Steak & Chimichurri Pesto Salad with Charred Corn
My Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn is a celebration of bold flavours and fresh ingredients. This salad features succulent slices of steak, grilled to your liking, paired with a vibrant chimichurri pesto that's bursting with herbs and a touch of spice. The addition of charred sweetcorn adds a smoky sweetness, while juicy cherry tomatoes and creamy avocado provide a delightful contrast in texture and flavour. This isn't just a salad; it's a complete and satisfying meal.
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Are you craving a vibrant, flavourful, and satisfying salad that's perfectly portioned just for you? Look no further than my Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn! This recipe combines tender, perfectly cooked steak with the bright, herbaceous kick of chimichurri pesto and the sweetness of charred corn, all atop a bed of fresh greens. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
About This Dish
My Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn is a celebration of bold flavours and fresh ingredients. Inspired by Argentinian cuisine, this salad features succulent slices of steak, grilled to your liking, paired with a vibrant chimichurri pesto that's bursting with herbs, garlic, and a touch of spice. The addition of charred sweetcorn adds a smoky sweetness, while juicy cherry tomatoes and creamy avocado provide a delightful contrast in texture and flavour. This isn't just a salad; it's a complete and satisfying meal.
This is my go-to recipe when I want something quick, healthy, and packed with flavour. The combination of tender steak, zesty chimichurri, and sweet corn is simply irresistible. It's a simple yet elegant meal that feels like a restaurant-quality experience, all in one bowl. The incredible depth of flavour and satisfying textures make this a true standout among steak and chimichurri dishes.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe: The Solo Cook's Dream Meal
My Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn is an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious meal designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cook, a student looking for a substantial yet simple meal, an empty nester who's tired of cooking for a crowd, a single parent needing a fast and nourishing option, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of cooking for one, this recipe is crafted for you.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single-serve sensation. Every ingredient is portioned to create one perfect, satisfying salad, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a delicious meal without leftovers. It's truly a one portion marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you're cooking for one.
Quick & Easy
From grilling the steak to assembling your vibrant salad, this dish comes together surprisingly quickly. The steak cooks in minutes, and the charred corn can be prepared in the same pan. This makes it an ideal choice for a speedy lunch or a fuss-free dinner for one. No long waits, just deliciousness in a flash.
One Pan
This is the true beauty of this recipe! My Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn is a genuine one pan meal. The main cooking action — searing the steak and charring the corn — happens entirely in a single frying pan. This significantly minimises washing up, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying. It’s the ultimate convenience for cooking for one, keeping your kitchen tidy while delivering maximum flavour.
Top Tips for Perfect Steak Salad
Achieving perfectly cooked steak and a beautifully balanced salad is simple with these key tips.
- Room Temperature Steak: Let your steak sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This ensures even cooking and prevents a cold centre.
- Hot Pan, Quick Sear: Use a very hot pan to sear the steak. This creates a beautiful crust and locks in the juices, keeping the steak tender and flavourful.
- Don't Overcook: Use a meat thermometer for accuracy, or follow the guidelines below for cooking times. Overcooked steak is tough and dry!
- Rest the Steak: After cooking, let the steak rest for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in1 a more tender and flavourful steak.
- Char the Corn: Don't be afraid to let the corn get a little charred in the pan. This adds a delicious smoky sweetness that complements the steak and chimichurri perfectly.
- Layer for Flavour: Start with the lettuce, then add the tomatoes, avocado, and corn. Top with the sliced steak and a generous spoonful of chimichurri pesto. This ensures every bite is a perfect balance of flavours and textures.
Cooking the Perfect Steak: A Guide
Here's a guide to cooking your steak to your desired level of doneness:
- Rare: 1-2 minutes per side. Internal temperature: 52°C (125°F).
- Medium Rare: 2-3 minutes per side. Internal temperature: 57°C (135°F).
- Medium: 3-4 minutes per side. Internal temperature: 63°C (145°F).
- Medium Well: 4-5 minutes per side. Internal temperature: 68°C (155°F).
- Well Done: 5-6 minutes per side. Internal temperature: 71°C+ (160°F+).
More Detail on Ingredients and the Tools You'll Need
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious single-serve meal a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Olive Oil: A versatile cooking oil, great for searing steak and helping the corn to char beautifully.
- Sirloin/Ribeye Steak: These cuts are fantastic choices for their flavour and tenderness, perfect for quick cooking in a salad.
- Frozen Sweetcorn: Convenient and adds a lovely sweetness and subtle chew to the salad once charred.
