This Italian Steak Sandwich is addicting! So, get ready!
Ingredients:
-Good bakery quality semolina bread. (If you don't use a good quality bread, it just won't be the same)
-4 or 5 cups of small fresh basil leaves (the large leafs tend to taste like mint which isn't good for this recipe)
-1/2 clove of garlic
-1 1/2 cup of olive oil (Basil infused olive oil works great if you have it available)
-1/4 cup of pignoli (pine) nuts
-1/4 of a small peeled red onion
-1 tsp of thyme
-2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
-1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
-1/2 tsp sea salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-Skirt steak (enough to cover the loaf of semolina)
-1 lb of fresh mozzarella sliced into 1/4" slices
-1 tsp paprika
-1/2 stick of lightly salted butter
-1 tbsp garlic powder
-1 tbsp of dipping spices
-1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions
1- Set 1/4 cup of basil aside for the garlic bread.
2- In a blender or a bullet combine basil, olive oil, pignoli nuts, red onion, thyme, lemon juice, grated parmesan cheese, sea salt, pepper & half garlic clove & blend on high until everything is blended together to form a uniform green color and then set aside.
3-Slice open the semolina bread long ways & place on a baking sheet or tin foil or both.
4-Melt butter & olive oil in a small pan & then brush onto both open sides of the bread.
5- Place the mozzarella slices evenly accross the top half of the bread.
6-Next, sprinkle evenly onto both sides of the bread, garlic powder, dipping spices & paprika.
7-Then evenly sprinkle onto the bread the parsley & remaining basil.
8-Lightly salt the steak and then grill, broil or pan sear (whatever you prefer) until steak is med rare. Then remove from heat & allow to rest while toasting the bread.
9-Place the bread on a high rack close to the broiling flame (or heating element if you are forced to use an electric oven) and toast until the cheese is melted and the bread starts to lightly brown and then remove from broiler. (This usually takes less than 10 minutes depending on the oven/broiler)
10-Slice the rested steak and place the slices evenly accross the bottom half of the toasted garlic bread.
11-Drizzle the pesto accross the cheese side & the meat side of the bread, then close the bread and slice into desired size pieces.
This Italian Steak Sandwich is absolutely delicious and pairs best with Smoke Eater "First Due Red" Pinotage!
Mangia!