Filipino-Inspired Steak Dinner with Cheesy Potatoes and Sauteed Kang Kong

Now I'll say it- I'm not one for red meat. It's completely eliminated from my diet, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the beauty of a piece of steak. My recipe today was inspired from my trip to the mountains this past weekend. You can read about it here: https://dkangleon.wixsite.com/desertoriental/post/the-mountains-are-calling

Let me say a few words before we talk about the recipe. Let's talk about a family meal.

There's something wonderful about gathering as a family in front of a huge pile of food. No single serving option to be seen- the only choice is to grab what looks good. To me, it's a metaphor for sharing life together. We all have similar circumstances in front of us as a family, we pick and choose what we like and don't like, we bond over the moments, and share them with each other. Isn't that beautiful?

During my times in college- I found myself sitting alone in the dining hall studying frantically over a bowl of seventy-five cent ramen. There was no one to share the ramen with and there was no one to share my frantic feeling over the midterm. At times like this, I've felt stressed and alone. Many (and I mean many) of us find ourselves in small predicaments like this. It may seem to be a tiny inconvenience, but many of us have forgotten the power of a family meal. There is nothing like gathering around with your family or friends who are like family and sharing a meal together. It brings togetherness, and encourages conversation. And most importantly, it can help you relieve stress just by sharing everything your day had to offer you. This week- take some time to enjoy a "family" meal- with whomever you love, pair it with a hearty meal and an open heart.

During my trip to the mountains, our family meal consisted of this beautiful grilled steak. Although I was just an observer- I loved the amount of effort it took from the entire family to make such a dish. This inspired me to make my own Filipino-inspired steak dinner to share with my family. Hopefully you can share it with yours.

FILIPINO STEAK DINNER WITH CHEESY POTATOES AND SAUTEED KANG KONG

FILIPINO STEAK DINNER INGREDIENTS

1 onion finely minced

2 tablespoons finely minced garlic

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/8 cup vinegar

a few tablespoons of butter

a generous amount of black pepper

rib-eye or t-bone steak ( I used sirloin, but I highly recommend a steak with a high fat content)

PS: If using sirloin, tenderize before marinating

MARINADE

Marinate the steak in onion, garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar overnight or for half a day in the fridge.

COOKING

Pat steak dry, remove all excess liquid. Allow the steak to sit for twenty minuets to aerate and get to room temperature.

Add a few tablespoons of butter to a medium-sized frying pan, just enough to coat the bottom. Place the steak in the pan, searing all sides, but not cooking the steak through. Once all sides are seared, add more butter to the pan- enough to have pool to the side of the pan.

Use a spoon to continually douse the meat with butter- continuing until the steak is cooked to a medium rare.

Once the steak has reached to medium rare, let it sit for 10 minuets. After steak has cooled slightly, slice.

CHEESY POTATOES

INGREDIENTS 1 small red onion sliced

3 Russet or red potatoes, peeled and cubed

salt/pepper

melting cheese ( I used mozzarella)

Once steak has been removed, leave excess butter in the pan. Heat the pan to medium heat, cook the onions till translucent. Add potatoes and season with salt and pepper lightly. After potatoes are cooked through place in a bowl. Sprinkle with cheese.