Scotch Fillet Steaks with Dried Oregano Rub

Treat Dad's Tastebuds to an Adventure to the Middle East

Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 x 180g scotch fillet steaks, fat trimmed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp dried oregano leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
Zest and juice of 1 lemon + extra wedges, to serve
1 large eggplant
2 x 250g packets microwave brown rice & quinoa
1 tbsp caramelised balsamic vinegar
4 heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 Lebanese cucumber, diced
1/4 cup coriander leaves
80g goats cheese, crumbled
1 pomegranate, seeds removed

Method

Cut a few slits in eggplant and place directly over a gas flame using tongs (see tip if you don't have a gas flame). Cook for 10 minutes, rotating every few minutes as the skin chars and eggplant softens. Place on a tray and slice in half lengthways. Scoop flesh into a sieve set over a bowl and allow to drain for 20 minutes.

Preheat a char-grill pan or barbecue to high. Brush steaks lightly with half the oil, season then sprinkle oregano, cumin, fennel and lemon zest over steaks. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked to your liking, brushing steaks with half the lemon juice while cooking to prevent spice rub burning. Remove steaks from heat, loosely cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare quinoa and rice according to packet instructions. Place in a large bowl. Finely chop drained eggplant and add to bowl with remaining oil, balsamic vinegar and remaining lemon juice, stirring until combined. Stir through tomato, cucumber, coriander, goats cheese and half the pomegranate seeds. Season and top with remaining pomegranate seeds.
Serve steaks with eggplant quinoa salad and lemon wedges.

Tips:
Scotch fillet steak is sometimes called boneless rib eye or rib fillet. This steak is one of the most popular steaks. It's juicy, tender and full of flavour.
Only buy steaks of an even thickness to ensure they cook evenly.
If you don't have a gas flame, you can roast your eggplant in the oven. Simply halve it lengthways, drizzle with oil and roast at 200°C until very tender.

Give Dad what he really wants this year and gift him the perfect steak

This Father's Day, ditch the socks and give your old man something he really wants – a juicy beef steak. Research has revealed that nine in ten (88%) Aussies think a perfectly cooked steak is a ripper gift idea for their dad, so make sure you plan a visit to your local butcher and fire up the grill for a happy dad.

To help you master steak in a style that will have your Dad full with pride, Australian Beef is sharing five of the best recipes to whip up this Father's Day. Proving you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen to impress the special man, recipes such as steak frites with a knockout mushroom sauce and a rib eye with a spicy quinoa and bean salad, are quick and easy to prepare.

Better yet, to help guide you in your choices, Australian Beef butcher Doug Piper has shared his top tips for choosing the perfect cut of beef and cooking it to perfection.

Scotch fillet is a winner - Research revealed that the most popular cut with Dad's across the country is a scotch fillet (aka rib fillet – 47%), followed by a T-bone (18%), sirloin, or rump steak, so looking for these cuts is a great start
Ask your butcher – Your butcher will be able to help give advice depending on the dish you wish to create and how you plan to cook your steak, so don't be afraid to ask.
Refer to an app – There are great information sources online, so do some research with apps like MeatCuts app, designed to help when making your decisions.
Preparation is key - Make sure to bring your steak to room temperature and season before cooking. Also ensure you pre-heat your pan/BBQ so it is nice and hot to seal in the juices
Relax on the flipping - Only flip the steak once and allow ample rest time to ensure a juicy and tender steak. The rule of thumb is to rest for half the amount of time it's been cooking.

Get support to cook perfectly – Take the guesswork out of how long to cook your steak and instead download the SteakMate app, input the details of cut and desired doneness, and let it do the timing for you. A super simple way for a perfect cook every time!

Father's Day: sorted!

For additional recipe inspiration, visit www.australianbeef.com.au.