Sunday, May 23, 2010

Grilled Polenta with Spicy Steak courtesy of Coooking Light June 2010

Grilled Polenta with Spicy Steak from Cooking Light June 2010 (page 30)

buy the polenta in a tube from your grocery store and slice. 

4 teaspoons canola oil, divided
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chipolte chile powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (1 pound) flank steak, trimmed
1 (18 ounce) tube of polenta, cut into 8 slices
1 ripe peeled avocado, sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves (I used some straight from my garden!)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled queso fresco
1/32 cup refrigerated fresh salsa
lime wedges (optional)

1. Heat grill pan over medium-high head. Combine 1 teaspoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cumin, chile powder and pepper; rub evenly over steak. Add steak to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove steak from pan; let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally into thin slices. (Note: I used the George Foreman Grill.)

2. While steak rests, brush remaining oil over both sides of polenta slices (I needed about another 1 teaspoon of oil than what the recipe lists); sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt (I used pepper instead of salt). Add polenta to grill pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Arrange 2 polenta slices on each of 4 plates; divide avocado evenly among servings. Top each serving with about 3 ounces of steak, 2 tablespoons of cilantro (I only did 1 teaspoon), 2 tablespoons queso fresco, and 2 tablespoons salsa. Serve with lime wedges (if desired).

Yield: 4 servings.