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How to Make Blackened Steak
Blackened steak is a Cajun dish and, if you want to impress your family or dinner guests with something deliciously different, what about learning how to make blackened steak? This technique became very popular in the 1980s and caught the imagination of many cooks. Blackened redfish was a popular Cajun dish at the time and the technique is great with steak as well as fish, pork, vegetables or poultry.
A lot of people who have no idea what blackening is assume that it is the same as burning but this is not quite true. Browned meats are close to being burnt and so are blackened ones, but blackening is a very fast process and it is done deliberately.
When you blacken steak, the sugars in the butter and seasoning caramelize really quickly and form a crust on the meat. Blackened foods are often cold or lukewarm in the centre. They are smoky, spicy and great tasting and timing is critical if you want to get the best results.
Can You Blacken Steaks Indoors?
It is possible to blacken indoors but it produces a lot of smoke - possibly more than your hood fan can handle, so it is preferable to do this outside. Do not blacken on a composite or wooden deck because the downward heat from blackening can melt plastic or burn wood.
You will need a ten inch black iron skillet, oven mitts, a pan to hold the meat, a pound of unsalted butter, some steaks, a timer or watch, a long-handled spatula and a barrel-type burner. You also need a good blackening seasoning and this is available from the store.
Light the burner and turn it to high. Put the skillet over the fire face down for about ten minutes to let it get really hot. Melt the butter and put the steak in it, coating both sides. Season the meat with the seasoning. Drop two drops of melted butter on the pan. If it sizzles like mad, the water from it evaporates immediately and the remains go black, the pan is hot enough.
Add half the steaks to the pan. Do not worry about all the white smoke. After fifteen seconds, turn the steaks over. Cook the other sides for another fifteen seconds and remove them from the pan. Cook the remaining steaks in the same way. Turn off the burner and let the pan cool down. Do not put it in water or it might crack. Finish cooking the meat and serve. You can finish cooking the meat on the grill or in the oven.
Herb and Spice Blackened Steaks
If you want to make your own blackening mix, you can following this recipe. Stir together half a teaspoon each of paprika, red pepper and salt. Add three quarters of a teaspoon each of onion powder, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder and a quarter teaspoon each of thyme and oregano.
Dip four premium steaks in four tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, then dip them in the herb and spice mixture, rubbing it in well. Grill the steaks for ten minutes or until they are done, using an outdoor grill or a very hot skillet. Serve blackened steak with mashed potatoes or fries, as well as a salad or some vegetables. This is a wonderful recipe for impressing people since most people only dare to order blackened food at restaurants rather than making it themselves.
