EASY & ELEGANT STEAK SALAD

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) sirloin steak (or 2 steaks if you're big meat eaters!)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 ounces diced pancetta

2 tablespoons pine nuts

4 dates

4 cups arugula, frisée, radicchio (torn), or a combination

Juice of ½ lemon, plus more as needed

Extra-virgin olive oil

½ ounce Parmesan cheese (or blue cheese if you dig it)

Directions

1. Pat the steak dry, then season generously with salt and pepper.

2. Place the pancetta in a 12-inch cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta is crispy, about 5 minutes. When it's almost ready (around minute 3 or 4), add the pine nuts to the skillet to toast in the rendered pancetta fat. When the pancetta is crisp and the nuts are golden brown, turn off the heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

3. Return the skillet to medium-high heat (no need to wipe it out). Add the steak and cook until golden and an instant-read thermometer registers 130°F (for medium-rare), 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board to rest.

4. Meanwhile, pit and chop the dates.

5. In a large bowl, toss the arugula with the lemon juice, 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a little bit of pepper. Taste and add more of whichever of these it needs for the greens to taste delicious

to you.

6. You could just throw everything else into the bowl here, but this meal deserves your two extra minutes for presentation (and we deserve nice things!). Thinly slice the steak. Divide the dressed arugula between two plates along with the pancetta, pine nuts, and dates. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the Parm into big ribbons on top of each plate. Add the steak on top. Serve, and receive compliments.

Notes

RIFF Basy & Elegant Chicken instead of Use bacon Salad: instead pancetta, walnuts of pine nuts, chicken breast instead of steak, balsamic juice, yellow instead of lemon

of dates, and raisins instead of Parm. Same avocado instead concept, totally different salad. Still hits.