Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Potatoes

• 220 g raw Baby potatoes (7.8 oz raw)
• 1 liter, for boiling Water (about 4 cups, for boiling)
• 1.5 g Salt (¼ tsp)
• 6 g Olive oil (1⅓ tsp)
• 220 g raw Sirloin steak (7.8 oz raw)
• 0.5 g Black pepper (¼ tsp)
• 8 g Butter (½ tbsp)
• 9 g raw (3 cloves) Garlic
• 4 g raw Parsley (1 tbsp chopped)
• 80 g raw Green beans (2.8 oz raw)

You'll need: Saucepan, Large heavy frying pan (cast iron is ideal), Colander, Knife, Cutting board, Tongs or spatula.

Method

1. Par-boil the potatoes and beans

   Halve the potatoes. Put them in the saucepan with the cold water and a pinch of the salt, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, adding the trimmed green beans for the last 3. Drain well and let the steam rise off for a minute.

   Dry potatoes crisp. Wet ones spit and stay soft, so let them steam dry.

2. Crisp the potatoes

   Heat half the oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes cut side down with a pinch of the salt and fry for 5–6 minutes, until golden and crisp. Tip onto a plate with the beans.

   Leave them cut side down and don't move them. That flat side is where the crunch comes from.

3. Sear the steak bites

   Pat the steak dry and cut it into 2.5 cm (1 inch) cubes. Season with the rest of the salt and the pepper. Heat the rest of the oil over high heat until it just smokes, add the steak in one layer and sear for 1½ minutes, then turn and cook 1–2 minutes more for medium (63°C / 145°F).

   The pan must be very hot and the meat dry. Otherwise it boils gray instead of browning.

4. Toss in garlic butter

   Turn the heat to low, add the butter and the chopped garlic and stir for 30 seconds until it foams and smells nutty. Tip the potatoes and beans back in, toss everything together and scatter with the chopped parsley.

   Garlic burns fast in hot butter. Turn the heat down before you add it.

Swaps

• Sirloin → Chicken breast cubesLeaner. Cook them for 6–7 minutes until 74°C (165°F).
• Butter → Olive oilDairy-free, with the same calories.