Thin Beef Steaks with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (Lehtipihvi ja Paprikakastike)
Thinly pounded beef steaks served with a flavorful roasted red pepper sauce. The sauce combines grilled vegetables, olive oil, and a hint of chili for a fresh, slightly smoky taste, a perfect match for juicy steaks. This recipe is best cooked on the grill, but you can also prepare it indoors using a cast-iron skillet or grill pan (parila pannu) for equally delicious results. Serve with grilled vegetables, potatoes, or a light quinoa salad for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Steaks:
- 4 Beef inside round steaks about 1 cm (½ inch) thick
- 1 tsp sea salt or flaky salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce:
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 mild red chili
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 small onion
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
Prepare the Steaks:
- Pound the beef steaks to about 5 mm (¼ inch) thick. If you’re cooking in a cast-iron skillet or grill pan, you can make them even thinner for faster, more even cooking. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then brush lightly with olive oil.
Preheat the Grill:
- Heat your grill to high. Remove the seeds and stems from the pepper and chili. Cut the pepper and onion into quarters, and halve the tomatoes and chili. Place all the vegetables in a bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and toss to coat evenly.
Grill the Vegetables:
- Grill the vegetables until they soften and get a little color. Transfer to a bowl and let them cool slightly. Peel off any blackened skin from the pepper.
Make the Sauce:
- Blend or puree the grilled vegetables until smooth. Add salt, sugar, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and lemon juice. Mix well and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Grill the Steaks:
- Grill the steaks over high heat for about 1 minute per side, pressing lightly with a spatula to create grill marks if desired. Season with salt and black pepper. Let the steaks rest briefly before serving.
Serve:
- Serve the steaks warm with the roasted red pepper sauce and your choice of sides: grilled vegetables, crispy potatoes, or a fresh quinoa salad all work beautifully.