Your Veggies Might Get Steak Tips
If the product name tells you how to use it, you can usually take it at face value. Dog leashes hold dogs back. Garlic keepers hold garlic. We all know that car washes usually wash. But when it comes to my spice cabinet, I add these spices to whatever the hell I please. It’s time to free steak seasoning from the restrictive label. Seasoning for steak is also suitable for vegetables.
Don’t get me wrong, steak seasoning is a delicious seasoning for a cut of beef. It complements the inherent flavors of the meat and enhances the umami. Unlike the fine powders that typically fill a spice cabinet, steak seasoning consists of ingredients with thicker, bulkier granules. The finer powders should dissolve and disappear, but these larger particles should surface and stand out, adding small bursts of flavor with each chew.
What part of “little bursts of flavor” sounds bad for vegetables? It is ideal for vegetables. (Steaks can get by with less , anyway.) Most prepackaged bottles of steak seasoning contain a selection of delicious dry flavors and flavor pellets. McCormick includes salt, black and red pepper, garlic and onion. Steak Seasoning Jacobsen Co. consists of almost the same, as well as coriander, parsley, thyme and rosemary. There’s nothing here that’s overtly “steak” and, as an added veggie benefit, these condiments are usually vegan and gluten-free.
What is the best way to use it? Liberal. I recently grilled asparagus with healthy steak seasoning and it was amazing. The green vegetables had visible bits of dried garlic and onion stuck to the surface, which paired perfectly with the smoke flavor from the embers of the grill. There is a risk of overcooking the vegetables when grilled, but the sea salt in the mixture dissolves in the asparagus juice and forms an even coating of salt, making the entire stalk incredibly juicy. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think roasted corn, red bell peppers, or thick slabs of zucchini would be killer with steak seasoning.
Unlike raw meat, vegetables start on a dry surface and trying to coat them with any seasoning at this point is useless. Before grilling or baking, brush them by tossing or drizzling oil over the vegetables. The oil will give the seasoning something to stick to, and you can sprinkle it generously without losing too much spice by gravity. If you’re steaming or simmering, cook the vegetables halfway, add steak seasoning to the ingredients, and bring to a boil. Serve umami-packed vegetables as a side dish, sliced salad, or as a hearty topping for steamed rice.