Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe

Nick Kindelsperger

About once or twice a year, I'm struck by a desire to eat steak—and not just any old cut of meat, but a gigantic, thick-cut monster. While most of my cravings can easily be satisfied by going out to eat, I find the whole steakhouse experience prohibitively expensive. Plus, I feel like I'd have to wear a tie, and I really don't want to do that. Fortunately, recreating the experience at home can be done fairly easily. Just purchase one gorgeous, well-marbeled steak, pick out a classic side—like, say, creamed spinach—and you're set to go.

Fortunately, I didn't have to spend long looking for a pan-seared ribeye steak recipe, because Kenji did all the hard work for me. Basically, it goes like this: heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet, add the steak, flip it constantly, add butter halfway through, baste it like crazy while also flipping occasionally, remove, let rest, and you're done. Works like a charm. Just make sure to have some exhaust fans going or open some windows, because there will be smoke.

Unlike the steak, I was initially unsure where to start with the creamed spinach. I read through numerous recipes, many of which were overly complicated and fussy. In the spirit of simplicity, I just focused on the cream and the spinach. To help thicken the cream so it'd stick to the leaves, I made a quick roux with butter and flour, and then seasoned it with nutmeg and salt. For the spinach, I cooked it carefully with a little more butter until it just started to wilt, and immediately turned off the heat, so that the leaves were soft but not a pile of mush. Then I just combined the two. Done.

While still something of an extravagance, I find that my wife and I can share a large steak, and there will still be some leftovers.

Recipe Details

Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 30 mins
Serves 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 large ribeye steak, approximately 1 1/2-inches thick (24 to 30 ounces)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

  • 5 tablespoons butter, divided

  • 6 sprigs thyme or rosemary (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 3/4 pound spinach, washed and rinsed, cut into thin strips

  • Pinch grated nutmeg

  • Coarse sea salt

Directions

  1. Season ribeye well with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed cast-iron skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke. Carefully add steak and cook, flipping every 30 seconds or so with a pair of tongs, until a pale golden brown crust starts to develop, about 4 minutes total.

  2. Add two tablespoons of butter to skillet. Continue flipping steak every 30 seconds, while using a spoon to baste the steak with foaming butter. (See here for a step-by-step slideshow of the process. If butter starts to smoke excessively, reduce heat to medium. Continue process until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 125°F (for medium rare), 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove steak and set aside on a large plate to rest for 10 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, melt one tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir with a whisk until there are no lumps. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook until the roux becomes blonde and smells toasty, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and whisk continuously to avoid lumps. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of grated nutmeg, and simmer gently until thick and creamy.

  4. Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and stir with a pair of tongs until leaves have just wilted, but still have some integrity. Turn off heat. Pour half of the cream sauce in the skillet and stir well. Add more if necessary to help bind the spinach together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  5. Slice the steak into 1/2-inch thick slices (if desired), sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and serve with spinach on the side.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1442 Calories
127g Fat
11g Carbs
71g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 1442
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 127g 162%
Saturated Fat 56g 278%
Cholesterol 342mg 114%
Sodium 1072mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 71g
Vitamin C 17mg 85%
Calcium 311mg 24%
Iron 12mg 69%
Potassium 1574mg 33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)