Let's Talk BBQ

Other Cooking Equipment => Other cooking Eqipment => Other cookers => Topic started by: pz on August 10, 2013, 10:19:43 PM

Title: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 10, 2013, 10:19:43 PM: My wife and I love the dollar tacos you can purchase from the Mexican taco trucks - we'll always stop at one of those if we see on at mealtime.

Today we were shopping in the local Fred Meyer, and my sweetie came up to me with a fantastic looking flat iron steak. Perfect - we haven't had breakfast or lunch, and this would make a perfect "linner". My wife wanted a fajita style experience so I cut red and green peppers plus onion to sautee on the griddle. Me- I'm just after the steak ;D
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I was at a locak sporting goods store called Blacksheep, and found this Lodge cast iron griddle, which immediately caught my eye. Nothing cooks like cast iron. Here I've blended red and green peppers, plux onion with salt and a little olive oil
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r18kU1Ze9wQ/Ugbu9Rup2TI/AAAAAAAAC50/UROpXnZp0eY/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1734.JPG)
Once the sizzling started, I covered it with a pot lid to capture the steam so the vegetables softened.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jqIhLLcd28g/Ugbu-CLz6cI/AAAAAAAAC58/jH5Br1pZ1Mw/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1740.JPG)
The vegetable medley is cooking nicely
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tii6vP3GPBM/Ugbu-_X7yBI/AAAAAAAAC6E/UlnZM9mqW4U/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1741.JPG)
To ensure the development of the desired brown crust on the steak, I place it on a paper plate and then pat the top dry - paper on both sides ensures dry surfaces, which are essential to develop the brown crust that my wife loves
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wwR051DVGuM/Ugbu_kFTz5I/AAAAAAAAC6M/im5OnUyBX4A/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1742.JPG)
Sprinkled liberally with kosher salt, I look for the salt melting as the key to turn the meat. I do not add pepper because I usually sear at a high temperature which tends to burn the pepper, or at least causes the desired pungent volatiles in the pepper to burn off. Once the steak is turned, it is liberally seasoned with salt and pepper
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1LvFfLkeDwU/UgbvAWbv5jI/AAAAAAAAC6U/T8Y6qeSYU_4/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1744.JPG)
The griddle is on two burners, and the one closest to the front is turned off so the vegetables can be keept warm while the steak is searing
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BjwH9StN-3g/UgbvAwVKiWI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/naJT4CK0bw0/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1745.JPG)
After letting the meat rest, slicing it thin gives the steak that perfect bite
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YHsXroISLBQ/UgbvB_wivZI/AAAAAAAAC6k/wjUuvRXS4KE/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1750.JPG)
The finished product: a little raw cabbage on the corn tortilla for crisp texture, topped with the warm, juicy steak, and a liberal helping of crumbled queso fresco. Tabasco chipotle (my favorite general use hot sauce) completes the taco. ... oh yes, can't forget the beer ;)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f-2HCqW_Z-c/UgbvCn_CGLI/AAAAAAAAC6o/q-f4kUbvVWE/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1753.JPG)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: ACW3 on August 10, 2013, 10:23:11 PM: That sure does look good.

Tee and his lovely wife came over for dinner tonight. I cooked some tacos al carbon, using some great flour tortillas Tee and I bought on our hunting trip last December. Tee took pictures and is supposed to be posting them at some point. This was not a unicorn meal.

Art
Title: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Pappymn on August 10, 2013, 10:44:34 PM: Oh that looks good! Nice job
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 10, 2013, 11:00:20 PM: Thanks guys; totally impromptu with little to no planning. Sometimes those make the most memorable meals

(http://www.niscienceclasses.org/main/Smileys/fantasticsmileys/49.gif)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: drholly on August 10, 2013, 11:04:27 PM: I like the way you cook. Too many add stuff to the meat that just burns. Salt is a rock - it won't burn. But the rest needs to be added after the flip. Looks fantastic.

Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: smokeasaurus on August 10, 2013, 11:05:35 PM: Plate me please :P :P
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Dakota Don on August 10, 2013, 11:17:14 PM: Nicely done meal pz! 8) And nice score on that griddle. What did it cost, If I may ask?
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 10, 2013, 11:35:22 PM: Quote from: drholly on August 10, 2013, 11:04:27 PM
I like the way you cook. Too many add stuff to the meat that just burns. Salt is a rock - it won't burn. But the rest needs to be added after the flip. Looks fantastic.
Thanks for sharing.

From reading quite a few posts you've made, it looks like we do have somewhat similar likes in cooking ;)

Quote from: smokeasaurus on August 10, 2013, 11:05:35 PM
Plate me please :P :P

Anytime you're in my area, give me a buzz ;)

Quote from: BigDon on August 10, 2013, 11:17:14 PM
Nicely done meal pz! 8) And nice score on that griddle. What did it cost, If I may ask?

$54.99 - weighs about 10-15 pounds, and is reversible - grill mark griddle on the reverse side. This will last me for the rest of my life, so the purchase price is chump change when I consider the many years I (and my sons after me) will get from this iron piece.

