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Of course, the easiest thing you can "make" for a special occasion is a reservation, but that's not who we are. We're home cooks, so we're treating our loved ones to Chicken Limone, Seafood Cioppino, and Chocolate Lava Cake—from scratch. Sometimes, however, it's just hard to find the time.
If you aren't typically the chef de cuisine of your household or want something that's a lower lift, you might be looking for a meal that's easy to whip together, but will still impress. Look no further because we've got you covered. We have the perfect inspiration thanks to a co-worker on the Allrecipes team who shared the recent birthday meal her family treated her to. Beef Tagliata—or grilled steak with arugula, Parmesan, and cherry tomato salad—is easy enough for anyone to attempt any night of the week, but also tasty enough for a special occasion. It even has a fancy name to boot.
How To Make Beef Tagliata
Beef Tagliata lets you celebrate in style in less than 30 minutes, and it takes only a handful of ingredients, including steak, arugula, tomatoes, and shaved Parmesan. The arugula salad gets lightly dressed with olive oil and lemon juice for a peppery, yet acidic balance that complements a rich, marbled cut of meat. You can also add slivered red onions and a drizzle of balsamic if you wish to elevate the flavors even further.
This recipe, created by Allrecipes Allstar Nicole Russell (aka Soup Loving Nicole), calls for New York strip steaks grilled to your desired doneness. But your favorite cuts, such as filet, ribeye, flank, hanger, or skirt, would work here as well. If you opt for tougher meat like the last three, you might want to consider adding a marinade to the mix.
As far as the method goes, it couldn't be simpler to execute. While the steak is cooking, toss the arugula with oil and lemon, season with salt and pepper, and shave some Parm in there. Pile the arugula on top of the steak after it rests (or set it on the side), and—voilà—a restaurant-quality plate right in your own home.
Recipe Tip
Because there are so few ingredients at play, make them count. Use high-quality olive oil and real-deal Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. And splurge on the steak—it's worth it.
With easy-to-follow steps, you can even hand the reigns over to someone else to make this for you, and it's customizable to any palate. Swap lemon juice for lime and add more goodies to the salad, sear the steak on the stove, or opt for blue or feta cheese instead of Parm.
Take it from the aforementioned staffer, editor Bridget Olson, who says, "This is one of my husband’s and my favorite meals when we want to celebrate something. We splurge on a good quality, thick-cut ribeye steak because the marbling creates amazing flavor. We smother the steak with the salad, and every bite is utter perfection. The arugula and olive oil bring a peppery bite, lime juice, and grape tomatoes provide a balancing acidity, and the avocado and Parmesan round out the flavors with a nutty component. The best part is that it only takes about 10 minutes for the whole dish to be thrown together. It’s perfect for weeknight celebrations when time is in short supply, but the desire to have something special is not."
"[Beef Tagliata] is perfect for weeknight celebrations when time is in short supply, but the desire to have something special is not."
What To Serve With Beef Tagliata
Because this is a main dish and salad all in one, you might not even need another side. But equally easy to serve here would be roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus, or crusty bread. If you are serving this on a special occasion and want to keep the low-stress theme going, follow it up with a decadent dessert that uses a boxed cake mix or a store-bought shortcut. Any way you slice it, Beef Tagliata makes for a memorable meal that will be a new go-to.