Spiced Skirt Steak With Whole Roasted Plantains

Spiced Skirt Steak With Whole Roasted Plantains
Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(118)
Comments
Read comments

Arrachera, the cut of meat that is usually translated as "skirt steak," is very popular for grilling in Latin America, and also in the United States among butchers — because they know the difference between the inside and the outside skirt. The arrachera is the outside skirt, and it's thicker, much more flavorful and usually more tender than the inside, a flatter and fibrous cut. (The names refer to which part lies deeper inside the animal.) The chef Eric Werner serves this at Hartwood, in Tulum, Mexico, where all the cooking is done over wood; if you have a grill, this steak will benefit from it. Cook it over high heat, but just for long enough to sear the outside. The plantains are absurdly simple to make but have an especially lovely texture from being roasted in their skins. Think of them together as steak and potatoes, and serve with a salad to make a fast weeknight dinner. —Julia Moskin

Featured in: Rewriting the Menu in Tulum

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 212-ounce skirt steaks, at least ¾-inch thick (this cut is sometimes called “outside skirt”)
  • 2teaspoons coarse salt
  • 2teaspoons freshly ground pimento or Tabasco, or 1 teaspoon each black pepper and allspice
  • 4large plantains, very ripe (mostly black but with some yellow, and not mushy)
  • Honey for drizzling, preferably raw
  • 1stick cinnamon or canela, or a pinch ground cinnamon
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Trim steak of any fat and membrane. Mix salt and pimiento Tabasco and rub lightly into steaks. (This can be done up to 4 hours ahead.)

  2. Step 2

    Heat a grill or place a heavy skillet over high heat. Heat oven to 450 degrees and place another large cast-iron skillet inside. When oven is hot, place plantains, skin on, in the oven skillet. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until the skins split at the seams and the natural sugars caramelize on the skin.

  3. Step 3

    Place steak on grill or in the skillet on top of the stove. Sear, turning a few times, until crisp outside and rare to medium-rare inside (8 to 10 minutes).

  4. Step 4

    Remove steak from pan, tent with foil and let rest 3 to 4 minutes, turning a few times to allow juices to absorb evenly through the meat. To serve, cut each steak in half crosswise, then cut each half in thick slices against the grain. Divide slices between four plates and add a whole plantain to each, opening seams with a sharp knife to expose the flesh. Drizzle each plantain lightly with honey, then grate a dusting of cinnamon on top.

Ratings

4 out of 5
118 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

I loved this. I used the combination of allspice and black pepper and was dazzled by it.

Outstanding. Did the allspice & pepper blend. Plantains were mushier than I expected but I cut them into slices & fried them in a little ghee and they were divine.

Outstanding. Did the allspice & pepper blend. Plantains were mushier than I expected but I cut them into slices & fried them in a little ghee and they were divine.

One of my all time favorite recipes. Very easy to prepare and perfect for grilling outside with minimal set up. The allspice adds a very unique unidentifiable flavor and the plantains are really good. If your market doesn't have really ripe plantains available, plan on buying them at least a week in advance to ripen before cooking.

I loved this. I used the combination of allspice and black pepper and was dazzled by it.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Credits

Adapted from Eric Werner, Hartwood, Tulum, Mexico

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.