IT’S Father’s Day and it’s time for us to treat the men in our lives! Granted, since it’s still Raya season, most people would probably be too preoccupied to have thought of buying something special for their dads. But don’t settle for a discounted tie or a “I LOVE YOU DAD” mug. Instead, think about cooking them a meal. Nothing shows love more than a plate of home-cooked food.
Some of you might be wondering what you can make. After all, “fathers” are made up of a vastly diverse group of people. Some love spicy food, some prefer sweet, while some don’t eat meat.
The problem is, when you google “father’s day dishes”, you’ll end up with a list of articles that have combined 30-60 recipes centring on meat-heavy dishes, which usually involve expensive ingredients and complicated cooking processes. This wouldn’t be an issue if you’re an avid cook with boundless time. However, you would be a rarity.
Most people don’t usually know how to make a burger from scratch or how to roast a leg of lamb — but all is not lost. You can still prepare something special, without falling in-line with western ideals of a Father’s Day meal.
MAKING THE EFFORT
The point of the dish is that you have made the effort to cook for dad, so it really doesn’t matter what you’ve decided to make. The dish doesn’t even need to be delicious, just edible enough for your father to stomach it. However, it would be nice if you could attempt to make something delicious!
The trick to this is simple — make what you know. It’s always a bad idea to cook a special dish without actually knowing how to make it. So, stick to what you know and just add a little twist to make it more interesting for dad.
For example, if you are great with curries, make it for dad. But if he’s used to you making it with lamb, perhaps you can try a different meat. Or why not make it with yogurt to add a little acidity, instead of using coconut milk? Maybe you can add in his favourite vegetables, or even make a special side dish.
The most important thing to remember is to twist the recipe only slightly. Don’t change it too much, lest you ruin it. However, use this opportunity to add in ingredients that your father might love or prefer, when compared to your usual recipe.
This is also a great chance to rename the dish. Through the years, I have adapted recipes to my parents’ tastebuds and named them “Ayah’s Cookies” or “Mak’s Pie”. So, when we want to celebrate something in their honour, I have a dish ready to be whipped up at a moment’s notice.
A MEATY GIFT
However, if you would like to make dad a classic meaty Father’s Day dish, think about making a steak. Now, most people assume that making a steak is terribly difficult and expensive. But it’s the opposite. All you need is a reasonably priced steak and a good skillet to make this dish perfect.
The trick to picking a reasonably priced steak that will yield a great final product is to make sure that it’s grass-fed and not grain-fed. Grass-fed meats tend to have a less beefy smell and a cleaner flavour. More importantly, don’t choose a steak that looks large because it’s thin.
A good steak should be between 2.5 cm and 4 cm in thickness. If not, it would dry out far too quickly on the pan. I tend to use strip-loin because it’s very affordable, it’s only about RM15-RM20 for a good portion.
Now, for the pan. I use a cast-iron skillet because it has the best heat distribution and retention. If you don’t have one, just use your heaviest frying pan — this usually means that the metal is thick enough to retain heat. Do not use a non-stick pan, it won’t sear the steak properly. Just make sure you coat the pan in a good quality neutral oil, so the steak doesn’t end up sticking.
Dress the steak with your father’s favourite spices and herbs. The best part is you don’t even need to marinate it, just coat it in salt, spices and oil and you’re ready to cook. The steak will only take four to five minutes to cook and requires no skill whatsoever. All you need to do is heat your oiled pan until the oil shimmers and place your steak on it. Let it sear for two minutes on each side and voila you have the perfect Father’s Day dish.
RECIPE:
Ingredients
Grass-fed striploin steak (between 2.54cm and 3.81cm thick, 150g)
2-3 tbsp good quality neutral flavoured oil (like canola or sunflower)
½ tsp fine salt
Spices and herbs
Roasted vegetables to serve
Method:
1. Make sure your steak is at room temperature before you begin.
2. Coat the raw steak with salt, spices, herbs and one tablespoon of oil.
3. Pour the rest of the oil into a pan and place it on the stove.
4. Make sure the fire is at maximum and let the oil shimmer before placing the steak on it.
5. Sear the steak for two minutes on each side for medium well, or 2.5 minutes on each side for almost well-done. Make sure to not move or lift the steak during the searing process. It is normal for it to smoke up quite a bit.
6. Let the steak rest for five minutes before serving.