Rib steaks with mushrooms and asparagus

I was in the mood for a good steak the other night. I had plenty of meat in the freezer, but I wanted a steak, so I stopped at the grocery on the way home. They had a great looking rib steak, thick and nicely marbled, so I bought that, along with some mushrooms and asparagus.

For a while I was debating between the charcoal grill and the broiler. Charcoal, of course, gives that great smokey flavor. Broiling, on the other hand, lets me cook the mushrooms and asparagus in the steak fat, which gives them a rich flavor. In the end, I opted for the broiler. Here’s how I put this together. The amounts I specify are per person. Ok, you can use smaller steaks if you insist. For me, if I’m eating steak, I want big and thick.

One large rib steak, about 1-1/4 lb.

Cajun seasoning

Cooking spray (Pam)

1/4 lb. sliced mushrooms

1/2 lb. asparagus

1 tbs. butter

Preparation

Take the steak and season it lightly on both sides with cajun seasoning. Pre-heat the broiler, but drop the rack down one level from the closest to the flame. If the steak was thinner, I’d set it up close, but because it is thick, it will take longer for it to reach medium rare, so lowering the rack will let it cook evenly.

Take a large cast iron pan, and spray it with cooking spray. Set the steak on it, and set it under the broiler. Broil it until it is sizzling and charred on the top, somewhere between five or ten minutes. Turn the steak over and return it to the broiler. This side will only need a couple of minutes because it will reach medium rare quickly. Remove the steak from the pan, set it on a dinner plate, place a pat of butter on the steak, and set that somewhere to keep warm.

Add the sliced mushrooms and the asparagus to the cast iron pan, and shake it to coat them with the steak fat. Give them a stir as well. Return the pan to the broiler, for about five minutes. Stir the asparagus and mushrooms, and set them back under the broiler. About another five minutes will have them sizzling nicely.

Serving

Set the asparagus next to the steak, and put the mushrooms on and around the steak. You also want a good tossed salad, a block of Parmesan cheese, some homemade bread and butter, and a good bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I suggest turning your phone off before you start eating. You don’t want to be interrupted as you enjoy this one!