Warm weather always makes me think about my childhood. Running in from the house all sweaty and sitting down to a meal that was likely prepared by Dad on the grill on the back porch... Summer was all about grilling meat, chowing on corn on the cob and eating fresh fruit by the bushel. This salad is the adult version of what summer tasted like to me as a child.
Although steak and strawberries don't seem like they would play nice on the same plate, the sweet and salty combination of tender meat and crisp fruit is undeniably delicious.
Begin with a bed of fresh baby spinach. I make massive portions of this dish since the salad is the entire meal.
I will sometimes vary the vegetables that go into this salad depending on what is in the fridge. The absolute necessary elements are spinach, cucumber, sweet corn (fresh or frozen - never canned!) and diced bell pepper. On top of the vegetables, I add parmesan and asiago cheeses.
The next layer of the salad is the best part; fresh sliced strawberries and steak! Mmmmm...
Since James and I are both red meat lovers, we go with small portions on any given day so that we can eat it more than once a week. I buy our steak tips from our gourmet food shop and then season or marinate them at home. A lot of pre-marinated meats contain gluten so I never buy them unless they are clearly marked that they are, indeed, gluten free. I marinated these tips with burgundy wine and garlic and then seared them in a frying pan with a little butter and olive oil. Be sure to drizzle the pan juices over your salad if you aren't counting calories!
The last step for the salad is to add a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. You really don't need very much because there are so many bright, fresh flavors on this plate already!
Ingredients: serves 2
1/2 - 3/4 lb of steak tips (marinated or simply seasoned with salt and pepper)
1 bag of baby spinach
fresh strawberries
sweet corn (fresh or frozen)
parmesan cheese
asiago cheese
1 cucumber
bell peppers of your choice
balsamic vinaigrette
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