PEPPER STEAK PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Strip the rosemary and thyme into a pestle and mortar with a good pinch of black pepper, bash to a paste, then muddle in the red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Rub all over the steaks and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
  2. Deseed and finely dice the peppers, then dress with extra virgin olive oil and put aside. Quarter the mushrooms, then pick and finely chop the parsley leaves.
  3. Get all the other ingredients measured out and ready to go, as you want everything to happen within 6 minutes once the steaks hit the pan – read to the end of the next paragraph before you start cooking so you know what’s coming.
  4. Place a large frying pan on a high heat to get screaming hot. Brush the herbs off the steaks, then place the steaks in the pan with a drizzle of olive oil and the butter.
  5. Cook for 6 minutes in total, turning regularly and keeping them moving in the pan, making sure to sear the edges and baste with the juices, as you go.
  6. Within this time, as soon as the butter turns dark golden and the steak has good colour and character, add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt and pepper, jiggling the pan to keep things moving.
  7. Pour in the brandy, then carefully tilt the pan to catch the flame (or light with a long match) and let it flambé – stand back! When the flames subside, add the red wine and reduce by half (if you need to put the flame out, swiftly place a large metal lid over the pan).
  8. Drizzle in the cream, turning the steaks in the sauce until they are nicely coated (briefly remove the steaks from the pan at this stage if your sauce is taking a while to reduce, to avoid overcooking).
  9. Sprinkle over the parsley, then stir through the mustards. Slice the steaks in half, place on a warmed plate and drizzle with the sauce, then scatter over the dressed pepper sprinkle and tuck in. Delicious served with shoestring fries.

Steps:

• Mix 1 tbsp of the soy with 1 tbsp of the shaohsing wine, 1 crushed garlic clove and half the ginger. Pour over the steak and leave for at least 20 mins or up to 1 hr. Heat a frying pan over a high heat until very hot. Take the steak out of the marinade and scrape off as much of it as you can. Rub with the vegetable oil and put in the frying pan. Leave for 2 mins, then gently move it around to catch any bits of char, which will add to the flavour. After another 30 seconds, turn the steak and cook for 2½ mins on the other side. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Mix the cornflour into the remaining soy sauce and shaohsing wine and add 150ml water. Heat the sesame oil in a wok or frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook for 1 min, stirring, then add the peppers. Cook for 4 mins, stirring regularly. Once they are starting to soften with bits of char on them, add the remaining garlic and ginger, and soy mixture. As soon as the sauce starts to thicken, remove from the heat.
• Slice the steak thinly and add to the wok, just stirring through. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and crushed peppercorns and serve with the noodles.