Skip navigation

Today’s sesame steaks, tomorrow’s penne salad

Dress up leftovers with minimal effort with these recipes from Robin Miller

Video
  Quick and easy steak recipe
March 10: Want a delicious meal on the table in a snap? Robin Miller of the Food Network makes scrumptious dishes that you can fix in a flash

Today Show Kitchen

  Recipes from TODAY
Find the recipes featured on Today
TODAY
updated 10:37 a.m. ET March 10, 2008

Another busy weekday, another weeknight meal. Who has time to plan out elaborate, healthy dinners? Robin Miller, host of the Food Network's “Quick Fix Meals,” offers quick recipe ideas that can morph into a next-day spread with minimal effort. Here, she presents sesame-crusted steaks with buttermilk-horseradish sauce, which can easily turn into a delicious warm steak and penne salad for the following day.

Sesame-crusted steaks with buttermilk-horseradish sauce
Robin Miller

Serves 4

Total time: 16–20 minutes; prep time: 5 minutes; active cooking time: 6–10 minutes; resting time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

4 boneless sirloin steaks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1⁄3 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil

For the buttermilk–horseradish sauce

1⁄2 cup buttermilk
1⁄2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon minced fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Recipe continues below ↓
advertisement


DIRECTIONS

1. Season the steaks all over with salt and pepper. Press the sesame seeds into both sides of the steaks.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the steaks and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium doneness. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, horseradish, mustard and chives. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve the steaks with the sauce spooned over the top.

Make it a meal kit: Prepare the sauce and store it in a sealable container for up to three days in the refrigerator.

Morph it: Make a double batch of the steaks and morph the extra into warm steak and penne salad with tomato soup French dressing.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Warm steak and penne salad with tomato soup French dressing
Robin Miller

Serves 4

Total time: 16–25 minutes; prep time: 5–10 minutes; active cooking time: 6–10 minutes; resting time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 pound penne pasta
Cooking spray
One 11⁄4-pound flank steak
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Tomato soup French dressing

One 10-ounce can condensed cream of tomato soup
1⁄2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or water
1⁄4 cup sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1⁄4 cup chopped scallions (white and green parts)

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

2. Meanwhile, coat a large stovetop grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and preheat over medium-high heat until hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Season the flank steak all over with salt and pepper and the oregano. Add the steak to the hot pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium doneness. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Add the dressing to the pasta and stir to coat. Cut the steak crosswise into 1⁄4-inch-thick slices and then each slice into 1-inch pieces. Add the steak to the pasta and stir to combine. Fold in the scallions and serve.

Make it a meal kit: Cook and drain the pasta, cook the steak, combine the dressing ingredients and store each separately in sealable containers or plastic bags in the refrigerator, the pasta and steak for up to 3 days, the dressing for up to 7 days. When ready to finish the meal, combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat and reheat for a few minutes, until hot. Or, combine in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes on HIGH, until hot.

Bank a batch: Make a double batch of the dressing — it’s fantastic (warm or chilled) over chicken, lettuce, steamed vegetables or baked fish. Store any extra dressing in a sealable container for up 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave for 3 minutes on LOW.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


© 2008 MSNBC Interactive