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Different Things To Do With Ribeye Steak

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When it comes to new ideas for your next dinner party menu, it can be hard to come up with inspiration. Steak always seems to be a good fallback option, but are there ways to put a new twist on your classic steak dinner?

What are some different things to do with ribeye steak? Start with looking at new ways to season your meat. You can also pair your ribeye steak with different side dishes including cauliflower cheese and sweet potato fries. And if you fancy a change from griddled steak, ribeye works well in dishes such as stir-fries and Vietnamese pho.

If you’re searching for some innovative and interesting ideas for your next steak dinner, then look no further! We’ve got everything you need to know about different things to do with ribeye steak right here.

What Is Ribeye Steak?

We all know that there are many different cuts of steak, and most people have their favorites. But while we’re all arguing over whether fillet or sirloin steak is the best, it is easy to forget about the delectable ribeye steak.

Ribeye steak comes from a long, tender muscle that runs from the cow’s shoulder blade to the hip bone.

It is not a hardworking muscle and contains a good proportion of intramuscular fat, also known as marbling. It is this fat that adds moisture and flavor to a steak.

Ribeye steak gets its name as it contains a portion of the rib bones. This bone may be left in the steak, in which case you may find it referred to as a rib steak. It is much more normal for rib-eye steaks to be supplied with the bone removed.

The rib bone adds flavor and moisture to the steak, but it makes cooking it more difficult. The part of the steak next to the bone cooks more slowly than the other parts, making it very tricky to get the perfect meat to serve your guests.

Is Ribeye Steak Easy To Cook?

Cooking a steak as delectable as a ribeye can sound quite daunting to the amateur cook. What if you end up with dry, chewy meat? Or a steak that is too rare and unappetizing?

Well, don’t be scared of the ribeye steak—it’s easier than you might think!

As with most prime cuts of steak, fast cooking methods using high heat produce the best results. Most chefs get the best results by cooking ribeye steak under the grill, under the broiler, or in a good-quality skillet.

The aim is to get a lightly caramelized brown crust on the outside of the steak, leaving the inside tender and juicy.

How rare you want the inside will depend entirely on your personal preference. This is why most steakhouses will ask how you want your steak cooked.

However, whether you love a medium-rare steak or prefer your ribeye well done, the cooking method does not change. The only difference is the time that your steak is cooked for.

To cook the perfect ribeye steak, brush it lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat the pan or grill until smoking before adding your meat.

The length of time you cook your ribeye steak depends on the thickness of the meat and how well done you are aiming to get it.

For example, a 1.5-inch thick steak will need 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. For medium, add 2 minutes per side, and for well done, add 3 or more minutes per side.

Next comes the resting period, which is critical for a tender and delectable finish. During resting the meat fibers relax and the juices permeate the cooked meat.  Let your meat rest in a warm place for 5-10 minutes before serving.

So, this is the most basic way to cook a ribeye steak and one that many home cooks will be familiar with. But what if you want to do something different for a change?

Let’s take a look at some different things to do with ribeye steak, including some great seasonings, side dishes, and ribeye steak recipes!

Best Seasonings And Spices For Ribeye Steak

Steak has a strong, intense flavor, and can be paired with some unusual and interesting accompaniments. 

So whether you want to stick with tradition, or try something more outlandish, here are some great seasoning suggestions for ribeye steak:

Salt & Pepper

A simple salt and pepper seasoning can bring out the best in a top-quality ribeye steak, but there are ways to make this classic method even better.

Firstly, use freshly ground pepper rather than dried, ground pepper. This will give a much more intense flavor. And when it comes to choosing your peppercorns, a peppercorn mix will give you a real taste sensation!

The salt should be sea salt, and both the salt and pepper should be added to the steak at least an hour before cooking, along with good-quality cooking oil.

While these simple seasonings work their magic, leave your ribeye steak out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature. 

Ribeye Steak Rub Recipes

If you’ve never blended your own steak seasoning, now is a great time to start!

Whilst a store-bought seasoning blend can give a good flavor to your steak, the homemade version allows you to create the perfect combination to suit your tastes.

The ideal steak rub should enhance the flavor of your steak without overpowering it. They should be allowed at least 30 minutes to permeate the meat before cooking.

Here are some of our top pics for the best steak rub blends:

  • Asian Steak Rub: a blend of cumin powder, Chinese five-spice, minced garlic, and cayenne pepper. You can make this fresh blend as hot or mild as you like.
  • French Steak Rub: keep it traditional with a mix of dried thyme, marjoram, rosemary, oregano, or sage. Use as many of these as you have, it is not necessary to include them all!
  • Indian Steak Rub: toast some coriander, cumin, and fennel seeds then crush them into a powder. Mix with garlic and onion powder and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Mexican Steak Rub: if you want a chimichurri style steak then mix a generous helping of paprika with onion and garlic powder, and freshly ground black peppercorns.

Ribeye Steak Marinade Recipes

If you have the time, then a marinade is a great way to really maximize the flavor of your steak. Mix your marinade and pour it over the steak, rubbing it in well. Leave for several hours, or overnight if possible.

Here are the best marinades for steak:

  • Mediterranean Steak Marinade: combine gentle flavors to infuse your steak without overwhelming the delicious flavor of the meat. Mediterranean-inspired ingredients include dried herbs, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard.
  • Oriental Steak Marinade: you’d be amazed how well oriental spices work with steak! Add minced ginger and garlic to rice wine vinegar and honey for the perfect blend for your delicious ribeye.
  • Smokey Steak Marinade: if you want to recreate the flavors of an outdoor grill, then marinade your ribeye steaks in a blend of smoked paprika, ground cumin, onion powder, and olive oil. Add a squeeze of lime juice for some zingy freshness. 

