This sandwich defies a bit of conventional wisdom.
Instead of throwing the steaks over rocket hot flames for a few minutes per side, I used the “reverse sear”. The “reverse sear” is a technique championed by Chris Finney where you slow roast the meat first and THEN sear it at the end. Reverse searing gives the most evenly cooked steaks I have had.
I received a free sample of McCormick's Grill Mates Cowboy Rub, one of their new flavors for 2011. It is an audacious rub with ground chilies, garlic, onion and other seasonings. It has a touch of coffee in it which may sound weird but that has been a big trend in beef rubs. I dislike coffee as a drink. However, a hint of ground coffee in a beef rub brings out a rustic edge to your steaks and I like it.
Are you ready for this? I cooked it on the gas grill side of my Smoke Hollow grill combo unit. Yes, I used a gasser. My Big Green Egg friends are laughing at me right now, but 70% of Americans that grill use a gas grill. I just want to show that you can replicate the techniques of what I do on my Big Green Eggs on other types of grills.
Reverse Seared Cowboy Steak Sandwich
source: www.nibblemethis.com
serves: 4
4 teaspoons McCormick's Grill Mates Cowboy Rub (divided)
½ cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 Tablespoons steak sauce
2 ea strip steaks, 1” thick
8 slices French bread, about ½ thick and cut at a sharp angle
8 slices manchego cheese
4 leaves green leaf lettuce
Mix together the mayonnaise, steak sauce and 2 teaspoons of the Cowboy Rub in a small bowl. Let it chill in the refrigerator.
Rub the steaks with the remaining 2 teaspoons of the Cowboy Rub. Use a little more if needed to cover the entire steaks. Let the steaks rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature.
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| Flavor you can see. I like the coarse texture of this rub. |
Set your grill up for an indirect cook at 250f. For a gas grill, this would be turning on one burner at one end and leaving the others off. Adjust the single burner until your cooking temp is 250f.
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| Only the burner on the far right is on and it is on low. The pan & rack rig was not needed after all. |
Slow roast the seasoned steaks at the other end of the grill (thus “indirect) with the lid closed until the steaks hit an internal temperature of 125f. This took about 40 minutes for mine but cook according to the internal temperature, not time. Don't worry, the steaks will not look done at this point.
Now sear the steaks for just about a minute per side. For charcoal, you would just move them from the indirect to direct heat. For gas grills, crank up the burner to high for a few minutes with the lid open and then move the steaks over the direct heat.
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| I used the Smoke Hollow's sear burner. Worked great! |
Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile toast the bread slices on the grill.
Slice the steaks as thinly as you can. Try not to eat it all while slicing...it's for the sandwiches.
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| Medium rare all the way through. |
Top one piece of toast with lettuce and two slices of the manchego cheese. Add one fourth of the sliced steak. Top with another piece of toast that has been slathered with the Cowboy mayonnaise. Repeat for the other three sandwiches.
Biting through the crisp toast into the tender steak is Nirvana. The tang of the bold mayo and the hint of saltiness from the manchego cheese balance each other. We've made this three times and it is even better when the steaks are grilled over coals and oak.
