DATE NIGHT
Steak and Shrimp Scampi
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| Ribeye Steak with Shrimp Scampi |
Rib-Eye Steak & Shrimp Scampi
Are you looking for the perfect place to eat for date night? Consider staying home! You can create the perfect date night menu from your own kitchen. Rib-eye steak with Shrimp Scampi and a side of Grilled Smoked Cheddar Basil Potatoes will be the center piece of a wonderful evening at home with the special person in your life.
Some would say that I'm an expert at "stay at home" date night. Perhaps its because I'm the one that does the menu creating, the cooking and typically the cleaning. But hey, it's date night and I want to treat my love to a wonderful, unforgettable evening.
My favorite thing to grill is Ribeye steak. I like to put a RUB all over the steak to give it a real memorable lively taste that just makes you go uuuummmmmmm at that first bite. A steak cooked just above Rare in my opinion is a perfectly cooked steak and provides the best flavor. The perfect amount of marbled fat in a ribeye steak provides natural injected flavor that is an absolute party on your taste buds.
Adding Shrimp Scampi to the menu gives it that elegance that creates the high end Italian Steak House effect. The rich creamy Scampi Sauce has amazing flavor and the shrimp absorbs that flavor so well. Just think about this for a minute. Picture your date sitting at the table. Now picture yourself placing a nicely plated dish of Steak and Shrimp Scampi in front of her/ him. Now picture the look on her face!
It's date night so keep in mind that its not all about the food. The food is just the last episode. Or perhaps the next to last episode....I dunno. But enjoy the journey. Prepare well ahead of time. Have your steak rubbed down. Have the shrimp peeled and ready to go. Have all of the ingredients for the scampi in one location so that you can easily get to it. Put some music on. Have some wine or soda and enjoy the company just like you would at a nice restaurant. Consider some appetizers to snack on....You can find some on this very blog. Then when you feel the time is right, fire up the grill. You want it as hot as your date....So get it going early.
STEAK TIPS: Tenderize the steak before you rub it. Stab it with a fork all over the meat on both sides. When your done, form the steak back to its original shape with your hands. After you apply the rub, let the steak sit out for at least an hour if you have the time. You want to cook it at room temperature.
OK here is the menu for Ribeye Steak with Shrimp Scampi and Grilled Cheddar Basil Potatoes....DATE NIGHT!
First thing, boil some fingerling or small golden potatoes until cooked and set aside to dry and cool. Grate some aged cheddar or cheat and buy a bag of grated cheddar cheese. Set aside for later.
Rib-Eye Steak with Homemade Rub
One or two 12 ounce Ribeye's (We split one at S&M Ranch)
The Rub
1/4 cup Chili powder
1/4 Paprika
1 tbl spn sea salt
1 tbl spn Garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Cayenne pepper
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Onion powder
Mix well. Sprinkle generously all over the ribeye steak. Both sides if you want it really lively. Pat the seasoning into the meat lightly with your hands. I don't actually rub it much because you basically just move the rub around and it sticks to your fingers. Set the steak aside and let it sit at room temperature until it's ready to cook.
For extra flavor, consider drizzling just a little Worcestershire sauce on one side. Or maybe some Raspberry Chiptle sauce on one side. Oh my!
Cook your steak on the grill (I prefer Charcoal) on very high heat for about 3 or 4 minutes on each side. If you get a lot of flare ups, move it to the part of the grill with no flames and close the lid. If you have a meat thermometer cook until it's about 120 and remove from the grill. It will continue to cook so just set it on the cutting board or plate and let it set for about 10 minutes so the juices will settle and the steak will stop cooking. Now you have some scampi to make.
Easy Shrimp Scampi
I like to slightly cook the shrimp in the oven before I put it in the scampi sauce. Salt and pepper the shrimp and place it in the over in a pan and cook for about 3 minutes on 350. Turn then cook another 2 minutes or so. Use your eyes and determine if you need to cook it more or less. It will finish cooking in the scampi sauce.
Scampi Sauce
2 tbl spn butter
1 tbl spoon flour
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper (taste as you go and adjust)
Fresh basil leaves (or dried)
1 tbl spn Garlic powder
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
If you have a cast iron skillet, consider doing this on the grill. Otherwise, the stove is fine.
On medium heat (skillet) melt the butter. Add the flour and stir to create a light roux. Do this for about 2 minutes. Add the white wine and continue stirring. It will start to thicken immediately. Lower heat to medium low. Add the heavy cream. Stir continuously. Add salt and pepper and taste it. Add more salt if you feel it needs it. Add each of the other ingredients one at a time, stirring after each one. after you add the cheese and stir for about 30 seconds, add the shrimp. Let simmer for about 2 minutes. Finish it in the oven for 7 minutes or so in a small to medium dish or move it to the side of the grill with no flame and close the lid. Man oh man! This is good stuff!
Grilled Cheddar and Basil Potatoes
Cut the potatoes in half or in quarters if they are larger. Place in a bowl and add salt and pepper generously to taste. Drizzle with Canola oil or Olive oil and toss. Place the potatoes on the grill in a grill basket. Let them cook for a minute or two to start charring. Toss them around the grill basket. Add the aged cheddar and fresh Basil leaves or dried Basil and gently toss one more time. Close the lid or cover them for a few minutes while the cheese melts.
Remove the potatoes with a large spatula carefully so you don't end up with mashed potatoes. But don't stress if they get crushed a little - they're just potatoes. Top with some crushed red pepper.
Remove the Scampi. Slice the Rib-Eye Steak in thick manageable slices....and start plating! Consider saving the scampi sauce for the next day or so and make some pasta.
Enjoy date night and don't forget to mention my name - Scotty B, really cooks!
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