FOODS OF THE CAPE: BRAISED STEAK WITH PEPERS

BRAISED STEAK IN PEPPERS (Capsicum) SAUCE

I simply love steak. Some meat lovers consider steak to be a really dry piece of meat when roasted in a solid base pot or when braaied over the fire because it has very little or not fat. But I think it's this quality of the steak that makes it really great since it allows one to prepare it in a sauce to make it succulent and juicy. The beauty of steak is that is has no bones which means it lies fairly flat in a relatively hot solid base pot thus simple to sheer on either side, to seal-in its flavour. If it's also tenderized, it cooks fairly fast but has a tendency to curl. When this happens, just cut a slip from the center of the piece of steak to the edge and it would once again behave it self.

Prime Steak washed and drained

Steak cut into longish strips

However when steak is cut into strips and sheered on all side in a pot, it just locks in its goodness and it releases its flavour to the sauce it is prepared in. Braised steak is a very nourishing and a fairly quick dish to make, especially for people on diet because its high in protein yet lower in calories than fatty meat. It makes for a quick meal when you feel too lazy to cook and easily serves two. Braised steak tales about 45 mins to prepare.

INGREDIENTS

2 medium sized onions, chopped
1 large green bell peppers (Capsicum) cut in to longish strips
1 large red bell peppers (Capsicum) cut in to longish strips
1 yellow bell pepper cut in to longish strips
2 cloves of garlic fines chopped
1/2 kg tenderized steak, washed & drained, cut into 1 cm wide strips.
1/2 tsp of salt (add salt to taste)
2 tsp of ground peppercorns
1 tsp black pepper
5 -6 cloves
5 -6 all spice balls

METHOD

Lavishly pour Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pot and allow to heat then add salt, pepper, cloves and the all spice balls but don't burn the oil. Don't close the pot and let the spices fry in the oil for 2-3 minutes then add the chopped onions. This allows the flavour of these spices to infuse into the olive oil and onions. Increase the heat and allow onions to braise and when translucent add the strips of steak to the mix and let it roast, continuously tossing the steak so that is fries uniformly.

Olive oil and spices

Clove, salt, pepper and all spice frying in Olive oil

Chopped onions and Olive oil

Onions braised with spces

The strips of steak added to the onions and spices

The spice infused oil would have penetrated the steak adding moisture and the aroma and flavour of everything roasting together just makes your mouth water. Serve with buttered Portuguese or Kitka Rolls covered in sesame seeds. Add some green salad on the side.