From The Kitchen: Dinner for Two

Dish: Steak with sauteed baby asparagus, mushrooms and mashed potatoes on the side.

Cost of preparation: £10-ish

The perfect dates are those that involve plenty of passion and enthusiasm. Now, if you could channel passion and enthusiasm into cooking a fancy meal for your loved one, you don't have to worry about burning a hole in your pocket for a dinner-for-two at that ostentatious steakhouse downtown.

Steak doesn't have to be expensive, if you follow these simple steps!

Ingredients:

• 2 sirloin steak
• 200g baby asparagus
• 4 medium-sized white mushrooms
• 2 large potatoes
• milk
• salt
• fine white pepper
• coarse black pepper
• BBQ seasoning
• garlic granules
• paprika powder
• fresh parsley
• fresh garlic

*Remember, cooking is fun when you're spontaneous, so adjust the ingredients according to your taste. 

Seasoned sirloin steak

Medium rare Sirlion Steak

1. Season the steak with half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of fine white papper, coarse black pepper, garlic granules, BBQ seasoning, and paprika.

2. Repeat the same on the other side.

3. Heat the pan with oil. When piping hot, gently place the steak into the pan.

4. Reduce the heat. Maintain low heat (number 3 or 4).

5. Pan fry the steak for 2-3 minutes (for medium rare) - adjust duration according to preference of how you want your steak.

6. Flip the steak over and pan fry for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Serve on plates.

8. Top off your dish with fresh parsley leaves.

Washed parsley

Mashed potatoes

1. Skin and dice the potatoes. Toss them into boiling water.

2. Allow them to cook and soften. (You can carry on preparing the beef and asparagus while waiting)

3. When soft, drain the water and mash the potatoes with a fork/spoon until soft.

5 A teaspoon of fine white pepper.

6. 3-4 table spoons of milk. (Be careful not to exceed as it will make your mash potatoes too mushy)

7. Add a teaspoon of paprika (optional).

8. Serve on two plates.

Baby asparagus and mushrooms

1. Wash the asparagus and mushrooms.

2. Cut the asparagus into three parts.

3. Dice the mushrooms into cubes.

4. Chop 2 cloves of garlic.

5. Heat the pan with oil and stir fry the garlic until fragrant and golden. 

6. Add in the asparagus and mushrooms.

7. Throw in a teaspoon of coarse black pepper, garlic granules and paprika.

8. Add a tablespoon of vegetable stir fry sauce (I used Lee Kum Kee oyster sauce)

9. Stir fry for 7-8 minutes and serve on two plates.

Cooking the perfect steak can be tough. Practice makes perfect! 

Good luck!

Photographed by Timothy Ho and written by Vivian Kuan.