Ultimate Steak Sandwich | One Pot One Portion
An alternative to my steak sandwich with chimichurri, this steak and cheese sandwich with Ballymaloe Relish is the perfect solo date night dinner. Cooking for one doesn't mean you can't treat yourself and this steak sandwich is the perfect recipe for solo self-care nights when cooking for one.
Hello readers! I'm Eleanor..
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About this dish
I believe that self-love is a year round concept but, as February is the month of love, I’m going to make the most it with a solo date night dinner. This is my one pot one portion steak sandwich and if you’re not adding this sauce to you sandwiches then you’re not doing date night right! Starting by searing a beautifully seasoned ribeye steak in a hot pan, before toasting ciabatta in the juicy garlic butter, laying over cheese and most importantly a generous spoonful of ballymaloe relish. The perfect sweet, sharp and spicy addition to your steak sandwich. Finish with rocket get that second date night booked in.
If you like this recipe you might also like my steak sandwich with chimichurri and crisps or my single serve pappardelle al ragu for another great solo date night dinner.
Why you want to make this recipe
20 minute meal
This recipe only takes about 20 minutes. This is a 20 minute one-pan meal that you make on the hob, so requires as little effort as you could possibly imagine.
One Pot Recipe
As with all of my recipes, this is a one pot dish or one pan dish, which makes every meal time easier and more enjoyable.
Single-Serve
Again, as always, this recipe is for single-serve tacos so you can make this just for yourself! Though it would be very easy to scale up to serve multiple people if needed
Ingredients and Tools
Ribeye Steak
- My two favourite steak cuts for a steak sandwich are ribeye and fillet. Ribeye is a fattier cut and if you can get a beautifully marbled piece of ribeye then the fat melts as the steak cooks and adds so much flavour which is then soaked up by the bread. Fillet steak is leaner and I would want to ensure it was cooked no more than medium-rare, whereas with a ribeye I think medium is just as delicious. Both are great, the choice is yours!
Ciabatta Bread
- I think ciabatta is perfect for this sandwich as is soft crumb structure soaks up all the buttery steak juices while still ensuring integrity while eating!
Sliced Cheese
- You can choose any cheese you like for this. My preference is something fairly mild but slightly nutty, like Emmental. Mozzarella would work really well, as would a mild cheddar.
Ballymaloe Relsih
- Ballymaloe relish is a tomato-based condiment that adds sweetness, acidity and has a gentle spice. We know that steak and mustard go well together and the gentle heat of ballymaloe relish isn't dissimilar to this.
Rocket/Arugula
- Peppery rocket/arugula brightens up the dish and adds a beautiful splash of greenery
Step by step instructions
Drizzle over a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Rub over the steak to season well.
Heat a frying pan or skillet over a high for 3-4 minutes until very hot then add the steak to the pan. Cook on one side for around 3 minutes. When the bottom of the steak has a dark brown colour flip the steak over and add the butter and garlic to a pan. Cook for another 3 minutes, basting the steak with the butter and garlic as it cooks. This will give you a medium steak- see the notes above for other timings for rare/well done.
Once cooked, take the steak out of the pan and allow to rest. Turn the heat on the pan down to medium then add the ciabatta, cut side down. Toast in the butter and steak juices for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
Once toasted, lay the cheese on top of the toasted bread then spoon over the Ballymaloe Relish. Spread evenly then slice the steak into strips and lay on top. Add a handful of rocket/arugula over the top of the steak then serve up and enjoy!
Variations, substitutions or modifications
Gluten-Free: This recipe is already gluten-free! Just serve with your favourite gluten-free bread.
Vegetarian: This recipe is also already vegetarian thanks to the chickpeas being the main source of protein.
Vegan: To make it vegan, do the above and substitute the double/heavy cream for a vegan alternative, and either use a vegan cheese instead of parmesan, or use a tsp of nutritional yeast.
FAQs
What steak is best for a steak sandwich?
- My two favourite steak cuts for a steak sandwich are ribeye and fillet. Ribeye is a fattier cut and if you can get a beautifully marbled piece of ribeye then the fat melts as the steak cooks and adds so much flavour which is then soaked up by the bread. Fillet steak is leaner and I would want to ensure it was cooked no more than medium-rare, whereas with a ribeye I think medium is just as delicious. Both are great, the choice is yours!
What condiments are good on a steak sandwich?
- Ballymaloe relish is a tomato-based condiment that adds sweetness, acidity and has a gentle spice. We know that steak and mustard go well together and the gentle heat of ballymaloe relish isn't dissimilar to this. If you want to try something else, my steak sandwich with chimichurri is one of my favourite recipes ever!
What cheese goes with steak?
- You can choose any cheese you like for this. My preference is something fairly mild but slightly nutty, like Emmental. Mozzarella would work really well, as would a mild cheddar.
Can I make this gluten-free?
- You can make this gluten-free simply by choosing gluten-free bread!
What I make this dairy-free?
- You can make this dairy free by either omitting the butter and cheese or by using lactose-free/vegan alternatives.
Can I make a double portion?
- You can easily double up this single-serve recipe just by doubling the ingredients.
If you like this recipe you might also like my steak sandwich with chimichurri and crisps or my single serve pappardelle al ragu for another great solo date night dinner.
Ingredients
For one serving, you need:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Ribeye Steak
- 3 Cloves of Garlic, lightly bashed with the flat side of a knife
- Knob of Butter
- 1 Large Ciabatta Roll, sliced lengthways in half
- 2 Slices of Cheese of your choice, I love a Dutch cheese like emmental
- Salt
- Black Pepper
To serve:
- 1-2 tbsp Ballymaloe Relish
- Handful of Rocket/Arugula
Instructions
- Take your steak out of the fridge about 1 hour before you want to start cooking to allow it to come up to room temperature.
- Drizzle over a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Rub over the steak to season well.
- Heat a frying pan or skillet over a high for 3-4 minutes until very hot then add the steak to the pan. Cook on one side for around 3 minutes. When the bottom of the steak has a dark brown colour flip the steak over and add the butter and garlic to a pan.
- Cook for another 3 minutes, basting the steak with the butter and garlic as it cooks. This will give you a medium steak- see the notes above for other timings for rare/well done.
- Once cooked, take the steak out of the pan and allow to rest.
- Turn the heat on the pan down to medium then add the ciabatta, cut side down. Toast in the butter and steak juices for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- Once toasted, lay the cheese on top of the toasted bread then spoon over the Ballymaloe Relish. Spread evenly then slice the steak into strips and lay on top. Add a handful of rocket/arugula over the top of the steak then serve up and enjoy!
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?