Grilled sirloin, zucchini, and sweet potato salad

Serves 4
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 10 mins

INGREDIENTS

• 600g sirloin steak, fat trimmed

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 350g sweet potato, peeled and cut into 3mm slices

• 4 medium zucchinis, sliced lengthways into 5mm slices

• 1 red onion, quartered

• 2 tbsp lemon juice, plus grated zest of a lemon

• 150g rocket leaves

• 30g parmesan cheese, shaved

• 20g toasted pine nuts

METHOD

1. Preheat a chargrill or barbeque to hot. Brush the Beef on both sides with 2 tsp olive oil and cook for 4 minutes, turning once, or until cooked to your liking. Set aside to rest and cover loosely with foil.

2. Place the sweet potato, zucchini and onion into a large bowl and toss with 3 tsp olive oil. Place on the grill and cook for 1½ minutes on each side, or until tender and lightly charred.

3. Slice the Beef thinly and place into a large mixing bowl with the grilled vegetables, lemon juice and zest and remaining oil. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.

4. Place the rocket onto a large serving platter, top with the tossed Beef and grilled vegetables, parmesan cheese and pine nuts, and serve.

Tips

1. Brush each steak lightly with oil.

2. Preheat the barbecue to hot before adding the steak. The steak should sizzle as it makes contact with the plate or grill.

3. Cook one side until the first sign of moisture appears on the upper side, turn and cook the other side. Turn once only for rare and medium.

4. Test for doneness with tongs. Rare is soft when pressed, medium is springy but still soft and well done is very firm. Remove steak and cover loosely, rest in a warm place for a few minutes before serving.

Tuscan beef steaks with char-grilled vegetables

Serves 4
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time 10 mins

INGREDIENTS

• 4 x 200g Porterhouse steaks

• 3 tbsp garlic infused olive oil

• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finally chopped

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced thinly lengthways

• 2 medium red capsicums, quartered

• 1 medium sweet potato, sliced thinly into rounds

• 2 large tomatoes slices thickly into rounds

• Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

DRESSING

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• Juice of half a lemon

• 2 tbsp freshly parsley, finally chopped

METHOD

1. Cover steaks with 2 tbsp of garlic infused olive oil, chopped rosemary and season with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat the barbecue flat-plate or char-grill to hot and cook the vegetables for a few minutes on each side or until cooked through using one half of the barbecue. On the other side of the barbecue add the steaks and grill for 2 – 3 minutes per side or cooked to your liking. Remove steaks from heat and cover loosely with foil for 5 minutes.

3. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, parsley as season to taste.

4. Pile vegetables on serving plates and drizzle with dressing. Trim cooked steaks of any excess fat and slice steaks thinly against the grain and place on top of the vegetables to serve.

Beef chilli con carne sweet potatoes

Serves 4
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 15 mins

INGREDIENTS

• 500g lean beef mince

• 2 sweet potatoes (approx. 300g each), scrubbed

• 1 tbsp olive oil1 red onion, finely chopped

• 400g can kidney beans, rinsed, drained

• 400g jar arrabbiata pasta sauce

• ½ cup grated tasty cheese

• Coriander sprigs, pre-made coleslaw or salad leaves, lime wedges, to serve

METHOD

1. Prick the skins of sweet potatoes several times with a fork. Lightly spray sweet potato with oil and place on a plate lined with paper towel. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add mince and cook for 4-5 minutes until browned. Add beans and sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Season to taste.

3. To serve, cut sweet potatoes in half lengthways. Top with mince mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and coriander. Serve with coleslaw or salad and lime wedges.

Tips

1. Beef strips would also work well in this recipe.

2. Use your hands when adding the mince to the pan – it will help separate the mince.

3. Leftover chilli con carne can be used to make sloppy joes – fill soft burger buns with warmed mince and salad.

Oregano lamb cutlets with sweet potato mash

Serves 4
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 20 mins

Ingredients

• 12-18 lamb cutlets

• 1 lemon, juiced

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 medium sweet potato

• 2 large new potatoes

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 tbsp butter

Method

Cover the cutlets with the combined lemon juice, oregano and crushed garlic. Set aside to use later.

1. Peel and cut the sweet potato and new potatoes into even shape and size. Place in a saucepan, cover with cold water and add a pinch of salt. Boil until soft, drain off all water and mash together with butter and milk.

