Steak Haché
Salisbury steak is an instance of an old recipe with enduring value. It is a good idea and a good name, though its reputation as a TV dinner has stained the prettiness somewhat. All that the old recipe — and its many variations — needed was a little updating. Here is a Frenchier and more contemporary version — rich with porcini butter, piquant with salsa verde. It is old-fashioned enough to be fun and elegant enough for a dinner party — and most definitely does not need a hamburger bun.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 1cup dried porcini mushrooms
- 1pound best ground sirloin or chuck
- 5tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 3tablespoons finely chopped white onion
- 1egg, beaten
- Kosher salt
- 3tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1tablespoon red-wine vinegar
- ½teaspoon capers, finely chopped
- ½cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- Olive oil
Instructions
Step 1
Soak the mushrooms in enough boiling water to cover them for 20 minutes, then drain through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, and finely chop. (Reserve the liquid if you want to add mushroomy savor to a future soup or pasta sauce. It freezes well as a few ice cubes.)Step 2
In a medium bowl, mix the beef, 6 tablespoons of the mushrooms, 1 tablespoon of the butter, 1 tablespoon of the onion, the egg, a large pinch of salt and the Parmesan until well combined. Form into 4 1-inch thick patties.Step 3
Make porcini butter by combining the remaining mushrooms and 4 tablespoons of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Make salsa verde by soaking the remaining onion in the vinegar with a sprinkle of salt for 10 minutes, then adding the capers, parsley and olive oil to cover and make it a bit swimmy; taste for salt, and adjust.Step 4
Heat a heavy cast-iron pan, and drizzle with olive oil. Cook the chopped steaks for 4 minutes on the first side, salting them liberally. Flip, and cook for 4 minutes on the second side, salting again. (Cook longer for medium.) Remove the steaks to a waiting hot plate. Top immediately with the porcini butter. Let rest a few moments, then spoon salsa verde over each, and serve.