Cocoa Blackened Steak With Marcona Almond Romesco Recipes

MARCONA ALMONDS WITH SEA SALT

Steps:

• Place the almonds in a serving bowl and sprinkle with sea salt.

COAL-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH ROMESCO

Steps:

• Add 2 cups of the salt with the flour, egg whites and 1 cup water to a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until completely mixed. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
• Prepare a campfire or charcoal grill for cooking at medium-high heat (you'll know it's ready when you can hold your hand about 2 inches above the fire or grates for only 2 to 3 seconds).
• Put the cauliflower on a clean work surface, stem-side down, and rub the salt paste all over the florets until they are completely covered. Flip the cauliflower in your hands (you may want to flour your hands if the cauliflower is a little sticky); holding it by the exposed stem, gently nestle it into the coals. Cook, rotating occasionally by grasping the stem with grilling tongs, until the stem is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife and the crust is blackened all over, 35 to 40 minutes. Try not to crack the crust so that it stays sealed and the cauliflower can steam while it roasts. Transfer to a baking sheet and let cool for 5 minutes, then use tongs to crack the crust from the cauliflower and discard it.
• While the cauliflower is cooking, put the bell peppers in the coals and cook, turning frequently with the tongs, until blackened. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cover with a plate to steam and soften, about 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the skin from the peppers, remove all the seeds and discard skin and seeds. Set peppers aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic along with the bread pieces. Cook, stirring, until the bread is golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and add the red peppers, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, vinegar, smoked paprika, tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth.

TRI-TIP STEAK WITH TOMATO ROMESCO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Generously season both sides of steak with salt and pepper. Put a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. When it is very hot, add the steak to one side of the pan and tomatoes, almonds, garlic, and jalapenos, if using to the other. Sear the steak for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring the tomato mixture once or twice.
• Once a nice crust has formed on one side of steak, turn it over, carefully transfer the now-charred tomato mixture to a food processor, and put pan in oven. If tomatoes are not a bit blackened, leave them in pan and check again after a minute or two in the oven. Cook until steak is rare to medium-rare, about 6 to 12 minutes longer depending on its thickness (an instant-read thermometer will register 125 degrees F when steak is medium-rare). Transfer the steak to a plate and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• While the steak is cooking or resting, add the vinegar and olive oil to the tomato mixture in a food processor, and season with salt, pepper and pimenton or chili powder, if using. Process the mixture, adding more olive oil or vinegar as you like, until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. Sauce should still be a little crunchy from almonds.
• Slice steak thinly, against the grain. Serve with sauce.
• Wine suggestion for this recipe: Merlot

ROMESCO SAUCE WITH MARCONA ALMONDS

Steps:

• Cut the chiles in half, place in a bowl and cover with boiling water, weighing them down with a plate to keep them submerged. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds, hazelnuts and bread cubes and stir until they start to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir until lightly browned. Add the piquillo peppers. Remove from heat.
• Drain the chiles, and remove stems and seeds. Chop the chiles, add them to the pan, heat and stir briefly. Add the tomato, stir and cook a minute or so until softened. Remove from heat.
• Transfer to a food processor or a blender and pulse until a rough paste is formed. With the machine running, slowly pour in the wine. Turn off the machine, add vinegar, paprika and salt, to taste, then pulse briefly to blend. The sauce will have a slightly nubbly texture.