Southwestern Steak Salad

Michael finds inspiration everywhere and ends up with a southwestern steak salad, spicy sweet potato soup with crispy tortillas, and green rice with cilantro.

Green Rice with Cilantro

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Green Rice with Cilantro

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, peeled and diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 2 cups water or chicken broth
• Bay leaf
• Salt
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

Green Rice with Cilantro

1. Using a small pot over medium-high heat sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil.
2. Stir until they soften, then add the rice.
3. Stir to coat it well with the oil.
4. Add water or broth and bay leaf and season with salt.
5. Bring to a simmer, stir and then cover with a tight fitting lid. Turn the heat to low.
6. Let simmer until all the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
7. Fluff rice with fork and stir in cilantro.

Southwestern Steak Salad

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

The Steak

• 3 tbsp coriander seed
• 3 tbsp cumin seed
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced into a paste
• 1 1/2 cup olive oil
• Dash hot sauce
• 2 tbsp mustard
• Salt
• 1 lb. flank steak

The Dressing

• 1/4 cup salsa
• Half a lime, juiced
• 2 Tbsps olive oil
• Salt and pepper

The Salad

• 4 large handfuls of baby greens, washed and dried
• 1 cup cilantro leaves
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 cup grated cheddar

Directions:

The Steak

1. Grind coriander and cumin seed in a spice grinder, coffee grinder or mortar and pestle and place in a medium sized bowl.
2. Add garlic, oil, hot sauce and mustard and stir.
3. Place the steak into a resealable freezer bag and pour in the marinade.
4. Seal and rub the marinade into the meat, making sure it’s well coated. Put in fridge for at least 1 hour, or as long as overnight.
5. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
6. Turn and sear on other side for 5 minutes more, or until steak is medium rare.
7. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes, and then slice thinly across the grain of the meat.

The Dressing

1. Place salad dressing ingredients into the bottom of a salad bowl and whisk together.

The Salad

1. Add greens, cilantro, red pepper, grated cheese, and flank steak to the salad bowl. Toss well and serve.

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Crispy Tortillas

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 large sweet potatoes, washed and grated
• 1 chipotle pepper, in adobe sauce
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Salt

The Garnish

• 1 x small bunch cilantro, minced
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Salt and pepper
• 1 x flour tortilla

Directions:

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat and add oil and onions. Sauté until golden brown.
3. Add the stock and grated sweet potatoes and stir.
4. Bring to a simmer and add chipotle pepper, cinnamon and salt.
5. Continue to simmer until potatoes have softened.
6. Puree in a blender, or with an immersion blender.
7. Adjust seasoning and, if necessary, adjust the thickness by adding a cup or so of water.

The Garnish

1. Stir cilantro into sour cream and season with salt and pepper.
2. Roll tortilla into a cigar shape and slice thinly.
3. Place on a baking sheet and bake until crispy, about 15 minutes.
4. Top each bowl of soup with a dollop of sour cream and a handful of the tortilla chips.

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