Spice Rubbed Strip Steaks with Blue Cheese Butter

A Perfect Valentine’s Day Treat

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner? This recipe by Chef Christine is just what you need. Taught in her Mise En Place class, it showcases bold flavors and the perfect balance of ingredients. The spice-rubbed strip steak with blue cheese butter, paired with creamy polenta and wild mushroom ragu, brings together tender, juicy steak with rich, savory sides—making it the ideal choice for a romantic evening.

Blue Cheese Butter

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, crumbled blue cheese, parsley, basil, and minced garlic.
2. Stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.
3. Once the steak is cooked and rested, top with a generous dollop of the blue cheese butter before serving.

Spice Rubbed Strip Steaks

Ingredients:

• 2 strip steaks or rib-eye steaks
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 2 cloves garlic, planed or put through a garlic press
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dill seeds

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, onion powder, and dill seeds. Using the side of a knife, smash the garlic cloves to remove the skins and chop finely. Using a citrus zester, remove about half of an orange’s peel. Place this in the bowl and mix all ingredients together.
2. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Gently massage the seasoning over both sides of each steak and let the meat marinate for at least 20 minutes.
3. In the meantime, place the cast iron pan in an oven and set the temperature to 450°F. Once the oven reaches temperature, carefully remove the pan from the oven to the stovetop. Turn the heat on the stovetop to medium-high.
4. Add a knob of butter or a couple of swirls of oil to the pan. Gently place each steak in the pan, being sure not to crowd the pan. Sear for 2 minutes, flip, and cook for 2 minutes. Continue to flip every 2 minutes for a total of about 8 minutes for medium-rare (122–124°F), longer if desired.
5. Remove steaks and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Top with Blue Cheese Butter and serve with Creamy Polenta topped with Wild Mushroom Ragu.

Want more Valentine’s Day dinner inspiration? Check out these other delicious recipes from Chef Christine’s Mise En Place class:

• Lemony Leafy Greens
• Creamy Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragu
• Apple Cinnamon Cake