- Ribeyes
- North American
- Gluten-free Mains
- Stovetop Beef
- Spinach
By
Nick Kindelsperger
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Updated June 10, 2019
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About once or twice a year, I'm struck by a desire to eat steak—and not just any old cut of meat, but a gigantic, thick-cut monster. While most of my cravings can easily be satisfied by going out to eat, I find the whole steakhouse experience prohibitively expensive. Plus, I feel like I'd have to wear a tie, and I really don't want to do that. Fortunately, recreating the experience at home can be done fairly easily. Just purchase one gorgeous, well-marbeled steak, pick out a classic side—like, say, creamed spinach—and you're set to go.
Fortunately, I didn't have to spend long looking for a pan-seared ribeye steak recipe, because Kenji did all the hard work for me. Basically, it goes like this: heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet, add the steak, flip it constantly, add butter halfway through, baste it like crazy while also flipping occasionally, remove, let rest, and you're done. Works like a charm. Just make sure to have some exhaust fans going or open some windows, because there will be smoke.
Unlike the steak, I was initially unsure where to start with the creamed spinach. I read through numerous recipes, many of which were overly complicated and fussy. In the spirit of simplicity, I just focused on the cream and the spinach. To help thicken the cream so it'd stick to the leaves, I made a quick roux with butter and flour, and then seasoned it with nutmeg and salt. For the spinach, I cooked it carefully with a little more butter until it just started to wilt, and immediately turned off the heat, so that the leaves were soft but not a pile of mush. Then I just combined the two. Done.
While still something of an extravagance, I find that my wife and I can share a large steak, and there will still be some leftovers.
Recipe Details
Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe
Active30 mins
Total30 mins
Serves2 servings
Ingredients
1 large ribeye steak, approximately 1 1/2-inches thick (24 to 30 ounces)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable orcanola oil
5 tablespoons butter, divided
6 sprigs thyme or rosemary (optional)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 pound spinach, washed and rinsed, cut into thin strips
Pinch gratednutmeg
Coarse sea salt
Directions
Season ribeye well with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed cast-iron skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke. Carefully add steak and cook, flipping every 30 seconds or so with a pair of tongs, until a pale golden brown crust starts to develop, about 4 minutes total.
Add two tablespoons of butter to skillet. Continue flipping steak every 30 seconds, while using a spoon to baste the steak with foaming butter. (See here for a step-by-step slideshow of the process. If butter starts to smoke excessively, reduce heat to medium. Continue process until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 125°F (for medium rare), 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove steak and set aside on a large plate to rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt one tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir with a whisk until there are no lumps. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook until the roux becomes blonde and smells toasty, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and whisk continuously to avoid lumps. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of grated nutmeg, and simmer gently until thick and creamy.
Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and stir with a pair of tongs until leaves have just wilted, but still have some integrity. Turn off heat. Pour half of the cream sauce in the skillet and stir well. Add more if necessary to help bind the spinach together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Slice the steak into 1/2-inch thick slices (if desired), sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and serve with spinach on the side.
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 1442 | Calories |
| 127g | Fat |
| 11g | Carbs |
| 71g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 2 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 1442 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 127g | 162% |
| Saturated Fat 56g | 278% |
| Cholesterol 342mg | 114% |
| Sodium 1072mg | 47% |
| Total Carbohydrate 11g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber 4g | 15% |
| Total Sugars 3g | |
| Protein 71g | |
| Vitamin C 17mg | 85% |
| Calcium 311mg | 24% |
| Iron 12mg | 69% |
| Potassium 1574mg | 33% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
