Irish Sirloin Steak Ciabattas

This quick and flavourful steak sandwich recipe is perfect for a satisfying meal at home. With charred vegetables blended into a spicy relish, tender Irish sirloin steaks cooked to perfection, and topped with your choice of cheese, it’s an easy yet indulgent dish. Ideal for a casual lunch or dinner, this recipe brings together vibrant flavours and simple cooking techniques.

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 thyme sprigs
• 2 Irish sirloin steaks, around 200g each
• 4 ciabattas or baguettes
• Lettuce leaves
• Cheese of your choice (such as blue cheese, parmesan or sharp cheddar)
• 1 red pepper
• 1 red chilli
• 1 red onion, thickly chopped
• 1 large tomato
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds
• Mayo to serve

Steps

1. Start by heating a large pan over medium-high heat. Alternatively, can be done on the BBQ. Place the whole red pepper and chilli into the pan and char them, turning occasionally, until their skins are blackened and blistered all over. This will take around 10-15 minutes. Once done, remove them from the pan, place them in a bowl, and cover with cling film to let them steam for about 10 minutes.
2. In the same pan, add the red onion and the whole tomato. Char the red onion slices for 5-7 minutes until softened and slightly blackened, then do the same with the tomato, cooking for around 3-4 minutes. Once everything is charred and cooked, set them aside to cool.
3. Peel and deseed the pepper, chilli, and tomato. Blend all with 1/2 the lime juice, 1/2 the olive oil, and cumin seeds into a chunky relish.
4. For the steaks, mix garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and thyme. Season both sides well. Rub over the steaks and marinate for 10 minutes or longer in the fridge if preferred. Heat the pan with a small amount of neutral oil and cook the steaks 4 minutes per side for medium-rare, then allow to rest for 5 minutes.
5. Slice the steaks against the grain and stack inside toasted ciabattas along with lettuce, relish, and preferred choice of cheese. Drizzle over mayo to finish.