Get ready, the heat wave is about to hit our daily lives. You might be reaching for the electric fans, but the stars are already feeling good in the heat. These stars are really living it up outdoors. Not just grilling burgers on an old grill anymore, they’ve installed full outdoor kitchens in their yards. The pizza oven and grill stand there and it’s amazing. Plus, the amazing dining location made ours look a little less nice. It inspired us a lot. Honestly, it feels good to borrow some ideas, right? Maybe mimic their favorite recipes.
Check out these fancy outdoor living.David and Victoria Beckham live at home in the Cotswolds. But they make homemade pizza there. Family barbecues take place in the barn garden. The barbecue equipment is on the patio, and a wooden table is always available for get-togethers. They even have colored lights hanging here. Enjoying the evening, right after the sun goes down. How charming is all this?
In Beverly Hills, Sofia Vergara’s home is super luxurious. There’s a private pool. Also, there’s a chic outdoor kitchen area nearby. It’s just a short walk down the stairs from the house, and the indoors meets the outdoors seamlessly. Sounds perfect for a relaxing weekend barbecue or a posh party by the pool. They are designed to maximize outdoor fun.
Even professional chefs have joined the outdoor kitchen trend. Frankly, it’s exactly what you’d expect. James Martin has an impressive setup. Its kitchen has a wood-fired pizza oven. Yes, a fully dedicated pizza oven! And a grill. There’s also a sink so you don’t have to run around in it all the time. A wooden table provides extra prep space. Seriously, this is a chef’s dream outdoor work station. James has an idyllic outdoor dining space. It sits in his large garden with views of the countryside. It’s the perfect backdrop for his culinary tastings.
Phil Vickery, another celebrity chef, shared his large Weber gas grill. He had shown how to use it on TV and he grilled perfect steaks on the spot. His unit had an awning. That’s genius, isn’t it? Outdoor plans don’t get rained on and it demonstrates a practical approach to space design.
What are these celebrities’ culinary secrets? We stumbled upon something Courteney Cox shared and were very intrigued. Not her cookies, maybe later! But rather her favorite steak recipe. Steak is a classic dish. But Courteney gave us an unexpected surprise. She got the recipe from musician Brandi Carlile. This recipe uses very few ingredients, including freshly ground coffee and truffle oil. Coffee? On top of a steak? Our curiosity was totally piqued.
The author who tried this recipe was very curious. Honestly, so were we! Many steak purists say there is a best way. The only way, is salt and pepper. Classic for a reason, no? So add ingredients like coffee and brown sugar. It feels almost rebellious to do so. But the spirit of Delicious likes to try new things. Have fun in the kitchen and see what comes out.Courteney’s recipe doesn’t give exact measurements, and probably neither do many home cooks. The resulting dish feels less scientifically rigorous and more like creative cooking.
Let’s see how it turns out. They started with a nice piece of rib-eye steak, which Courteney says to use New York or rib-eye steak. Truffle oil was drizzled on top next, with “just the right amount” on one side. The recipe title indicates that olive oil can be substituted. The tip is practical, but the truffle oil certainly adds an air of luxury. You’ll be able to smell the distinctive aroma before the cooking even begins.
Coffee-Paprika Salt
Equipment
- 1 Measuring Spoons
- 1 Small Mixing Bowl
- 1 Airtight Container For storage
Ingredients
Main
- 1 Tbsp. freshly ground coffee
- 1 Tbsp. hot smoked Spanish paprika
- 2 Tbsp. flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Gather the freshly ground coffee, hot smoked Spanish paprika, and flaky sea salt.
- Measure the required amounts of each ingredient using measuring spoons.
- Add the measured ground coffee to a small mixing bowl.
- Add the measured hot smoked Spanish paprika to the bowl.
- Add the measured flaky sea salt to the bowl.
- Stir or whisk all ingredients together thoroughly until uniformly combined.
- Carefully transfer the finished spice blend into a clean, airtight container.
- Seal the container tightly to maintain freshness.
