Leftover Steak Sandwiches

I have some big news!!! Cole and I are back on the red meat train again (that didn't take long did it?) I know, I know. As much as I love eating chicken, turkey and going vegetarian a day or two a week, sometimes a girl just needs a steak. Ja feel? 

So naturally grilling up a big steak was next on the agenda for us. Plus, the weather last weekend was drop dead gorgeous in Seattle, and all I really wanted to do was grill with a beer in hand! And that’s exactly what we did. 

When we grill steak, I typically go for a flank, skirt or flat iron cut because you can put a quick, tasty marinade on them, they're affordable and they grill up quickly. If we're splurging of course I go for the rib eye or New York strip, something with some good marbling! But because we're on the post-Austin budget, a flat iron steak sounded good for both the belly and the wallet! 

But of course the steak I bought was far too much for two people to eat in just one sitting (especially if you're still recovering from a barbecue binge!) So what did we do with this predicament? Turn the leftovers into steak sammies, of course!

If you've never reused your leftover steak for a sandwich, I highly suggest you get on this train ASAP! Here's what we did with our sandwiches to make them super scrumptious. I'm talking restaurant quality, people! 

I love pairing steak with sharp, bold flavors. The perfect combo to me really is Gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles, caramelized onions and a tasty spread on a good, soft bun. Turns out, I had in my fridge (I'm not even making this up - it's like my refrigerator was begging me to make a mean steak sandwich) good Gorgonzola crumbles, arugula and an onion just primed for caramelization. All I needed was a soft ciabatta roll to toast up before we were in for a real treat. 

And, oh, were they a treat and them some!! Talk about shaking up your average Monday night. Can we also marvel at just how downright sexy they are?! My goodness...

So go ahead and dig through your fridge - see what you'll find to make a delicious leftover sammy of your own! 

Leftover Steak Sandwiches

Makes two sandwiches - use more ingredients for more sandwiches!

Ingredients

• Leftover steak, sliced in small strips

• Ciabatta buns

• 1 yellow or red onion, sliced

• Arugula, about 1/2 cup

• Gorgonzola crumbles, about 1/4 cup

• Mayo

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon thyme

• Butter or mayo for bread

• Garlic salt

Directions

Heat oil and butter over medium high heat in a large skillet. Add onions and stir them to coat. Stir often, about every 3 minutes for about 30 minutes, until onions begin to turn golden and brown. Season with salt, pepper and thyme and lower the temperature. Continue to cook, stirring often for another 15-20 minutes, until onions are jammy, soft and golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside. 

Cut ciabatta buns in half lengthwise. Spread mayo on each half and sprinkle with a little garlic salt. Toast buns in the oven or in a pan/flat top grill until slightly brown and crisp. Heat another skillet over medium high heat with a little olive oil. Saute leftover steak bits until ends start to brown and get crispy. This takes only a few minutes to heat through and get some color! 

To assemble your sammy, put steak strips on the bottom bun, top with a healthy handful of gorgonzola crumbles, caramelized onions and a handful of arugula. Top with the other half and nom your heart out!