San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)

Butter and lemon juice enrich Spanish steak sandwiches

BOCADILLOS WITH FLANK STEAK AND MUSHROOMS

- By Christophe­r Kimball CHRISTOPHE­R KIMBALL’S Makes 4 servings

With their midafterno­on meal traditiona­lly being the biggest of the day, Spaniards are not known for eating lunch on the go. But the bocadillos served at bars, cafeterias and bakeries around country are the exception to the rule.

They typically are simple sandwiches made on baguetteli­ke bread. The fillings run the gamut from cured meats to seafood to potato omelets. Sometimes, such as in this recipe from our book “Tuesday Nights Mediterran­ean,” which features weeknight-friendly meals from the region, they can become borderline elegant.

Our hearty flank steak and mushroom version was inspired by a recipe from “Spain: The Cookbook” written by Simone Ortega and first published in Spain in 1972. After the beef is seared, the rest of the filling

comes together quickly in a skillet. Butter lends richness, while lemon juice and fresh parsley lift and brighten the flavors.

For extra savoriness, try tucking ribbons of thinly sliced serrano ham or prosciutto into the sandwiches along with the steak.

When slicing the steak, be sure to cut against the grain for the most tender texture. The muscle fibers of flank steak are distinct and run horizontal­ly. If the meat is cut with the grain the slices will be unpalatabl­y chewy and tough.

1 pound beef flank steak, trimmed and cut in half

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 tablespoon grapeseed or other neutral oil

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

2 medium shallots, halved and thinly sliced

2 tablespoon­s salted butter, cut into 2 pieces

4 tablespoon­s lemon juice, divided

¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Four 7- to 8-inch sections of baguette, split horizontal­ly Instructio­ns: Season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat the neutral oil until barely smoking. Add the steak, reduce to medium and cook until well browned on the bottom, 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook until well browned on the second sides and the centers reach 120 degrees (for medium-rare), 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and tent with foil.

In the same skillet over medium, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, shallots and ½ teaspoon pepper, then cook, stirring occasional­ly, until the moisture released by the mushrooms has almost evaporated, 3-5 minutes. Off heat, add the accumulate­d steak juices, the butter, 3 tablespoon­s of lemon juice and the parsley, then stir until the butter melts. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Cut the steak into thin slices against the grain. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, then toss. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Divide the mushroom mixture evenly among the bottom halves of each section of baguette, then top with the steak slices. Cover with the top halves of the baguette.

 ?? Milk Street via Associated Press ?? Bocadillos with flank steak and mushrooms get a rich boost of flavor from the addition of butter.
Milk Street via Associated Press Bocadillos with flank steak and mushrooms get a rich boost of flavor from the addition of butter.

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