Skirt Steak with Watermelon Feta Salad
&
Watermelon Basil Gimlet
A note from us
We love this dinner. It comes together so quickly, and it's simple, but it still feels elevated. It's a great one for date night, and honestly just as easy to pull together if you're entertaining this summer. A dinner party version of this menu would come together in almost no time.
Divide the work and it moves fast. One of you sears the steak while the other builds the salad and whisks the dressing. Wait to dress the salad until right before serving, watermelon holds a lot of water and it's best fresh.
For the cocktail, we juiced our watermelon using a handheld juicer Kevin picked up recently, we love it. If you don't have one, muddling the watermelon works just as well. Either way, it makes for a bright, herbal gimlet that's dangerously easy to drink two of.
Kevin & Kate
The Cocktail
Watermelon Basil Gimlet
The Menu
Skirt Steak with Watermelon Feta Salad
Cook Along with Us
Your Weekly Essentials
Everything you’ll need to make this meal — plus a few pantry staples you probably already have.
Divide and conquer, one of you sears the steak while the other builds the salad, so everything comes together at the same time.
This week's playlist is all Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova warmth for a golden hour kind of night.
notes from the kitchen
Just a few kitchen tips to make the most of this week's ingredients and flavors.
CHOOSING YOUR WATERMELON
We often buy pre cut watermelon for this recipe. It's convenient, and it lets us see exactly how ripe and vibrant the fruit is before bringing it home. If you're cutting your own, trim away the pale flesh near the rind and use the deep pink center for the sweetest flavor.
WATERMELON JUICE FOR THE COCKTAIL
We used a handheld juicer to make the watermelon juice for the cocktail, it's fast and gives a clean juice with almost no pulp. → Shop our favorite handheld juicer
BASIL OIL
If your blender struggles to get going, add another small splash of olive oil until the mixture blends smoothly. It should come out bright green and pourable.
SKIRT STEAK, PREP BEFORE YOU COOK
Skirt steak is a long, thin cut, and while it's incredibly flavorful, it's also a little tougher than other steaks, so cutting it the right way matters. Before cooking, we cut the steak into two or three shorter pieces, cutting with the grain. This just means cutting the long piece into two or three shorter lengths rather than cutting across it, and it makes the steak much easier to fit in the skillet and cook evenly.
SKIRT STEAK, SLICE AGAINST THE GRAIN
Once cooked and rested, turn each piece a quarter turn and slice against the grain. Skirt steak is flavorful but can be tough if sliced the wrong way, cutting against the grain shortens the muscle fibers and makes every bite tender.
SALAD TIMING
Wait until the last minute to dress the salad. Watermelon naturally releases moisture as it sits, and dressing it too early will water everything down.
OPTIONAL SUMAC GARNISH
If you have sumac on hand, a light sprinkle over the finished salad adds a subtle citrusy note that pairs beautifully with the watermelon and feta.
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We hope you enjoy this week's menu. And as always,
Keep the Plates Full and the Spark Alive
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