2. Preheat a non-stick frypan to moderately hot. Cook the cutlets on one side until the first sign of moisture appears. Turn and cook for a further 2 min for medium-rare or until desired degree of doneness.

3. Remove the cutlets from the heat, cover loosely with foil and rest cutlets for 2 min before serving.

4. Serve the cutlets on sweet potato mash. Serve with steamed vegetables..

Texas style smoked beef ribs

Serves 4
Preparation time 10 mins
Cooking time 140 mins

Ingredients

• 12-16 beef short ribs

• ¼ cup mesquite wood shavings

• 4 sprigs thyme, roughly chopped

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

  Marinade

• 1 tbsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp cayenne pepper

  2 tsp ground coriander

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 pinch freshly ground cracked pepper

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 2 cups tomato passata

• 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

• 2 tsp chilli falkes

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• Barbecue corn cobs and green salad, to serve

Method

1. Combine ingredients for marinade and coat ribs in marinade. Cover and refrigerate for one hour, or preferably overnight.

2. Place a piece of foil inside a wok and place wood shavings, thyme and sugar on foil. Place over high heat until mixture starts to smoke. Place ribs on a circular rack that fits inside wok and cover wok with its lid. Reserve remaining marinade. Smoke for 15 minutes over medium heat.

3. Place ribs in a roasting dish lined with baking paper. Add one cup of water to the dish and cover tightly with foil. Cook in oven at 150C fan forced for 2 hours. Baste with reserved marinade then cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes at 180C fan forced to crisp up. Place any leftover marinade in a small saucepan with any cooking juices from the baking dish and bring to the boil.

4. Place corn on a barbecue or chargrill pan and cook for 10 minutes, turning regularly until cooked. Serve with ribs, a green salad and reserved reheated marinade.

Tips

• Marinating your ribs overnight makes them more tender.

• Make a double batch of marinade and freeze half for next time.

• You can interchange short ribs with spare ribs.

• The ribs shrink during cooking, so if you are cooking for hungry guests, cook a few extra.

Cured fillet of beef with horseradish cream

Serves 7
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 0 mins

Ingredients

• 400g beef fillet

• ¼ cup sea salt

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 2 tsp cracked black pepper

• To serve, thin slices of toasted baguette

  Horseradish sour cream

• 2 tbsp horseradish cream

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 tbsp chopped chives, plus extra for serving

• 2 tsp chopped tarragon leaves, plus extra for serving

Method

1. Trim the beef well. Place a large piece of cling film onto a work surface. Mix the salt, sugar and pepper together and place half of it in the middle of the cling film. Top with the beef and place the remaining mixture on top, patting it around to cover all sides. Wrap tightly in the cling film and repeat with another double layer, as it will release a lot of moisture. Place in a container and refrigerate for 24 hours, turning a few times.

2. Remove the beef from the cling film and rinse under cold water. Pat dry with kitchen paper and slice very thinly.

3. Top the baguette slices with a slice of beef and a small dollop of the horseradish cream. Sprinkle with the herbs and serve.

4. To make the horseradish sour cream: Mix the ingredients together and season with salt and pepper.

Tips

• Lamb loin chops, cutlets or leg steaks would also work well in this recipe.

• Resting lamb will ensure juices are locked in and lamb is tender.

• Peri peri sauce is available at most supermarkets in the sauces and marinades section.

Peri Peri lamb chops

Serves 4
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 20 mins

Ingredients

• 4 lamb forequarter chops

• 1/3 cup (80ml) peri peri sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 12 chat potatoes

• 2 corn cobs, cut into 4

• ¼ cup sour cream

• 25g parmesan, finely grated

• 1/4 cup coriander leaves, roughly chopped

• Baby cos leaves, lemon wedges, to serve

Method

1. Place lamb, peri peri sauce and half the oil in a large snap-lock bag. Season. Set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, place potatoes and corn in a microwave safe container and cook on HIGH (100%) for 3-4 minutes or until nearly tender. Wrap potatoes and corn in foil.

3. Heat a large char-grill pan or barbecue over medium-high heat. Cook chops, potatoes and corn for 4-5 minutes each side or until lamb is cooked to your liking. Rest chops on a plate loosely covered with foil for 5 minutes. Keep corn and potatoes in foil until ready to serve.

4. Top potatoes with dollops of sour cream, corn with remaining oil, parmesan and coriander. Serve with lamb chops, baby cos and lemon wedges.

Tips

• Lamb loin chops, cutlets or leg steaks would also work well in this recipe.