Best Side Dishes To Serve With Ribeye Steak

You have many options of how to serve your ribeye steak, so let’s start with the traditional accompaniments.

In a steakhouse, your ribeye steak would normally be served with crispy potato fries, buttered corn cobs, and a fresh, crisp salad slathered in dressing. Delicious!

These sides are all easy to recreate at home, and your family or dinner party guests would certainly not turn their noses up at a traditional steak dinner.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a healthier option then simple boiled potatoes dressed in olive oil or butter will also work well with steak.

Cook the corn on the griddle to retain the most nutrients and get that great caramelized flavor on the outside.

Another great way to serve a large, juicy steak is with a large salad. Our favorite is a simple green salad of dark peppery leaves such as rocket and mustard, loaded with roasted zucchini and mushroom.

Top with crunchy croutons and dress with a punchy vinaigrette to cut through the intense flavor of the steak.

If you fancy a change from the traditional accompaniments for steak, here are some great ideas for side dishes to serve with ribeye:

Potato Dishes To Serve With Ribeye Steak

  • Mashed potatoes with roasted garlic
  • Sweet potato fries
  • Dauphinoise potatoes
  • Potato tartiflette
  • Cheesy baked potatoes

Vegetable Dishes To Serve With Ribeye Steak

  • Braised red cabbage with apples and red wine
  • Cauliflower cheese
  • Creamed spinach
  • Battered onion rings
  • Herby roasted vegetables
  • Buttered green beans

Other Side Dishes To Serve With Ribeye Steak

  • Mac and cheese
  • Garlic baguette
  • Couscous salad
  • Zingy coleslaw
  • Cauliflower rice

Sauces To Serve With Ribeye Steak

  • Béarnaise—the classic French sauce for steak
  • Chimichurri—a colorful Argentinian sauce packed full of flavor
  • Peppercorn sauce—the combination of freshly ground pepper and cream is perfect with ribeye steak
  • Red wine sauce—if you are feeling adventurous, try adding a bit of dark chocolate too!

Best Dishes Containing Ribeye Steak

If you fancy a change from the griddle, are there any other dishes you can make that contain ribeye steak?

If you are feeling really indulgent, thin strips of ribeye steak can be pan-fried and served with eggs and avocado. This makes an amazing treat for a special day such as a wedding anniversary!

Ribeye steak also tastes amazing when served in a crusty baguette, topped with shredded lettuce and thinly sliced tomato.

You could also try topping a pizza with slivers of prime ribeye steak, or rolling flash-fried steak slices inside a warm, floury tortilla wrap.

If you’ve never tried it, traditional Vietnamese Pho is a fabulous way to cook a steak! Very thinly sliced ribeye is added to a hot beef broth, along with noodles and vegetables, to make a flavorsome soup packed full of nutrition.

If the unlikely event occurs that you have leftover cooked ribeye steak, what can you do with it?

This delightful and succulent meat works well in Asian dishes, and our favorite suggestion would be to stir fry thinly sliced steak and shredded vegetables in Hoisin sauce, served over noodles or rice.

Alternatively, you could knock up a batch of fried rice with thin strips of beef steak, or a fresh and tasty ribeye steak salad.

What Drinks Pair Well With Ribeye Steak?

So, now that the dinner’s sorted, what about the beverages?

If you’re serving red meat such as steak, then most of us would automatically reach for the red wine. However, ribeye steak can work with a range of different flavors.

Most wine connoisseurs recommend that beef dishes should be served with a full-bodied and earthy red wine. Favorites include Pinot Noir, Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon.

If your guests prefer white wine, then you need something robust to withstand the flavor of the meat. This could include white wines made from grapes such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

This can be a great option if you are using your ribeye steak in a dish with oriental flavors.

And for those who are steering clear of alcohol, a rich and fruity juice drink would work well. We’d suggest a dark blackberry juice, topped with club soda for a bit of fizz.

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over a few different things to do with ribeye steak, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

What happens if you boil ribeye steak?

Boiling a steak is a very new concept to most people, so let’s look at what difference it might make to your steak.

Boiling is normally reserved for slow-cooking tougher cuts of beef, such as when making stews and casseroles.

Prime steaks such as ribeye are normally fried, so they are lightly caramelized on the outside and still slightly rare in the middle

However, it is possible to boil a prime steak such as ribeye with good results.

Boiling will distribute the heat more evenly, so you will get steak which is cooked throughout without burning the outside. This method can also be a good way to infuse the meat with flavor.

The problem with boiling ribeye steak is that the meat will not brown and caramelize on the outside, which is part of the appeal of a griddled steak.

It is also very difficult to time how long to cook steak for when boiling, and it will be very difficult to judge when the steak is cooked to perfection.

Can you cook ribeye steak in the oven? 

It is possible to cook ribeye steak in the oven, and this technique can give some great results! Season your steak as normal, and ensure it is basted in plenty of oil. Place the ribeye steak on a rack over a baking sheet.

Place the steak in an oven preheated to 275°F, and cook for about 45 minutes. This time can be decreased or extended depending on how well done you you’re your steak.

This slow method will give perfectly tender steak, that is lightly seared on the outside.

For a chargrilled effect, the cooked steak can be flash-fried in a hot griddle pan for a minute on each side. Rest the cooked steak for at least 5 minutes before serving.

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