Gypsy Steak

A big piece of ribeye steak was down for this week’s meat rotation. What was I going to do with it? It was such a big, beautiful piece of steak, I knew I needed to make something impressive with it. I made what I am calling a gypsy steak.

Romani (Gypsy) cuisine is a rustic, resourceful, and traditionally nomadic diet, relying on hearty soups, stews, and roasted meats (chicken, lamb, pork) cooked over open fires. Key ingredients include paprika, garlic, potatoes, peppers, cabbage, and foraged foods. Their foods are bold, spicy and strong, with lots of garlic, onions and paprika. My steak had all those big bold flavors and more. A gypsy steak is a very appropriate name for it.

Gypsy Steak

I marinated the steak in a big, bold paprika vinaigrette for about 4-5 hours before searing it to perfection.

Bold Paprika Vinaigrette

1/2 cup olive oil

2 TBSP paprika

1/2 onion, diced fine

7-8 cloves of garlic, sliced very thin

2 TBSP capers

2 TBSP balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 TBSP red pepper flakes

1 TBSP Dijon mustard

salt & pepper to taste

Mix everything together well. Generously cover the steak with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before cooking.

Reserve some of the sauce before adding it to the meat for later.

When you are ready to cook the steak, I recommend searing it first to give it a nice crust. Cook it to a juicy and delicious medium rare for best results, or when the internal temperature reaches between 125-130* F or 54-57*C.

I added some sauteed red, yellow, orange bell peppers and mushrooms to top the streak when it was done. Top the cooked steak with more of the sauce, then add the sauteed peppers and mushrooms. Serve with a bold, big red wine on the side, along with some kind of potatoes that are big enough and bold enough to handle the big, bold flavors of the steak. To make it a romantic dinner, add some gypsy music, maybe something from the Gypsy Kings, and voila! Romance is in the air.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Life is what you make it, so make it fantastic. May 2026 be filled with happiness, good health and prosperity for all. ‘Til next time.