• Resting lamb will ensure juices are locked in and lamb is tender.

• Peri peri sauce is available at most supermarkets in the sauces and marinades section.

Sausage and capsicum pasta

Serves 4
Preparation time 10 mins
Cooking time 10 mins

Ingredients

• 4 beef sausages, squeezed out of their skins into rough pieces

• 400g wholemeal pasta

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• ½ onion, thinly sliced

• 2 capsicum, thinly sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 300g cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 1 cup torn rocket, plus extra to serve

• ½ cup basil leaves, plus extra to serve

• 30g finely grated parmesan

• 150g ricotta

Method

1. Cook pasta in a large saucepan of well salted boiling water until al dente (7-8 minutes, or according to packet instructions), drain and return to pan with 2 tbsp of the cooking water.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add sausage and brown well (2-3 minutes), then transfer to a plate. Add onion, capsicum and garlic to pan, saute until tender (4-5 minutes), then add tomatoes, season to taste and cook until beginning to soften (1-2 minutes). Return sausage to pan, cook for another minute to cook through, then add vinegar.

3. Add to pasta along with rocket, basil and parmesan, toss to combine and serve dolloped with ricotta, scattered with extra rocket and basil.

Tips

• For a richer sauce, swap the fresh cherry tomatoes for canned cherry tomatoes

• Choose a pasta such as shells or penne to help hold the chunky sauce

Barbecued sirloin steaks

Serves 4
Preparation time 20 mins
Cooking time 10 mins

Ingredients

• 4 sirloin steaks

• 1 tbsp lemon pepper and garlic steak seasoning or your preferred seasoning

Method

1. Brush the steaks lightly with oil. Season the steaks well on both sides with the steak seasoning. Preheat the barbecue char-grill to hot before adding the steaks.

2. Cook on one side until the first sign of moisture appears. Turn steaks once only. Test the steaks for degree of doneness with tongs. Rare is soft, medium feels springy and well done is very firm.

3. Remove steaks from heat, loosely cover with foil and rest steaks for 2 to 4 minutes before serving.

4. Serve the steaks with your favourite salad or vegetables.

Tips

• Sirloin steaks are sometimes called Porterhouse or New York steaks. An all-time favourite, sirloin steaks have a fine, yet firm texture and are rich in flavour.

• Best beef cuts for barbecuing: fillet/tenderloin, rib eye/scotch fillet, sirloin/porterhouse/New York, T-bone, rump.

Rosemary schnitzel with coleslaw and corn

Serves 4
Preparation time 20 mins
Cooking time 25 mins

Ingredients

• 4 x 150g beef round steaks, cut in half horizontally

• ½ cup (75g) plain flour, seasoned with sea salt and pepper

• 2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 cup (70g) panko breadcrumbs

• 2 tsp fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped

• 4 cobs corn, husks removed

• ¼ cup (20g) finely grated parmesan cheese

• Rice bran oil, to shallow fry

• 1 granny smith apple, cored, quartered, cut into matchsticks

• ¼ green cabbage, finely shredded

• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

• 4 radish, thinly sliced into matchsticks

• 1 carrot, coarsely grated

• 1 tbsp finely shredded mint leaves + extra mint sprigs, to serve

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 tbsp whole egg mayonnaise

• Lemon wedges, to serve

Method

1. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin gently pound the steaks until approximately 5mm thick. Place the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in 3 separate large shallow bowls. Add the rosemary to the breadcrumbs and season with sea salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

2. Dip each schnitzel in the flour to coat, followed by the egg wash, then the breadcrumbs, pressing to coat. Set aside on a plate.

3. Heat a char-grill pan over medium-high heat and cook corn for 10 minutes, turning often, until charred. Sprinkle with parmesan and season.

4. Meanwhile, add enough oil to a large non-stick frying pan to come 1cm up the side and heat over medium heat. Cook the schnitzels, in batches, for 2 minutes each side or until lightly golden. Transfer to a board lined with kitchen paper. Repeat with remaining schnitzels.

5. In a medium bowl combine apple, cabbage, onions, radish, carrot, mint, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Season.

6. Serve the schnitzels with corn, coleslaw, extra mint sprigs and lemon wedges.

Tips

• You could serve the schnitzels with cauliflower, sweet potato or pumpkin mash.

• For a spicy twist, add 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the flour before coating the schnitzels.

• You can use any combination of herbs that you like in the breadcrumb mixture – thyme or sage is delicious.