By the time most of you read this, you will probably be home from whatever Superbowl party you attended (Go Steelers!). I'm sure they were filled with amazing treats, goodies, and snacks. I know ours will be. But I thought I'd share with you an appetizer we're not bringing to our party. The last of the FF appetizers and one that I would never serve to company. Frankly I was beyond nervous to serve it to Thatboy.
Thatboy is very much a germaphobe. Before he met me, he ate all of his meat as well done as it could be. He doesn't trust the oven thermometer, often coaxing me to put things back in the oven even when they are definitely cooked. I can't tell you how many times he's questioned the doneness of food. So the idea of serving him raw beef had me in near hysterics.
BUT he does love carpaccio, which is equally raw beef....not that I've ever prepared that at home, which is the sticking point here. We read every article we could find on google about the health concerns with beef tartare and the general consensus was, it's perfectly safe - as long as it comes from your butcher and not your grocer. So dear readers, PLEASE keep this in mind before trying it at home. If you wish to make steak tartare at home, go to your local butcher and let him know what you intend to do with the beef so he can be sure to give you the best and cleanest meat possible.
And would I recommend making this at home? Without a doubt. It was unbelievably delicious. Thatboy and I couldn't get over the flavor and tenderness of the meat. It tasted like steak, cooked steak, even though it wasn't. A few tenative bites turned into fights for the last spoonful.
AND neither of us got sick. Raw beef with no food poisioning? Impressive!
Thatboy is very much a germaphobe. Before he met me, he ate all of his meat as well done as it could be. He doesn't trust the oven thermometer, often coaxing me to put things back in the oven even when they are definitely cooked. I can't tell you how many times he's questioned the doneness of food. So the idea of serving him raw beef had me in near hysterics.
BUT he does love carpaccio, which is equally raw beef....not that I've ever prepared that at home, which is the sticking point here. We read every article we could find on google about the health concerns with beef tartare and the general consensus was, it's perfectly safe - as long as it comes from your butcher and not your grocer. So dear readers, PLEASE keep this in mind before trying it at home. If you wish to make steak tartare at home, go to your local butcher and let him know what you intend to do with the beef so he can be sure to give you the best and cleanest meat possible.
And would I recommend making this at home? Without a doubt. It was unbelievably delicious. Thatboy and I couldn't get over the flavor and tenderness of the meat. It tasted like steak, cooked steak, even though it wasn't. A few tenative bites turned into fights for the last spoonful.
AND neither of us got sick. Raw beef with no food poisioning? Impressive!
Beef Tartare (From The Fannie Farmer Cookbook)
- 1 lb lean ground beef (sirloin or filet)
- 1/3 cup minced onion
- 1 Tbsp capers, drained
- 4 anchovy filets, chopped fine
- 4-5 drops Tabasco
- 1 egg yolk
- salt
- With your hands, mix the beef, onions, capers, anchovy, tabasco, and egg yolk.
- Add salt, and put through the food processor to mix.
- Pack into a small bowl to shape and turn it out onto a platter.
I can't lie. This sort of scares me.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE tartar and it's so under-utilized in menus! I love that you made it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of scared too! I consider myself an adventurous eater but raw meat...I don't know. At least it was delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love, as in LOVE, raw beef. But I too have always been too nervous to make it at home. Given how rare I like my steak you should see the grilling the butcher gets over that!
ReplyDeleteThis freaks me out too...I don't know why, because I eat my steak rare....I guess it is mind over matter.
ReplyDeleteI ate raw meat once . . . by force. It was tramatizing.
ReplyDeleteYou are much more adventurous than me! These past appetizers have been interesting for sure, can't wait to see what else you make from the book!
ReplyDeleteI'm particular when it comes to tartare... but will definitely try this if presented in front of me!
ReplyDeleteI am not a raw meat (or fish) person myself. I don't know that I would ever eat raw !ground! beef. A rare steak is one thing but raw meatloaf? I never knew that tartar was made with ground meat. Am I misinformed or is it a stretch to call this tartar?
ReplyDeleteKaren, seems like to tend to have a lot of negative things to say on this blog. Maybe a good thing to do is just not visit if you don't like it, rather than being rude. Just a thought. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never had raw beef...I don't know if I'm adverturous enough.
ReplyDeleteI actually ate tartar for the very first time about 2 weeks ago. It was delicious.
ReplyDeleteNever had beef tartare before, only had tartare made with fish!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had attended a proper Super Bowl party with yummy snacks.
ReplyDeleteYou are brave, very very brave. And I want to believe you.
ReplyDeleteI do like steak tartare but I think the media scares us from it with all that mad cow and ecoli stuff. But it is good stuff. I think you are wearing out your book perfectly- it is fun seeing all these recipes!
ReplyDeletei'm way to this post, because i don't even remember what we did for super bowl. oh wait - yeah, i do, we were moving. :X
ReplyDeleteand i can't do the raw beef thing. but i'm glad you enjoyed it!
much as i love me some raw fish, raw beef makes me nervous. i'm glad you guys enjoyed it though!
ReplyDelete