At the Golden Steer Steakhouse, we believe a great steak speaks for itself, which is why we season all our steaks with Sergio’s Seasoning and pour a ladle of Au Jus to finish it - that’s it! But the beautiful thing about Golden Steer Steak company is you can get the same great quality USDA Prime Beef and customize it to your heart's desire.
Over the past few years, one of the most popular trends in steak preparation has been the art of steak crusts. If you eat steak as often as we do, it can be a nice way to spice things up. There are so many options out there, you really can choose your own adventure. Here are some the most popular steak crusts:
- Peppercorn
- Blue Cheese
- Coffee crust
- Spice crusted
- Garlic pepper
- Chili and Cocoa
- Porcini crusted
Peppercorn:
Peppercorn has become the most common steakhouse method of crusting steaks. It’s very complimentary and offers a nice bite to the juiciness of the steak. To try this method:
- Toast whole peppercorns in a dry skillet for 3-5 minutes on medium heat. Shake them well as you’re cooking. The heat will bring out the essential oils and allow the peppercorn to show its full flavor.
- Crush your toasted peppercorn using one of four methods: mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, crush with a heavy skillet, or use a rolling pin. Set your crushed peppercorn to the side.
- Choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling. When the recipe calls to season the steaks, take your crushed peppercorn and pat the steaks, and then gently push it into the raw meat.
Voila! A beautiful peppercorn crust. Warning - some people find the peppercorn crust a bit too crunchy and want something to balance it out. We recommend pairing the peppercorn crust with our slightly melted Maitre d’ Butter. The garlic butter will add a delicious and softening note to the steak to keep it juicy.
Full recipe here!
Blue Cheese:
When crusted on steak, blue cheese adds tangy crispiness that results in a decadent and mouthwatering meal. The best part is that you can make this at home, and it’s an extremely easy recipe to follow. To try this method:
- Combine your blue cheese with panko, olive oil, garlic, chives, and ground pepper.
- Choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling. No matter which method you choose, make sure the steaks are browned on the outside, and the interior is about 5 degrees less that the level of doneness you want to achieve.
- After setting your broiler to high, place the steaks on a baking sheet and then top them generously with the blue cheese concoction.
- Place the baking sheet under the broiler until the blue cheese topping browns. It should take about 2 minutes. Be sure to rotate as needed and watch it carefully so that it does not burn, and then let them rest, if not reverse-seared.
Voila! Crusty, cheesy, juicy - be prepared for it all when you opt for a blue cheese crust. How can you beat the pop of flavors and textures? To top it off, pair this beauty with fresh veggies and fluffy potatoes.
Full recipe here!
Coffee Crust:
Coffee, sugar, and spice - they really are everything nice when it comes to making a tasty steak rub. In this recipe, the rub causes the steak to caramelize, and it results in a savory steak crust. To try this method:
- Combine your finely ground coffee beans, freshly cracked black peppercorns, salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne together to create the spice rub.
- Choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling, although this recipe calls for grilling. When the recipe calls to season your steaks, coat them thoroughly with the spice mixture and let them sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.
Voila! You have your coffee and your steak, all in one beautiful crusty and juicy package of goodness.
Full recipe here!
Spice Crusted:
Want to keep your steaks simple, but looking for a little more flavor then just salt and pepper? Here a super short and sweet spice recipe to help take the zing of your steaks up a notch:
- Use either a spruce grinder or mortar and pestle to coarsely grind cumin and fennel seeds, and then work in the minced garlic and pepper.
- Before cooking, take your mixture and press it into both sides of the steak, letting it rest for 30 minutes afterwards.
- Afterwards, season both sides of your steak with salt, and then choose your cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling, although this recipe calls for them to be broiled.
Voila! A quick and simple method that leaves you with a beautiful spiced crust.
Full recipe here!
Garlic Pepper:
For all the garlic lovers, here’s the steak crust for you. Simple and to the point, it will give you your garlic fix on top of crusty, juicy steaks.
- Take your peppercorns, and crush them as mentioned above, or, as this recipe recommends, place them in a small zip-top plastic bag, seal it, and crust them using a meat mallet or a small heavy skillet.
- Combine your peppercorns, salt, and minced garlic in a bowl.
Rub them over your steaks, and choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling, although this recipe calls for cooking them in a pan.
Voila! You have delicious garlicky steak. Enjoy them as is, or, as the recipe suggests, add a port sauce as well!
Full recipe here!
Chili and Cocoa:
Bring out the bold flavors with this steak rub. If you’re a lover of spicy chocolate, then this bad boy is for your steaks.
- Combine ground ancho chili pepper, cocoa powder, salt, and black pepper.
- After brushing your steaks with oil, be sure to wear gloves and rub in the mixture all over your steaks.
- Choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling, although this recipe calls for grilling.
Voila! You have some spicy cocoa steaks waiting for you. Don’t let your mouth water for too long before diving in.
Full recipe here!
Porcini Crusted:
Impress guests with this:
- Combine your dried porcini mushroom, onion flakes, garlic, salt and pepper together in a food processor, and pulse it until the mushrooms are coarsely chopped. Then, add in olive oil to the mixture and loosely bind it together.
- Salt and pepper your steaks.
- Choose your steak cooking method of choice: pre-sear method, reverse sear, or grilling, although this recipe calls for searing them.
- Then, after preheating your broiler, place your steaks on the broil pan, top them with the mushroom crust, and finish them to the desired doneness.
Voila! Enjoy your delicious porcini crusted steaks as they are, or add a balsamic reduction, as the recipe suggests.
Full recipe here!
Now that you’ve chosen how you’d like to finish your steak whether peppercorn or chili-cocoa, make sure you’ve taken all the right steps to cook a perfect steak. When it comes to steak, it’s no secret that we all want 2 things out of it - juicy amazing tender goodness on the inside, and a delicious flavorful and crisp outside with every bite. While to some this may seem like walking a dangerous line. You overcook it, and you’re left with a tough piece of meat. You undercook it, and you’re left with no crispy goodness and an undercooked piece of meat.), there are a few simple tips to follow that will leave you with the perfect steak crust.
Pick out the Right Cut of Steak:
When picking out your perfect piece of steak for the ultimate crust, be like Goldilocks. You need the perfect cut of steak with the thickness being at least 1 inch, even better if 1.5 inches. The more marbling, aka fatty melt-in-your-mouth goodness, the better. The grade of the beef and amount of marbling makes all the difference when it comes to a steak’s flavor and tenderness. For the best steak experience, always choose USDA prime beef.
Steak Cooking Tips to Keep in Mind:
When grilling beef, there are many mistakes that steak-cookers make that are easy to avoid. Above all, make sure you set your grill up properly, set up a two-zone grill, with a hotter and a cooler side. Keep in mind also, for different levels of steak doneness, it’s easy to attain, as long as you stay on top of it and don’t eyeball the steak doneness - invest in an instant read thermometer!
Prep Your Steaks:
Thawing your steaks correctly in order to attain the most amazing steak crust is as vital as the actual cooking of it. Be sure to season those babies up accordingly with salt and pepper, at least 30 minutes before cooking, to let the seasoning work their way into the meat.
Conclusion:
No matter which steak crust route you go, you’ll surely impress your guests with these inventive ways to add more pop and flavor to the table. Whether you’re a coffee lover, lover of garlic, or really into anything and everything with the word cocoa, there is the perfect steak crust out there just waiting for your taste buds.
Photo Credit: Gonzalo Guzman
