When it comes to good steak, there is no such thing as too much. I can’t help it, I love the stuff. I was raised on it, and I mean that literally. I spent the first 7 years of my life on a beef cattle farm in Ontario, where my parents, both city kids by birth, raised cows and showed horses. When asked as a young child what my favourite food was, my answer was inevitably steak. I asked for steak every year for my birthday dinner, and although I was a tiny child and a very picky eater, I could pack back a 12 ounce, medium-rare steak in a matter of minutes. I still can. It’s one of my rare hidden talents.
It wasn’t until later in life that I marveled that my parents were adventurous enough as newlyweds to purchase a farm and set about learning how to run one. The cattle part was probably fairly straightforward…feed them enough grass and hay, pasture them during the day, and make sure they were warm at night and during the long Canadian winters. But the showing horses part always makes me shake my head with wonder. I am sure they had ridden horses when they were younger, but they not only raised and rode the horses on the farm, they actually trained them and entered them in horse shows all over Ontario and parts of the US. And got very proficient at it, my father at one time being the Barrel-Racing champ of his Paint Horse Association. My summers were spent running in packs with other kids on the dusty grounds of horse shows, watching races and generally wreaking havoc. The freedom we had back then was astonishing.
And then we moved into the city and I became a city kid through and through. I still am a city kid, and I can’t for the life of me imagine taking on the responsibility of running a farm and raising cows and horses. Nor would I want to. But I admire my parents greatly for their sense of adventure in doing so. It sometimes makes me see them in a different light, to imagine them as young 20-somethings, tackling a lifestyle so different from the one they grew up with. Amazing, truly.
And if I have one lasting legacy from my days on the farm, it is my love of steak. This recipe is a delicious way to serve leftover steak…if you have any. If I was in your family, there would never be any leftovers. Although I might be able to make an exception for this. I adore steak salad, and top it with a browned butter sauce with mushrooms and sage? Heavenly.
Warm Steak Salad with Mushroom Browned Butter
Ingredients
- 12 oz steak we like boneless rib eye
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 oz baby bella mushrooms
- 6 tbsp butter
- 12 fresh sage leaves chopped
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- additional salt and pepper if desired
Instructions
- Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper, and grill or broil to desired doneness (medium or medium-rare).
- Slice steak thinly across the grain.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and cook until it is just beginning to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and sage, and saute until fragrant and sage is crispy, 4 minutes more.
- Divide spinach between 2 large plates and arrange sliced steak over top.
- Pour mushroom sauce over each and sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.
Judy@lifeonthefoodchain.com says
This too funny. I actually have leftover steak, mushroom and spinach salad packed for my work lunch today. It was a restaurant filet; I finished mine, my big husband did not, and now its mine, lol. I could probably eat a 16 oz. steak. If I had access to a stove at work, it wouldn’t be blue cheese dressing in my dressing container. This is absolutely inspired!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
We love steak salads for dinner…I never thought about using mushrooms and browned butter..omg, over the top!
Katharine says
This salad looks delicious!! And I love the story about your parents.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Brown butter is always the best way to cook mushrooms. Oh this looks so good!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
It sounds like you had an exciting childhood! If it were up to me, I’d move to a veggie farm, but I’m fairly certain my husband would divorce me. 🙂
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Dinner tonight!!
Beverly says
mushrooms and steak is perhaps my favorite combination in the world. I like to make a quick pan sauce with cream, garlic and mushrooms, but I will definitely be trying out your sage brown butter mushrooms. Sage is such a great, earthy herb!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
this looks delish girl!
Cassie says
This whole things works for me Carolyn! I love steak salad!
Beth M. says
Wow, your timing is impeccable! I have leftover steak from grilling last night, and it’s just a tad dry, so I’ve been wondering what would make a good sauce to moisten it up a bit. This is perfect – thank you!! How did you know?
RavieNomNoms says
I hear ya on that! While I have lost my taste for beef as I have gotten older…I was able to put away A LOT of it when I was younger. I ate a 18oz steak one year at a family dinner. I couldn’t even think about doing that now! haha
Medeja says
How gorgeous! I can almost taste it.. 😀
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
Hubby would love to have a farm and raise cattle if it wasn’t for all the hard work involved. Kudos to your parents for embracing that lifestyle. It’s tough. I’m with you on the steak love all the way through that 12-ounce medium rare piece. I can’t get enough of it. Topping it with mushroom brown butter? Wow.
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
This sounds delicious! I love the story about your parents, that’s a gutsy move to take on that responsibility..
Robin Bennett says
Carolyn, this looks so good! I think I will share it with my husband so he can cook it for me!
Robin
Christie Fine says
I am making this for dinner tonight, and I can’t wait to eat it!
Carole says
Hi there. This week’s Food on Friday is all about mushrooms! So it would be great if you linked this in. This is the link . Have a good week.