Everytime summer hits, it seems that we UAE residents suffer from a slight memory loss of how hot it gets! 😅 Given that La Carne takes pride in being a platform in education and enabling people to explore their kitchens to the fullest, we thought it best to share some tips and fun ideas to spice up the indoor cooking.

3 ways you can spice up cooking indoors

1. Upgrade your kitchen equipment!

Check out Al Diyafa Hotel Supplies on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi for some reasonably priced cast iron indoor grill pans. We got a circular one with handle and now have an awesome rectangle one that we can lay over two induction hobs! Note: We are no way affiliated with Al Diyafa, we just think they have great value for money when it comes to good quality grill pans. They have a great selection of sauté pans too in their basement.

Above: our round grill pan, perfect for grilling steaks and burgers

Our rectangular grill pan which makes cooking up longer or more steaks a breeze!

2. Slow cook more

Slow cooking has so many benefits during the summer. You prep a little, cook a little, and then delegate the hard work to your oven for a melt-in-the-mouth surprise! You also don't have to burn outside or dehydrate yourself from the humidity.

Here's an incredible slab of short ribs we made in the oven! After rubbing with garlic and herbs over night we slow cooked it for 3 hours in apple cider (you can use juice too). It was insane!

3. Use a thermometer for roasts and big steaks!

Roasting meat is an awesome way to use affordable cuts like topside, brisket and chuck and getting an amazing value for money since you end up with more to eat! However, a thermometer is key to ensure you maximize your eating experience. Get an instant read thermometer for thin steaks (a.k.a quick cooks) and a probe thermometer (we love the Weber iGrill 2) for roasts and big steaks like tomahawks so that you don't have to open the oven every time you check the meat's internal temperature. Every time you open, heat escapes and affects the cooking of your meat! Consistency of heat is key..

That's it for our post this month! As a special treat, here's our favorite Skirt Steak recipe which you can use for flank steak or thinly sliced short ribs too!

La Carne's Favorite Skirt Steak Marinade

What you'll need:

• 1/4 cup avocado/olive/sunflower oil
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 600g skirt steak, trimmed
• Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

Simply mix up the ingredients and marinade your steak for 30 mins to 3 hours. Before you cook the steak, ensure it's at room temperature. Grill on a hot pan to your preferred doneness. Rest for 5 mins then slice against the grain (perpendicular to the muscle grain direction) to ensure it's as tender as can be.

To see how to make it, check out this video!

Until next time. Enjoy life and great meat!

Meaty regards,

Joan

Group Brand Manager at La Carne