- Store the coffee-paprika salt in a cool, dark place until ready for use.
Notes
Then comes the main part, completely coating the steak with seasonings. “Coffee powder, brown sugar, coarse salt and pepper” is used. This is what makes the recipe different. It’s an attractive departure from the norm!
Coat both sides as directed, followed by “pressing the seasoning into the steak”. The recipe gives no measurements. Because of this, you can apply as much as you want to the steak. This is very encouraging and approachable! It takes the pressure off of trying. You don’t need to measure teaspoons precisely. Just feel your way as needed.
When the steak is ready. Courteney Cox’s video suggests grilling. Thick steaks take about two to three minutes to grill on each side. Grilling adds a classic smoky flavor and a beautiful char. Not everyone has a grill, though. You can also use an oven-safe grill pan to heat the steak over high heat. It’s useful for people who cook at home.
Also, testing the pan to see if it’s hot enough is an important step. To bake well, this step is important. You can use the water droplet method to determine if it’s hot enough, when the water hits the pan and sizzles. Then it’s time to add the steak. Simple tips but very effective.
Then place the prepared steak on a hot pan. “Sear each side of the steak” for ‘about two minutes’. This step simultaneously locks in the juices. When you see the skin start to brown, that’s caramelization.
When seared on the pan, the steak isn’t quite done. This is the time to place the oven proof skillet in a preheated 425 degree oven. Finish grilling the steak inside, which takes about 5 minutes. This method works well for thicker steaks. This is because it ensures that the outer crust is grilled evenly.
Steak Bites
Equipment
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 Heavy-Bottomed Skillet Essential for high-heat searing
- 1 Spatula or Tongs For flipping steak bites
Ingredients
Main
- 1 pound sirloin steak without much gristle or pre-cut beef tips
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- Butter
Instructions
- Trim off the excess fat from the meat, and then cut strips less than 1-inch wide. Rotate the meat and cut into small bite-size pieces. If you see any more large chunks of fat, gristle or long silvery membrane, cut them off.
- Sprinkle generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Toss the meat around a bit to thoroughly coat with the seasonings.
- Next, turn on your ventilation fan-you'll need it! Heat the skillet over medium-high to high heat. As the pan heats, add about 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Allow the butter to melt, and then get very brown, before you add the meat.
- Place some of the meat in the pan in a single layer. It should sizzle loudly when it hits the pan - if it doesn't, the pan isn't hot enough. Don't stir or disrupt the meat for 30 to 45 seconds. You want it to sizzle and brown on one side. Scoop as many steak bites as you can with your spatula and flip them over. Repeat until all the meat is turned. Cook for an additional 30 to 45 seconds-just long enough to sear the outside of the meat but NOT cook the inside.
- Remove the meat to a clean plate. Add a little more butter to the pan and repeat the cooking process with the next batch just as before. Lastly, when all the meat is nicely browned and removed to the plate, pour all that browned/blackened butter all over the meat. And enjoy!
Notes
Finally the moment of truth came when the steak came out of the oven. The description of the final product sounds delicious “grilled to allow the coating to really stick to the steak” and “gives the steak a caramelized crust.” It sounds absolutely incredible tasting, with a dark, slightly sweet, bitter crust that adheres perfectly to the cooked meat.
Best of all, the recipe notes that the grill works to, “seal the juices into the steak,” “and then return it to the oven,” which is the key to an eternally tender steak. Apparently, it did work.
Coffee brings out what everyone wants to know, and the reality is surprising. “It really just lightens the sweetness of the brown sugar” and ”the brown sugar has a stronger flavor.” The secret ingredient in the coffee did its job and enhanced the natural flavor of the beef. It didn’t overpower the flavor at all.
Each element plays a vital role. The sweetness comes from the sugar component and the slight bitterness from the coffee. Salt provides the necessary balance. This sounds like a symphony of flavors. I have to say Courteney Cox gets credit for her unconventional steak version of the recipe.
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I tried Courteney Cox’s recipe for the perfect steak and I can’t wait to make it again
