Italian Steak Recipe -Palermo Style
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
A Palermo Style Italian Steak Recipe or Bistecche alla Palermitana. A perfectly grilled rib-eye steak topped with a salty crunchy mixture of garlicky capers over a bed of broiled tomatoes.
The Italian Steak of Your Dreams
I’v been meaning to post this since we got back from Sicily, because Palermo-Style Italian steak is a thing around here. Over polenta, mashed potatoes, sliced in an olive bread sandwich and even this dairy-free mac and cheese. You an’t go wrong with this recipe.
But first let me just say: I miss Palermo! The poster child for the perfection of imperfection, we really had a thing for each other. Should I start raving about Teatro Massino and have a Godfather moment or go back to the steak?!
Maybe we can have a movie night and watch the entire Godfather trilogy up to the finale when Michael goes back to Palermo to watch Anthony perform at the one and only Teatro Massino. We could do it in our PJ’s with these steaks on our lap while remembering Michael Corleone’s wise word to live by: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”
Okay, back to the recipe because otherwise I’ll take you back in time to that summer in Sicily, and traveling across the Island all the way to Taormina, the Sicilian village that served for the village of Corleone in the Godfather series.
About the Rib Eye Steaks!
These are legit! No marinade, simply rubbed with olive oil and seasoned well with salt and pepper before being seared to perfection on a cast iron pan/ griddle then finished under the broiler with capers, garlic, anchovy and a bread crumb topping.
Meanwhile I also broil some sweet juicy cherry tomatoes with a splash of white wine or lemon juice and some thyme, just until the juices burst into the perfect sauce.
Why these Italian Steaks make a great Christmas dinner
- Super tasty and easy to make even for a large family.
- Totally festive: red and green served on white plates, this has Christmas written all over it!
- The moment of truth: a steak Siciliano beats a turkey dinner any day.
- You are going to look like a rockstar without slaving In the kitchen all morning when you should be opening presents instead!
Italian Recipes
- Ricotta Meatballs
- Rosemary Biscuits
- Best Minestrone Soup
- White Bean Dip
- Pizza Dough
- Pomodoro Sauce
- Best Homemade Bread.
Italian Steak Recipe -Palermo Style
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler.
- Pat the steaks dry with paper towels and allow them to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking.
- Slice the tomatoes and add them to a broiler proof dish. Drizzle with a lug of olive oil and a good pinch of sea salt. Add half of the thyme leaves and a splash of wine.
- Broil the tomatoes for a few minutes until they burst and are charged around the edges and the top. Transfer to a serving plate together with all the juices.
- Meanwhile drizzle the steaks with a lug of liv oil and sprinkle generously with the salt and pepper. Massage the oil and spices into the steaks with your hands and set aside.
- Preheat a cast iron pan or griddle on medium high flame and sear the steaks for 3 minutes on each side for a medium rare steak.
- in a small bowl combine the capers, garlic, anchovies, bread crumbs with a lug of olive oil. Spoon the mixture on top of the steaks and transfer them to the broiler for a couple of minutes until golden brown on top, making sure not to burn them.
- Transfer the steaks on top of the broiled tomatoes and serve garnished with the remaining thyme leaves and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Amazing! I’m a beginner and this was one of the best dinners I’ve ever had. I did use crab instead of anchovies, but I think it would be great either way. I loved the tomatoes, so I made them again with salmon.
Absolutely divine! I made for the two of us tonight and there isn’t a better recipe. Thanks for sharing we loved it
This is one of my favorite dishes. It’s full of flavor and it’s great with some good red wine.
bring that vino 😉
Yummy the food looks so good. I’ll have to make it sometime.
extra tomatoes for me please! this looks really good! i have never prepared it like this before!
I agree, I’m all about the tomatoes myself!
This looks like a delicious way to make up steak, I will certainly have to give this recipe a try! Thanks for sharing it!
Yes you must and please do report back 🙂
Oh that looks amazing. Would be a great anniversary dinner, have the hubby make it and just sit back and enjoy. He is a much better cook than I am.
Haha, I love how you think Kristi !
Yum!! That steak looks amazing and those tomatoes are officially the key to my heart. I love this!!
oh yes you and me both Sabrina ! Forget the steak, I’m all about the tomatoes !
Steak is always my husband’s dinner request for his birthday. I need to share this recipe with him. I know he’ll love it.
Surprise him 🙂
I’m drooling over those grilled tomatoes nearly as much as the steak itself. What a delicious recipe!
Looks delish! I think I will try this steak recipe for dinner tomorrow.
Let us know how it turned out 🙂
Wow! Your steak recipe made me drool. That looks amazing. 🙂
So glad to hear, that means I hit my target hehe
Oh my gosh this looks amazing!! My husband loves Italian food and steaks, this would be perfect for him.
Make it Vera, make it 😉
Yum! This sounds amazing. I’ve never tried a dish like this.
Sicily on a plate for you 🙂 Must try!
Oh my goodness this looks amazing! Hubby’s grilling steaks for supper right now but I wish I had seen this recipe first. Looks delicious!
Next time you do it for sure ! So easy and I bet he’ll love it too.
This would be a good New Year’s eve meal I think. It’s tasty and it would go well with all the different kinds of alcohol and drinks that people has then.
Haha Jeanette, I like how you think 😉 Bring out the red wine ! Happy New Year !