Ingredients

  • 4 (250 g) sirloin steaks, preferably 5 cm thick and marbled
  • ground black pepper
  • 250 g butter, at room temperature
  • 8 cloves confited garlic, peeled (see how to make in recipe below)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon, zest of, finely grated
  • GARLIC CONFIT
  • 6 heads garlic
  • 6 sprigs thyme
  • vegetable oil

Method

  • Make sure the steaks are trimmed of all fat that you want - leave some on as this is a source of great flavour.
  • Grind over with as much black pepper as you want and set to one side.
  • Make the butter, which is better done the night before use.
  • In a mixing bowl, mash all the ingredients together with a potato masher and then whisk to combine.
  • The finished butter can then be placed in a serving bowl or rolled in grease proof paper to a sausage shape.
  • The latter can be frozen and the former is best refrigerated.
  • Cook the steak in a hot pan or on the open slat of your very hot barbeque - leave to sit for 2 minutes.
  • Turn to cook on the other side.
  • Cook the meat a further 2 minutes - turn onto a spot which has medium heat and cook for 3 minutes on each side and your steak will be cooked medium.
  • If you want rare, cook it only 1 minute on each side and well done will need 5 minutes each side after the initial sealing of the meat.
  • Lift meat onto a warmed plate and leave to sit for 3 minutes.
  • Serve onto individual plates with the butter cut into rings, 3 cms thick; if using the bowl method, remove the butter from the refrigerator 20 minutes before use and serve with a spoon on the side.
  • The butter is delicious as it melts over the steak.
  • Serve with barbequed sliced potatoes and a green salad.
  • GARLIC CONFIT----------.
  • Trim about a third of the garlic head away and discard.
  • Pack the whole garlic into a saucepan, root down and cover with the oil.
  • Cook over really low heat for 1 hours - the garlic will brown slightly; the slower the cooking, the more flavour is released.
  • Remove from the heat, cool and then pack into a suitable storage container with the oil.
  • The garlic can be used wherever - great crushed and on heated ciabatta or in mayonnaises.
  • The oil is sensational for salad dressings and cooking.