- Gem Lettuce Leaves: Provides a crisp, fresh, and slightly bitter base that complements the rich flavours of the steak and pesto.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved, they offer juicy bursts of sweet and tangy flavour, adding colour and freshness.
- Avocado: Sliced, it brings a creamy, buttery texture and healthy fats that balance the entire dish.
- Chimichurri Pesto: My vibrant, herbaceous, and subtly spicy pesto is the star dressing, infusing the salad with fresh, bold Argentinian-inspired flavour.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning the steak and enhancing the overall taste of the salad components.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle warmth and aromatic finish to the steak and dressing.
Essential Tools:
- Frying Pan: A heavy-bottomed frying pan is crucial for achieving a great sear on your steak and charring the corn effectively.
- Chopping Board: An indispensable tool for safely and neatly preparing your lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado.
- Sharp Knife: Essential for clean slices of steak and precise cuts of vegetables.
- Spoon: Perfect for drizzling the chimichurri pesto over your assembled salad.
Delicious Variations: Customizing My Steak Salad
My Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn is incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt it to your taste or dietary needs.
- Making it Gluten-Free: This salad is naturally gluten-free! All the ingredients in the recipe (steak, vegetables, olive oil, seasonings, and chimichurri pesto) are inherently gluten-free. No substitutions are needed.
- Making it Dairy-Free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free! None of the core ingredients contain dairy, assuming your chimichurri pesto is also dairy-free (my recipe is!).
- Making it Vegetarian: This requires replacing the steak.
- Halloumi: Grill or pan-fry thick slices of halloumi until golden and crisp. Its salty, chewy texture makes a satisfying substitute.
- Grilled Portobello Mushroom: A large portobello mushroom cap, marinated in a little olive oil, garlic, and smoked paprika, then grilled until tender, offers a "meaty" texture.
- Firm Tofu/Tempeh: Press and pan-fry seasoned firm tofu or tempeh until golden and slightly crispy.
- Making it Vegan: This requires replacing the steak. Follow any of the vegetarian substitutions above that use plant-based alternatives (e.g., grilled portobello mushroom, tofu, or tempeh). Ensure your chimichurri pesto is vegan (my recipe is!).
- Different Steak Cuts: While sirloin and ribeye are excellent choices, you can use other cuts like flank steak, skirt steak, or even a smaller cut of fillet mignon. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of the steak.
- Additional Grilled Vegetables: Enhance the charred element by adding other grilled vegetables like bell peppers, red onion, courgette (zucchini), or asparagus spears for extra flavour and texture.
- Cheese & Grains: For those not avoiding dairy, a sprinkle of crumbled feta or cotija cheese would be a delicious addition. For a more substantial meal, consider adding a small serving of cooked quinoa or brown rice to the base of the salad.
- Spice Level: If you like more heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the salad when assembling, or ensure your chimichurri pesto has an extra kick of fresh chilli.
- Beans: Black beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained, would add a hearty, fibre-rich element and a different texture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is chimichurri?
A: Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce made from finely chopped fresh parsley, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and sometimes chilli flakes. It's a vibrant, herbaceous, and slightly spicy sauce that's typically served with grilled meats. My chimichurri steak salad showcases this delicious sauce in a fresh and exciting way.
Q: Can I use a different type of steak?
A: Yes! While sirloin and ribeye are excellent choices, you can use other cuts like flank steak, skirt steak, or even a smaller cut of fillet mignon. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of the steak.
Q: Is this salad gluten-free?
A: Yes, this salad is naturally gluten-free! All the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
Enjoy my incredibly easy, vibrant, and perfectly portioned Steak Salad with Chimichurri Pesto & Charred Corn! It's the ultimate example of how simple ingredients can create something truly delicious when you're cooking for one. What other clever single-serve meal ideas are you hoping to discover next?
Ingredients
Olive Oil
1 Sirloin/Ribeye Steak
70g Frozen Sweetcorn
6 Gem Lettuce Leaves
Handful of Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1/2 Avocado, sliced
3-4 Tbsp Chimichurri Pesto
Salt
Black Pepper
Instructions
- Let your steak come to room temperature before cooking.
- Place a frying pan on to a high heat. Season your steak with salt and pepper and drizzle over a little olive oil. When the pan is hot place the steak in the pan and cook on either side for 1-3 minutes depending on how thick your steak is and how you like it done.
- When cooked, take the steak out of the pan and leave to rest, and add the corn to the pan. Let that cook and toast until golden and slightly charred.
- Layer up your salad starting with the lettuce, then tomatoes, avocado, corn and steak. Spoon over the chimichurri pesto and season everything with a little more salt.
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This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
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This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
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This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
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