Every week, Executive Food Editor Keith Dresser pairs each main dish with a side to give you a complete, satisfying dinner without the guesswork. Look for the game plan section to learn tips on how to streamline your kitchen work so dinner comes together quicker.
Weeknight Cooking
Dinner This Week: Steak and Potatoes
This week’s menus include Pan-Seared Inexpensive Steak, Glazed Salmon, and Pasta alla Gricia for dinner in about an hour.
By Published Nov. 19, 2021.
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Dinner 1: Pan-Seared Steak and Garlic-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Game Plan: Start by boiling the potatoes and making the garlic butter mixture. Next, sear the steaks. While the steaks rest, mash the potatoes.
For Pan-Seared Inexpensive Steak, our preferred cuts are shell sirloin steaks (sometimes called top sirloin steaks) or whole flap meat steaks, but this method can be used for most steaks as long as they are 1 to 1¼ inches thick. A pan sauce is a nice addition, but the steaks are also great when simply sliced, drizzled with high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, and sprinkled with coarse salt. We prefer the buttery flavor of Yukon Gold potatoes in Garlic-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, but any type of potato will work. Omit the Parmesan for a more straightforward garlic mash.
Printable Shopping Lists: Pan-Seared Steak and Garlic-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Equipment Review
The Best 12-Inch Enameled Cast-Iron Skillets
Cheap and tough, a cast-iron skillet is a kitchen workhorse, but the upkeep makes some cooks balk. Could enameled cast-iron pans, which need no special care, top the classic?Read Our Review
Dinner 2: Glazed Salmon and Rice Pilaf
Game Plan: Start by preparing the rice. Once the rice is removed from the heat, cook the salmon.
For Glazed Salmon, we lightly sprinkle the exterior of the fillets with cornstarch, brown sugar, and salt to create a tacky surface for the glaze to adhere to. We have a number of glazes (listed below) to suit your taste and what you have on hand. This is a basic Rice Pilaf, so feel free to stir in different ingredients to dress up the cooked rice: Grated Parmesan cheese, minced fresh herbs, steamed frozen peas, and toasted nuts or seeds are a few options.
Printable Shopping Lists: Glazed Salmon and Rice Pilaf
Salmon Glazes: Soy-Mustard, Pomegranate-Balsamic, Asian Barbecue, and Orange-Miso
Equipment Review
The Best Lightweight Dutch Ovens
Our favorite Dutch ovens are reliable and versatile—but heavy. Could we find a great lightweight stand-in?Read Our Review
Dinner 3: Pasta alla Gricia with Pan-Steamed Kale
Game Plan: Prep the ingredients for both dishes. Prepare the pasta recipe through step 2. Start boiling the pasta (step 3). After 5 minutes, start steaming the kale. As the kale cooks, finish the pasta (steps 4 and 5).
Pasta alla Gricia is a simple pasta dish based on cured pork, black pepper, and Pecorino Romano. The fat from the pork (guanciale is traditional, but easier-to-find pancetta also works well) combines with the starchy pasta cooking water and cheese to create a creamy sauce. Pan-Steamed Kale with Raisins and Almonds was designed for curly green kale, but red kale or collard greens can also be used. Pecans or pine nuts can be swapped in for the almonds.
Printable Shopping Lists: Pasta alla Gricia and Pan-Steamed Kale
View more weeknight dinner ideas below, or check out all of the Dinner This Week menus.
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