A Super Easy Dinner

In our family every one loves to eat steak. But we are picky with it when we are cooking for friends. My mother always serves it with salad and baked potatoes. My aunt serves it with rice. However I like to serve it with some mashed potato and rice with peas. 
It is super easy because you can work on several things at a time. 

I started with marinating the steak and then boiled the potatoes. While they were boiling I cooked the rice. And then I mashed the potatoes. 

I recommend you wait for your guests to arrive before you start cooking the steaks because when they become cold and when you heat them again, they become as hard as a rock. I don't think anyone would appreciate that. 

Also for the mashed potatoes I used milk instead of heavy cream so that the dish is lighter and healthier. 




So, here is the recipe for a super easy steak dinner. 

Ingredients: 
4 steaks (I used sirloin)
4 medium potatoes, peeled
1/2 cup peas (I used frozen)
1 cup rice
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon butter
olive oil
100 mL of milk, until your potatoes are creamy
1/3 cup of cheese, grated
1 clove garlic
salt, pepper
red pepper flakes

Directions:
1) Put the steaks in a bowl and add some olive oil. Grate 1 garlic clove on top of the steaks. Add some black pepper and red pepper flakes. Do not add salt. By using your hands, coat the steaks with this oil mixture. Let them rest for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. It is better if you rest them for about 2-3 hours but I didn't have that much time. So you can do this in advance. 

2) Slice the potatoes into cubes. In a large pot add water (room temperature, not cold not hot). Then add the potatoes. Let them cook until tender.  

3) While the potatoes are boiling in a separate pot start cooking the "pilav". First of all add a tablespoon of olive oil. Wash the rice under water. This washing process is important because it makes the rice get rid of the extra starch. If there is too much starch, your rice will become sticky and that is not what we want. 

4)Add the peas into the oil and then pot a tablespoon of water. Cover the pot and cook them for about 2-3 minutes. When the water level is lower, add in the rice. Stir the rice and continue stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Add in 1 1/2 cup of hot water. Add some salt and let this until there is no more water in the pan (you can add some water if the rice is still undercooked). 

5) While the rice is cooking drain the potatoes. Transfer them into the same pot that you boiled them. By using a potato masher or a fork, mash the potatoes well. Then start pouring the milk slowly. Finally add in the cheese and put it back to the stove. Cook it for about 3-4 minutes. Add in a tablespoon of butter and season it. Stir and your mashed potatoes are ready. 

6) When the rice has absorbed all the water add in a small piece of butter. Then cover the pot with a cloth. Close the lid. This process prevents the rice again from being too sticky. 

7) When your guests arrive, start cooking your steaks. Take a pan and add a little bit of olive oil. Heat it and wait until the pan is super hot. Then place the steaks. Do not flip them. You can cook them as the way you like however my folks do not to see and red or pinkish part with their steaks so I cooked these ones super well done. Flip them and add some salt. By using a spoon pour some of the oil on the bottom of the pan onto the steaks. This way the tops of your steaks will continue cooking. 

Multitasking in progress

8) When your steaks are done plate the dish the way you like.