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Hey Daddy-o!: Steak Panini with Chimichurri Sauce and a Giveaway

· 84 Comments

Boy oh boy, have I ever got a treat for you today!

(OK, so I'd like to believe that a new post from me is always a treat... but trust me, this one is an even bigger treat than usual.)

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Since Father's Day just around the corner, I've partnered up with the lovely folks at Cuisinart Canada to celebrate the occasion by giving away a Cuisinart Griddler for the dad in your life (or maybe for you, if you happen to be a dad).

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The Griddler is a wonderfully versatile tool - it has reversible non-stick plates that are ridged on one side and flat on the other, and a floating hinged cover that turns the Griddler into a contract grill or panini press when closed, or as a countertop grill or griddle when opened flat.  Heck, if you can't make up your mind, you can even go half-and-half with a grill on one side and griddle on the other!

As if that wasn't enough, you can also pick up an optional pair of Belgian-style waffle plates to turn your Griddler into a lean, mean breakfast-making machine.

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I've had a Griddler for the past 5 years, and I can't say enough good things about it.  We use it to cook all sorts of things - chicken breasts, sandwiches, quesadillas, pancakes, sausages and even grilled vegetables.  We even use it to grill burgers when it's too cold or rainy outside to fire up the barbecue. I'll admit, you don't get that true flame-grilled flavour, but it's a handy alternative.

Of all the things I make on the Griddler, though, my favourite is panini-style sandwiches.  I mean, what's not to love about that magical combination of crisp toasted bread, hearty fillings and gooey melted cheese?

steakpanini_assembly

Since this post celebrates Father's Day, I didn't want to make just any old panini.  I wanted a dad-worthy panini.  A meat and potatoes panini.  A manly panini, even. A MAN-ini!

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And does it get any manlier, any more dad-worthy than a steak sandwich? I think not.

So I went south for some inspiration. Way south. All the way to Argentina, in fact, where beef is king and where steak is always paired with chimichurri sauce, a tangy super-garlicky green sauce made from very finely chopped parsley, cilantro and fresh oregano.  In other words, the perfect condiment for my manliest of steak paninis.

steakpanini_chimichurri

It's a very straightforward sandwich, actually. Nothing more than a crusty bun, thin strips of grilled steak, a healthy dollop of chimichurri, and melted provolone to hold it all together. No frills. No fuss. Perfect for dad, right? (And did I mention it goes great with a cold beer? Because it totally does.)

steakpanini_grilling

Want to make the manly man in your life a man-ini of his own? Then read on...

Giveaway Details:

The contest is now closed!  Thanks to everyone for participating... the winner will be announced shortly.

The Prize:
One lucky reader will receive a Griddler prize kit from Cuisinart Canada comprising of:
One (1) fantastically versatile and all-around-awesome Cuisinart Griddler
One (1) set of Griddler waffle plates for making deep-pocket Belgian-style waffles

How to Enter:
Leave a comment telling me what dad-friendly dish you'd make with the Griddler.

Bonus Entries:
You can also get up to two more entries by:
1. Following me (@Izzbell) on Twitter.
2. Tweeting: “I just entered to win a Cuisinart Griddler from @Izzbell & Cuisinart Canada, and you can too! https://bit.ly/MhgOc1”

Remember: Leave one comment for each entry, so that I can count them separately, and make sure to provide a valid email address with each comment so that I can contact you if you win.

Eligibility and Deadlines:
This contest is open to Canadian readers only (apologies, American and overseas friends, I promise to make it up to you next time).
Entries will be accepted until midnight June 13th, at which time a winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries received before the deadline.

//

Disclosure:
Though I was not directly compensated for writing this post, Cuisinart Canada has generously supplied the prize for this giveaway at no cost to me.  All opinions are 100% mine.

