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OK…here we go. I’m about to reveal one of my secret indulgences. Ugh. This is the part of blogging I really struggle with…
So, a while back, I heard that there was this “not terribly hard to look at” actor on some show called, “True Blood” who was part Armenian. So, being the ever proud Armenian girl that I am, I figured it was my civic duty to check him out. And…I did. Now, if you know me at all, you know I abhor violent shows and movies. Really, I do. I barely watch TV at all, but when I do, you can be sure that someone is either cooking something, two people are about to fall in love or George Stephanopoulos is updating me on world events beyond my kitchen. So, the fact that I watch True Blood with my hands mostly covering my eyes should tell you something. But, I still watch. There is something about that hour of complete suspense, dotted with some gorgeous vampires, fairies, witches and wolves (did I really just say that?) that has me tuning in every Sunday. (I’m kind of cringing right now because my friends who know me are probably slack-jawwed at the moment).
Anyway, if you’re secretly (or not so secretly) a fan of True Blood, I’ve got something amazing for you to eat while watching the season premiere! This Vampire Steak is loaded with garlic and a touch of spicy pimenton (smoked Spanish paprika). The Fairy Fries are thin, crisp match sticks bursting with flavor from lemon, rosemary and a crunchy coarse salt. These fries are addicting! I can’t promise you this steak will keep the vampires away, but with all that garlic, it may keep a few humans away!
Vampire Steak and Fairy Fries
Vampire Steak
8 – 10 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons hot pimenton (smoked hot Spanish paprika)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 large rib eye steaks about 1 1/2 inches thick (or 4 smaller rib eyes)
Fairy Fries
2 large russet potatoes, washed and scrubbed
zest of one large lemon
1 – 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons salt (I use Himalayan Pink Sea Salt…but use what you like)
canola oil for frying
Special equipment: A mandolin to julienne the potatoes (you can do it by hand, but you’ll get better results with the mandolin) and a deep fryer (you can use a deep skillet on the stove as well…the deep fryer just makes things easier)
Combine the garlic, pimenton, salt and olive oil in a small bowl. Dividing the mixture evenly, rub a bit all over each steak, covering them completely. Place the steaks in a zipper bag or on a dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, but longer is even better.
Remove your steaks from the refrigerator about 15 to 20 minutes before grilling. Preheat your grill to get it as hot as you can. Place the steaks on the hottest part of the grill to get a nice char. Leave it alone for about 4 to 5 minutes. Give them a flip and continue to cook for about 5 – 6 minutes. Once done, remove the steaks from the grill onto a platter tented with some foil. Allow them to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.
To prepare the Fairy Fries, combine the lemon zest, rosemary leaves and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Fill your deep fryer according to manufacturer directions with canola oil. If you are using a skillet, fill it to about 2″ deep with canola. Heat the oil to 350 degrees. Cut about 1/2″ end off of a potato. Using the julienne blade on a mandolin, place the cut side of the potato down and cut just enough to make a small batch in your fryer. Once cut, use paper towels and blot the cut potatoes dry. Put them in your deep fryer basket and lower into the oil. Fry for about 3 minutes, while stirring to separate every once in a while with a fork or chopstick. Remove from the oil, dump onto a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with a bit of the lemon mixture. Continue this process in batches until you’ve gone through both potatoes.
Serve the steak with the fries and some greens.
Notes:
- The Vampire Steak was inspired by Cooking Light’s Vampire Steak.
- The Fairy Fries were adapted from April Bloomfield’s Rosemary Straw Potatoes with Lemon Salt, from Cooking with Jamie by Jamie Oliver.
- If you cannot find pimenton in your grocery store, you can use any smoked paprika. You can also order pimenton on Amazon.
More Sookie Stackhouse Inspired Recipes…
Caroline Bellefleurs Chocolate Cake from Sugar Dish Me
Sookie’s Chicken Casserole from Sugar Dish Me
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