

100g spinach

1 chicken stock cube

600ml boiling water

dash soy sauce

dash fish sauce

1/2 lime (juiced)

30g enoki mushrooms (chopped)

for the garnish

1/2 tsp tobiko (optional)

sesame seeds (garnish)

chives (garnish)

method

Cook the pepper with a tiny amount of extra virgin olive oil, add water and put a lid on, cook until soft.

If the red pepper was already cooked, heat them through before adding them.

Once the peppers are ready dissolve the stock cube in boiling water in a jug

Add the red pepper & spinach straight away let it wilt a little.

Add a dash of soy sauce and a dash of fish sauce and season with lime.

Pour the soup into you favourite bowl and make a mushroom island in the middle and sprinkle with tobiko.

to serve

Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped chives. Serve immediately

It’s a big soup, fast to make, and fill you up!