Description
Cajun garlic butter steak bites deliver a spicy Southern-style explosion of flavor that promises pure culinary excitement. Home cooks can quickly sear tender beef morsels in a zesty butter sauce, creating a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort that you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) steak (strip steak, sirloin, ribeye)
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon packed light brown sugar
- 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
Cooking Components:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
- Minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the beef into robust, bite-sized chunks approximately 2 inches wide, transferring them into a spacious mixing vessel.
- Craft the Cajun seasoning blend by thoroughly mixing all designated spices, ensuring an even distribution of flavors.
- Generously coat the meat pieces with the prepared seasoning mixture, massaging each chunk to guarantee comprehensive coverage.
- Position a sturdy, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, allowing it to warm until delicate smoke tendrils emerge.
- Introduce a measured quantity of vegetable oil to the scorching pan, creating a glistening protective layer.
- Carefully deposit half the seasoned meat chunks into the skillet, maintaining adequate spacing between pieces to facilitate proper caramelization.
- Execute a precise 2-minute sear on the first side without disturbance, developing a rich golden-brown crust.
- Rotate each piece and continue searing for an additional 2 minutes, achieving a uniform exterior coloration.
- Transfer the initial batch of seared meat to a waiting plate, then repeat the cooking process with the remaining chunks.
- Reduce the skillet’s temperature to medium-low and introduce butter, allowing it to melt smoothly.
- Incorporate minced garlic, stirring continuously for approximately 30 seconds to release its aromatic essence.
- Utilize a wooden implement to salvage the flavorful browned residue accumulating on the skillet’s base.
- Extinguish the heat source and reunite the seared meat with the bubbling garlic butter.
- Gently toss to ensure each morsel becomes luxuriously coated in the fragrant sauce.
- Present the steak bites immediately, elegantly garnished with freshly chopped parsley.
Notes
- Sear steak bites in batches to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without overcrowding the pan, which prevents steaming and ensures maximum flavor development.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution and to create those delicious browned bits that add depth to the garlic butter sauce.
- Choose high-quality, well-marbled beef like ribeye or sirloin for tender, juicy steak bites that melt in your mouth.
- Customize Cajun seasoning by adjusting spice levels or adding personal favorite herbs to make the recipe uniquely yours.
- Keep steak bites medium-rare to medium for optimal tenderness, avoiding overcooking that can make the meat tough and dry.
- Scrape up browned bits from the pan when making garlic butter to incorporate concentrated flavor and create a rich, complex sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg