pan fried lemon- garlic rib eye steaks

pan fried lemon- garlic rib eye steaks

Yield: 2 steaks

Prep Time: 25 min + marinating time

Cook Time: 5 min

For best results, search high and low for some good quality rib-eye steaks (good quality meat can make a big difference in the resulting flavor).

Ingredients:

Two 8-ounce rib eye steaks, trimmed of excess fat
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano, divided
1 tablespoon salted butter
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 medium lemon

Directions:

1. Rub both sides of the steaks with the split garlic halves. Coat both sides of the steaks with a generous sprinkle of pepper. Coat each steak with 1/2 tablespoon oil and press on 1/2 tablespoon of the oregano. Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour (see tips).

2. Preheat a large skillet to medium-heat. Add the butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Remove the steaks from the plastic wrap and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon salt. Add the steaks to the hot pan and cook 2 minutes on the first side, or until they are seared a nice, deep brown. Turn the steaks over and add the lemon to the pan, cut-side-down. Turn heat to medium-low and cook for 2 1/2 minutes more, or until the steaks become browned on the bottom. Your steaks will be medium rare at this point. Add a little more cooking time if you prefer your steak more well-done. Remove the steaks to the cutting board and let them rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Squeeze the pan-fried lemon over the two steaks. Serve immediately.

Tips:

*To make this recipe dairy-free, leave out the butter and use all olive oil instead.
*Cooking a steak at room temperature will allow for it to cook more evenly and quickly.
*You'll get a better result in pan-frying your steaks if you avoid using a nonstick skillet. The steaks will brown more nicely and hold a better texture if you opt for a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet.
MAKE-AHEAD TIP: Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or up to 1 day. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
USING THE GRILL INSTEAD: Preheat your grill to medium and grill the steaks 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill the lemon cut-side-down.