//

5.0 from 3 reviews
Steak Panini with Chimichurri Sauce
 
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Prep time
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Inspired by Argentinian barbecues, this sandwich combines a tangy homemade chimichurri sauce with strips of steak and melty provolone cheese on a crusty bun. Don't let the long prep time scare you off - most of it is spent marinating the meat, which gives you some extra time to kick back and enjoy some quality time with dad.
Author:
Recipe type: Sandwich
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Chimichurri Sauce
  • 1 cup packed flat leaf parsley, stems removed
  • 1 cup packed cilantro, stems removed
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup fresh oregano leaves (or 2 tsp dried)
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup red or white wine vinegar
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper
Panini
  • 2 striploin steaks (~½ lb each)
  • 4 ciabatta buns (or 1 cibatta loaf, cut into 3"x"3 squares)
  • 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
Prepare the chimichurri sauce:
  1. Combine parsley, cilantro, garlic and oregano in a food processor. Pulse 4-5 times, or until herbs and garlic are very finely chopped. (Note: if you don’t have a food processor, you can also chop everything by hand using a sharp knife.)
  2. Transfer the chopped herbs and garlic to a small mixing bowl. Stir in olive oil, vinegar, cumin and red pepper flakes, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Prepare the steak:
  1. Place the steaks in a zip-top plastic bag. Spoon ¼ cup of chimichurri sauce overtop, and rub the steaks to coat evenly with the marinade. Seal up the bag and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for 2 hours.
  2. After 2 hours, remove the steaks from the marinade and pat with paper towels to remove some of the excess marinade.
  3. Fire up your grill on High. Grill the steaks to your liking - I usually go with 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, but this will vary depending on your grill, your personal preferences and the thickness of your steak. Transfer the steak to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes, then cut across the grain into thin slices.
  4. (Note: If you don't have a grill or if the weather isn't conducive to grilling, you can cook the steaks on the Griddler instead - just remember to cool off the plates and wipe them down thoroughly before moving on to the next step.)
Assemble the Panini:
  1. Insert plates into the Griddler with the ridged side facing out and preheat to High.
  2. Split the buns in half. Spread each half with a generous dollop of chimichurri, then top with a slice of provolone. Arrange steak slices onto the bottom bun, distributing evenly between the four sandwiches, then top off with the top bun.
  3. Arrange two of the sandwiches on the bottom plate of the preheated Griddler, then lower the top and press down gently for 30 seconds to flatten the panini. (I find the best way to do this is to use a clean dishtowel or oven mitt to press down directly on the top of the Griddler, since the handle doesn't apply even pressure). Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
  4. Slice in half and serve immediately.
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Need some more panini inspiration?  Check out these great recipes from elsewhere on the web:

Carnitas Pineapple Panini (Running to the Kitchen)
Reuben Panini (Good Life Eats)
Braised Short Rib Panini (Panini Happy)
Chicken Bruschetta Panini (Pioneer Woman)
Portabella Panini with Artichoke Tapenade (Oh My Veggies)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Kim Bee says

    A Canadian giveaway, oh how I love you Miss Crumb. Very cool indeed. I would make a philly steak sandwich on it. Then push my hubby out of the way and eat the bigger one. I know it's Father's Day and all but sometimes a gals gotta do what a gals gotta do!

    Reply

  7. Richard Leask says

    As a loving dad I intend to inspire my offspring with this marvelous cooker of things flat to create tasty meals. I'm thinking I'll start with tantilizingly flat Creole Po' Boys and bacon-infused waffles. Then I'll get creative...

    Reply

  14. Jess O'Reilly says

    My dad eats a loaf of bread everyday. Seriously. Maybe if I stuff the bread with deliciousness, he'll cut back. I'd make jerk pork w/ mango salsa on coco bread. Mmmm.

    Reply

  23. Yvonne T. @th3hungrycat says

    Hi there,
    Just posting a quick note to let you know I tweeted about the contest ;) I'm @th3hungrycat.

    Reply

  37. Starla says

    Given that my dad is a really healthy eater, he wouldn't eat the stuffed french toast that I'd make for myself on this... my dad would get a grilled cheese panini. The insides would consist of boursin, arugula, tomato and roast beef. Om nom.

    Reply

  40. Terry Mac says

    Oh, this is such a fantastic griddler, so much to make him happy! But, Father's day is starting off with breakfast, so the first thing I would make is the deep-pocket Belgian-style waffles filled with his favorite---fresh cooked cherries and chocolate, topped with mounds of fresh whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce and maple syrup!

    Reply

  43. Tania says

    My hubs is a lover of the traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwich so I would attempt that on the Griddler! Yummy

    Reply

  45. Michelle McIsaac says

    I'd have to make him something extra manly and meat-y.

    Hmmmm, I think a philly cheese steak panini with oatmeal brown bread would do the trick.

