Last week, we celebrated Father’s Day with a Smoked Maple Old Fashioned and Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you’re still looking for a way to treat Dad this Father’s Day weekend, this week’s recipe may be the easiest crowd-pleaser yet.
A perfectly cooked steak feels like a special occasion all on its own. Add a rich compound butter melting over the top, and suddenly your backyard grill starts feeling a lot like a high-end steakhouse.
For this week’s Cook’s Corner, we’re making a cast-iron ribeye topped with blue cheese butter. Don’t worry if blue cheese isn’t your thing, I’ve included a garlic herb butter option that is equally delicious. Both butters can be made ahead of time and are just as good spread on warm toasted bread as they are melting over a hot steak. In fact, serving a basket of toasted bread with one of these flavored butters might be the easiest appetizer you’ll make all summer.
If you’re looking to keep things local, consider picking up your steaks from favorites like Tate Meatworks or Knockout Butchery. Both are known for quality cuts that can take your Father’s Day dinner from good to unforgettable.
As for sides, this steak pairs beautifully with roasted garlic potatoes, grilled asparagus, loaded baked potatoes, creamed spinach, mac and cheese or a simple wedge salad. And if you’re following along from last week’s column, that Smoked Maple Old Fashioned still makes a fantastic pairing.
Cast-Iron Ribeye Steak
Ingredients
• 2 ribeye steaks (1 to 1½ inches thick)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions
1. Remove steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
2. Pat dry and rub with olive oil.
3. Season generously with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
4. Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot.
5. Sear steaks for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, adjusting for thickness and desired doneness.
6. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5-10 minutes.
7. Top each steak with a generous slice of compound butter before serving.
Blue Cheese Butter
Ingredients
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 3 ounces blue cheese crumbles
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
• Pinch of black pepper
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
2. Spoon onto plastic wrap and roll into a log shape.
3. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
4. Slice into rounds and place on hot steaks or warm bread.
Garlic Herb Butter (Blue Cheese Alternative)
Ingredients
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Pinch of salt
As families across Spartanburg celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, we wish all the dads, grandfathers, stepdads and father figures out there a very happy Father’s Day. Whether the day includes a backyard cookout, a family gathering or simply a little well-deserved relaxation, good food has a way of bringing everyone together.
If you’re still looking for a last-minute gift, consider keeping it simple: a quality steak from a local butcher, a new grilling tool, a favorite bottle of bourbon, tickets to a ballgame or even the gift of an afternoon spent doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes that’s exactly what Dad wants.
And if Dad decides he’s taking over the grill instead of using a cast-iron skillet, here’s a quick tip: let the steaks come to room temperature before cooking, season generously and resist the urge to flip them constantly. A hot grill, a good cut of meat and a little patience go a long way.
However you celebrate, here’s to great food, great company and the dads who make Spartanburg a little better every day.
Have a recipe worth sharing? The Cook’s Corner welcomes submissions from home cooks, local residents, chefs, and restaurants throughout our community. Selected contributors may be contacted for a brief interview so we can share the story behind the dish. To submit a recipe or inquire about a collaboration, email thekitchencorrespondent87@gmail.com.
