You all might be getting sick of my husband stories. I know, believe me, we do not need to know about every couple’s every move. But, I try not to be so PDA (public display of affection) style. So, maybe you guys don’t mind.
Regardless of all this, I had to make something for my husband’s birthday. Out of the four years we have been together, two of them married, I have never cooked for him on his birthday. We opt for going out. When, I first met my husband, in the early stages, I made lofty promises that I would make my husband this and that, including a rack of lamb (forget about it), an all-American burger (done!) and other things I can’t even bother to remember.
On this birthday, I was stumped, I even considered making the rack of lamb, but the butcher only had one sorry-looking rack left. Thus, I was saved from that task. My husband is a carnivore, so I knew red meat would have to be an option. I love ribeye steaks, so juicy, tender, and flavorful. I picked some up and went on from there.
At the farmer’s market, I saw garlic scapes, for the first time in person. They almost reminded me of coiled parrot-green snakes, smooth and bright. I have been intrigued by them for a few years and really wanted to use the garlic scapes in a dish. The vendor told me they are great grilled or in a pesto. I bought them and brought them home, and decided to try and make a salsa out of them. Mind you, I was taking a risk on my husband’s birthday dinner and it may have well all failed and we would be going out for his birthday. Thankfully, the salsa came together nicely. Pungent, herbacious and ready to take on the bold flavors of the steak.
All that was left was the the corn salad. It was so simple and fresh. As a last-minute addition I decided to toss in some toasted pumpkin seeds. The crunch, texture, and most of all the salty goodness really elevated the salad. I was proud of myself for coming up with this meal for my husband’s birthday. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and loved actually plating the dish in restaurant style. For me, it’s all about the colors and this dish delivered vibrancy. Most of all my husband loved it.
Ribeye Steaks with a Garlic Scape Salsa Verde and an Avocado, Corn, Tomato Salad
Serves 2 big eaters
for the Salsa Verde:
Ingredients
10-15 garlic scapes
1/2 a bunch cilantro
1 cup packed basil leaves
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded if you wish
juice of one juicy lime
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
water to loosen it up, if necessary
Method
On a grill pan or sauté pan, cook the garlic scapes on medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until they are lightly charred. Add all the herbs including the garlic scapes into a blender or food processor. Begin to pulse a few times, toss in the jalapenos, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Run your blender or food processor until everything is finely chopped, next stream in the extra virgin olive oil until everything is uniform and combined. If the mixture is too thick, loosen it up with some water. If you want to be extra perfect run the sauce through a sieve, I didn’t do this. Before serving, lightly warm the salsa verde in a saucepan.
for the Avocado, Corn, and Tomato Salad:
Ingredients
1 cup fresh corn
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes,halved
1 avocado, in chunks
juice of one lime
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
a few sprigs of cilantro, chives, and garlic scapes, chopped
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Method
Mix together all the ingredients—so simple!
for the Steaks:
Ingredients
2- 1 pound ribeye steaks, at room temperature, I used boneless
generous amounts of salt and black pepper)
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the steaks with the salt and pepper on both sides and drizzle with a little olive oil. Heat a large oven-safe sauté pan on the stove (medium heat). Place the steaks in the hot pan on the stove and do not touch them for about 5 minutes. Flip them over and cook for one minute on the stove top and transfer the pan to oven for 4-5 more minutes for medium rare. Remove them from the oven and let them rest for 10-15 minutes.
to assemble the plate:
Spoon the salsa verde on the bottom of a plate, as much as you like, I used about 1/2 a cup per plate. Place the rested steak on top, if you wish you can slice it against the grain on an angle and arrange it over top, I chose to leave it whole. Place some of the corn salad on top on the steak and sprinkle a few toasted pumpkin seeds around the plate.
*No birthday is complete without a cake. So, I also made him his favorite vanilla bean cheesecake, which I will put up soon.
Nadia this looks AWESOME. My husband’s birthday is next wednesday and I was plannin on making him a ribeye too…what can I say, great minds think alike! 🙂
Beautiful dish and happy birthday to your beau!
Thanks so much, Joy! I’m sure your ribeye creation will be amazing. Can’t wait to see it.
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Nadia
Ribeye steaks cooked to perfection are the one and only thing I miss about my ex-husband; I think it is high time I enjoy them again with your fabulous recipe!
Thanks, Joumana! Yes, you don’t need a man to enjoy steaks, go for it!
deeelish! love the vibrant colors …. great birthday idea!
thankssssss
oh what a wonderful meal he must have been in heaven – Rebecca
Thanks, he really in enjoyed this one!
Every time I read one of your recipes…I want to rush to the fridge for something to eat. This looks easy and YUM, but I don’t know about the garlic whatevers where will I find them ? any subs?
Thanks so much, Nishat Aunty. The garlic scapes are usually in farmer’s markets. Just leave them out or try grilling scallions and adding some garlic in their place.
Best bday dinner ever!!!! See its simple being married to me….anything that has meat will do the trick. I appreciate all the effort and time you put into this dinner…I guess we need to go shopping now to show the appreciation?
Love,
husbo
Btw, will this be a new tradition from now?
Thanks, husbo. Shopping=yes. Tradition=we will see! 🙂
That steak looks like it’s perfectly cooked! I say you take the hubster up on his offer to take you shopping after cooking him such a perfect meal 🙂
Thanks! Oh believe me when I say I took him up on it and will continue taking him up on it. I won’t let him forget the effort I put into this dinner. hehehehe
[…] Ribeye Steaks wіtһ a Garlic Scape Salsa Verde аחԁ аח Avocado, Cor… […]
Lovely presentation! My husband celebrated his b’day last week and I made him all his favorite treats.
Thanks, Priyanka! Happy Birthday to your husband, what did you make for him?
LOve the presentation Nadia:) I know it must be so good!!!!!!
Thanksssss
What a colorful dish! Love the garlic scape salsa:-)
Thanks so much, Marc!
wow…. i was staring at that steak for a couple of minutes… best birthday dinner any man can ask for !
Thankssss, I’m sure your bday dinner next year will be memorable too!
I’ve never used garlic scapes, but this salsa verde looks awesome! What a meal! I wish someone would make this for me on my birthday!
Thanks, Katie! If you can get your hands on them you should definitely try them.
I’ve never cooked with garlic scapes. I can’t wait to try them!
Love the recipe & garlic scapes! Happy Birthday to your hubby!!! 🙂
wow!! looks so yummy!
what’s in that other dish??
and how do garlic scapes taste? are they just the leaves that sprout from the bulb?
Oh, THAT’s a garlic scape! I bought them once but didn’t know which part of the garlic it was! What a beautiful meal for your husband’s birthday!
What a beautiful dish…I love, love the presentation:)
Wow! This looks so good, perfect summer steak dish. Love the corn and the scape salsa verde!!
Hi. It made me hungry just reading these. Going to try this over the weekend