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Steak Teriyaki

Teriyaki is an old preparation, but using steak is relatively new, as beef was not widely eaten in Japan until the second half of the twentieth century. So this might be considered a new classic. I love it with a simple salad (you might use Sesame-Miso Dressing, page 190) and perhaps Basmati Rice with Shiso (page 510). Other cuts of meat you can use here: the teriyaki treatment is widely used for chicken, bone in or out (see page 317), pork, and shrimp.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

4 sirloin (New York) strip or ribeye steaks, 6 to 8 ounces each, or 2 larger steaks
1/2 cup sake or slightly sweet white wine, like a German Kabinett or Spätlese
1/3 cup mirin or 2 tablespoons honey mixed with 2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat a large heavy skillet over high heat for about 3 minutes, then add the steaks. Brown quickly on both sides, not more than 2 minutes per side. Transfer the meat to a plate and turn off the heat for a minute or two.

    Step 2

    Turn the heat to medium, add the sake, and cook, stirring, to loosen any bits of meat adhering to the bottom of the pan. Add the mirin, sugar, and soy sauce. Stir to blend and, when the mixture is producing lively bubbles, return the meat to the pan.

    Step 3

    Cook, turning the meat in the sauce, until it becomes thick and sticky, more of a glaze than a liquid; this will take only 5 minutes or so. By that time the steaks should be rare to medium-rare (if you’re not sure, cut into a piece). Continue to cook if necessary, adding a spoonful or two of water if the sauce threatens to burn. Serve immediately.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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