Name: Strip Loin Steak Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: 1 10 oz strip loin steak; Salt; Pepper; 2 Tbsp butter; 2 cloves garlic; 1 hand full thyme strings; 1 head romaine lettuce; 1 large avocado; 12 cherry or grape tomatoes; 1/4 red onion; 1 hand full fresh cilantro leaves; 2 Tbsp olive oil; 1-2 Tbsp balsamic reduction

This striploin steak salad is the best strip loin steak recipe ever! Juicy steak over crunchy fresh salad drizzled with a delicious dressing! Full instructions on how to cook striploin!

We haven’t had a steak in ages and it was about time now that the sun peeks through the snow-loaded clouds every once in a while. Does preparing spring inspired Mexican-style salads with pan-seared strip loin steak call the spring Gods? I sure hope so. I’ve had more than enough of winter. I’m soooooo tired of it! I want to have barbecues in the park with fresh crunchy salads. I want to meet friends for a drink or two OUTSIDE! Not in a stinky bar. In a park or backyard or balcony or yes, even just a wide open window!!

I have a dream…. I dream of sharing this Strip Loin Steak Salad at Parc Lafontaine. The sun shining, the kids running around and playing and everybody enjoying the first days of outdoor life again. Especially on a day like today I feel like I NEED SUN, HEAT, SPRING!!! Pretty please!

How to cook strip loin steak

The easiest and most delicious way in my opinion is to sear it in a cast iron pan and then baste with butter, garlic and thyme. I’m so drooling over my keyboard right now just thinking of the taste of this steak. Seriously! It’s one of the best things in the world. I promise! Here the most important tips for a perrrrrfect steak:

Number 1: The steak MUSN’T be cold. Take it out of the fridge at least half an hour before cooking/grilling. If you add a cold steak to a hot oiled pan the oil shoots out and kills you (just kidding, well, maybe not), it will burn from the outside and it will stay completely raw on the inside. Big no no. Bring the steak to room temperature first by leaving it on the kitchen counter for at least half an hour, better an hour.

Number 2: Salt and pepper generously. And with generously I mean geeeeeenerously!

Number 3: Heat cast iron skillet over medium heat until it’s smoking hot. Add a splash of oil and wait about 20 seconds for the oil to get hot, too. Then carefully place the steak in the hot pan, don’t throw it, place it. If you are scared to burn yourself don’t place it with your hands, place it with thongs. Since the steak isn’t cold you can totally place it with your hands though, the oil won’t shoot out.

Number 4: Do not overcook. Even if you like your steak well done, take it out of the pan just BEFORE it is well done. It’ll still continue to cook for a couple minutes after taking it out of the pan. If you cook it too long it becomes extremely dry and unpleasant to eat. I like mine medium-raw so I cook it 2-2.5 minutes on each side and then immediately remove it from the pan.

Number 5: Let the cooked strip loin steak rest at least 5 minutes. 8-10 minutes is even better. By letting the steak rest on a wooden board after cooking you give it a chance to finish cooking and redistribute its juices. If you cut right into it, it won’t have your desired doneness and all the juices will run out making the steak pretty dry.