    Reply

  52. Jennifer MacKenzie says

    Monte Cristos are one of my husband's favourites and anything with heat and barbecue sauce! I'm thinking multigrain bread sandwiched with thinly sliced smoked pork loin or grilled chicken spread with homemade barbecue sauce and Ivanhoe Moneterey Jack with Hot peppers, dipped in egg, milk, chipotle powder then grilled with the panini plates. Serve with barbecue sauce for dipping, of course.

    Reply

  55. Shelley S. says

    Great looking sandwich! My dad loves seafood, so I think I would make hime a surf and turf sandwhich. Thinly sliced rare beef, sliced lobster meat, yuzu siracha,arugula,garlic green onion aioli,grilled between a herbed ciabatta.

    Reply

  57. Corisa says

    I am a big fan of panini's especially recently I have been eating one for lunch and dinner the past few days ! I'd love to make him a salty sweet sandwich like I usually do ! And let him keep the griddler of course !

    Reply

  58. Rina says

    Looks so good. Great recipe.

    My dad loves chicken.
    I would take some left over BBQ chicken, shred it some, add a pesto spread, some cheese, grilled bell peppers and mushrooms. Yum-o.

    Reply

  61. Sandy Avvari says

    I would make an "Indian-style" grilled cheese for my dad. That includes brad, butteredon both sides with finely chopped red onion, finely chopped green chilis and shredded cheddar. Pile them on,grill and enjoy! Yum! I should explain that my dad is vegetarian! Cheers, Sandy Avvari on Twitter @savvari

    Reply

  69. Farah says

    I think a nice grilled burrito would hit the spot. make that a blackened fish burrito (my dad's favorite). I could make the fish on the griddler first.

    Reply

  71. Isabelle Beauséjour says

    I do LOVE most of your recipes, and this steak panini will sure become soon a new favorite!

    To enter your contest, I would say that I'll probably have a try preparing a brunch, with potato latkes, topped with bacon and a poached egg... to pair with the rest a true quebecer breakfast, with beans in sauce and maple syrup!

    Reply

  72. Christina says

    I don't even have to look at the title to know this was your post! Love your pics! :)

    P.S. my dad used to love cuban sandwiches which are grilled (only way to make it). They're made with roast pork (usually left overs from what was made at home), fresh sliced ham, pickles, cheese, mustard and sometimes mayo. Grill that bad boy up and viola! Cubano!

    Reply

  73. Jenny says

    Mmm, this steak panini with chimchurri sauce sounds delicious! This would be a great win. My dad is an old-fashioned guy with simple tastes. I would make him a grilled cheese with whole wheat bread, cheddar and bacon and some sliced tomatoes.

    Reply

  74. Tony says

    I would make corn bread waffles then flip out to the flat plates and make a corn bread waffle pulled pork panini... oh yeah, that would hit the spot and use the press in two separate ways!

    Reply

  75. Zan says

    I will grill a juicy burger or a steak and follow up with dessert waffles. Thank you for the give a way!

    Reply

  80. Robyn says

    My Dad is an easy going man, that said, he has some serious meal time standards. One of those, is that a sandwich alone constitutes a snack. If you want to make it a meal you have to add soup. So, with that in mind, I'd have to make him a rare roast beef panini, with horseradish mayo, mozzarella cheese, and spinach, on a homemade garlic ciabatta. Mmmmmm. And, because the man taught me to ski and use power tools, as well as how to french braid, I'd treat him and make it a meal with homemade poutine instead of soup.

    Reply

  81. Jill says

    My dad lives in Arizona, but I would make awesome meals for my husband who is a wonderful father to our two beautiful children. I would make a fluffy belgian waffle topped with nutella, bananas, strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. For lunch i would make him a blue cheese chicken and arugula panini with a side salad.

    Reply

  82. Valerie says

    I'm a huge fan of grilled veggies so I'd make him a beautiful grilled veggie panini with zucchini,red peppers and eggplant to top it off with some goat cheese and pesto.

    Reply

  83. movita beaucoup says

    This is the best giveaway EVER! First off, I'd make my pop a huge, meaty sandwich. And then I'd stuff him full of waffles. Topped with fruit. And whipped cream. And chocolate sauce. (Also, I'd ask if I could store his Griddler at my place...)

    Reply

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