Herbed Steak with Orzo Caprese Salad

 This was delicious!!!  A top Sodahl meal!!!  Can't wait to have this for leftovers the rest of the week either!!!

---

Ingredients

·       24 ounces steak*

·       8 ounces grape tomatoes

·       1/4 ounce parsley (a small bouquet)

·       8 ounces fresh mozzarella (mozzarella pearls work great)

·       4 cloves garlic

·       12 ounces orzo pasta (if you’re having a hard time finding it with the pasta, look for it in the ethnic foods)

·       2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence

·       2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

·       1–2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for the salad, plus more for cooking

---

Instructions

1.    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2.    Chop the parsley, discarding the stems. Wash the tomatoes. Mince or grate the garlic (I love using my Microplane for this.) If you bought a single ball of fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2″ cubes.

3.    Set steaks out on a plate or plastic cutting board to rest at room temperature. Season both side with salt and pepper and Herbes de Provence. Set aside.

4.    Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

5.    Once the water is boiling, add the orzo to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (about 9-11 minutes). Drain in a fine mesh strainer (you’ll lose the pasta if you use a regular colander.)

6.    Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan (cast iron if you have one) over medium-high heat. When hot, add the prepared steak and sear 2-3 minutes per side, using tongs instead of a fork to turn the steak. After they have seared on both sides, transfer to the prepared baking sheet and roast in the oven until desired doneness is reached, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest about 5 minutes.

7.    While the steak is roasting, reduce the heat to the pan you seared the steaks in and add a little more olive oil to the pan. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring gently, for 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Remove the pan from heat.

8.    Add the pasta, balsamic vinegar, 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (this is a great time to use flavors like garlic or lemon), parsley, and mozzarella to the pan with the tomatoes. Stir gently to combine and season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

9.    After the steak has rested for a few minutes, slice it thinly against the grain. Divide the pasta salad between plates (you may have some salad leftover–just serve it cold the next day!) and top with the sliced steak. Garnish with additional minced parsley and serve.

---

Notes

·       Lean cuts like sirloin or flank steak work great, but if you prefer a juicier cut like a ribeye, that would work, too. Save your money and skip the tenderloin–it’s better for when it can be the star. If you’d rather cook this on the grill to avoid turning on the oven, feel free!