About 14 years ago I purchased my first cast iron Lodge as a present to myself after a divorce - I didn't know anything about cast iron, so I started cooking bacon in the pan for quite a while until it was pitch black, and was as non-stick as the most expensive Teflon you can purchase. From that point I was hooked on cast iron, but in my opinion, I would only purchase USA in the form of Lodge - the Chinese product is thin and feels poor quality.

When I went into the sporting goods store and saw the griddle, I was as giddy as a school-kid - took measurements, then went home and lo-and-behold- it fit absolutely perfectly over the two-burner part of my grill, and now I have what I feel is a true heirloom that I can pass to my kids (they'll need to fight over the different cast iron pieces ;D ).
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: muebe on August 10, 2013, 11:38:36 PM: Quote from: smokeasaurus on August 10, 2013, 11:05:35 PM
Plate me please :P :P

Me too!!!
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 10, 2013, 11:44:25 PM: Any time, muebe!
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: drholly on August 11, 2013, 12:16:26 AM: Quote from: pz on August 10, 2013, 11:35:22 PM

I love cast iron - you are right, treat it right and it IS the best non-stick pan you can find. My favorite cast iron pan is a Lodge about 17 or 18" wide and weighs about 500 pounds! It is perfect for frying home made tacos, fish, and anything else. I've added a couple of pictures of tacos in the Lodge pan. A few years ago I found something called mineral iron - it is like cast iron, but not quite as heavy and not black. It looks like stainless. But you need to treat it like cast iron - seasoning and cleaning. The biggest advantage is it comes in shapes that cast iron doesn't - skillets, pans, etc. I love it. Still not expensive, and you need to treat it right. But, wonderful to cook with. Some examples - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_kitchen?_encoding=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=De%20Buyer&node=1055398

Cheers

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Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 11, 2013, 12:20:39 AM: Thanks for the link, David; I'm always looking for something special that I can add to my cooking utensil collection. ;)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Smokin Don on August 11, 2013, 12:28:59 AM: That does look super!!! I like all your cooking equipment! Nice cook, I like cast iron too and now my favorite skillets are a Lodge carbon steel 10" and 12". For me they do just as good as cast iron and a little lighter to handle. Don
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: sliding_billy on August 11, 2013, 11:24:07 AM: Looks good.
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: sparky on August 11, 2013, 05:34:35 PM: Quote from: smokeasaurus on August 10, 2013, 11:05:35 PM
Plate me please :P :P

me too. 8)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 11, 2013, 06:26:41 PM: Thanks guys; we did a similar brunch this morning but this time I used carne asada seasoning of the flat iron steak - came out very tasty.

Quote from: Smokin Don on August 11, 2013, 12:28:59 AM
... I like cast iron too and now my favorite skillets are a Lodge carbon steel 10" and 12". For me they do just as good as cast iron and a little lighter to handle. Don

That's good to know, Don - I'll trust anything from Lodge (http://www.niscienceclasses.org/main/Smileys/fantasticsmileys/main_thumbsup.gif)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Dakota Don on August 11, 2013, 06:56:25 PM: Quote from: Smokin Don on August 11, 2013, 12:28:59 AM
... I like cast iron too and now my favorite skillets are a Lodge carbon steel 10" and 12". For me they do just as good as cast iron and a little lighter to handle. Don

You HAVE my attention... DON, the timing here is awesome...I've been wanting to add a few GOOD pans to my arsenal, was going to grab cast iron, but my wife is concerned about the weight (she says she's getting old and can't life a lot anymore, I sure am glad I don't have that problem), ;) does the Carbon steel season and perform as well as cast iron?? ::)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 11, 2013, 07:05:46 PM: Still had half of the original flat iron steak from yesterday so my wife wanted more of what we had yesterday. I'm not going to argue with that! (My other choice was to do yard work)

Basically the same as yesterday but using carne asada seasoning and mushrooms
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wiPxqY0RMdU/UggYB4AvwxI/AAAAAAAAC_c/SImFip8lDac/w1279-h853-no/IMG_1766.JPG)
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: drholly on August 12, 2013, 12:50:44 AM: pz - that is killer! Very nice.
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: pz on August 12, 2013, 01:15:40 AM: Thanks David, can't go wrong with tasty little tacos! ;D
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: drholly on August 12, 2013, 01:38:51 AM: You got that right!
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Dakota Don on August 13, 2013, 03:04:56 AM: David, THANKS for the info and the link on the mineral steel, very interesting (yes, there's some in my shopping cart now SHhhhhhhh) ::) ;)
Smokin Don, THANKS for the heads up on the Lodge carbon steel. I'm now exploring this as well (price, etc.)

I'm excited by the lighter weight and comparable (or better?) performance to cast iron. And money is no object, as I don't have much anyway. :-\ :D
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Wing Commander on August 13, 2013, 06:05:43 AM: Great job! I like the idea with the pot lid.
Title: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: Chili Head on September 02, 2013, 12:46:22 AM: Top notch cook any way you look at it! Very nice!
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: fishingbouchman on September 02, 2013, 01:22:34 AM: looks outstanding
Title: Re: Flat iron steak street tacos
Post by: africanmeat on September 02, 2013, 08:34:53 AM: looks great .