Season’s Savorings: 8 Ways to Elevate New York Strip for the Holidays

Among the fundamental pleasures of the holiday season, we can all appreciate the warmth of gathering together for a shared meal—even better when it features our home-cooked favorites.

This year, give your loved ones the gift of a memorable meal featuring Natural Angus New York strip steak. Take this tender cut of Aspen Ridge® beef to holiday-worthy heights with just a few simple ingredients.

New York Strip Ideas for the Holiday Meals

Merry Mushroom Sauce

Chop up an eight-ounce container of cremini (baby bella) mushrooms and a shallot. Sauté them in olive oil with some fresh thyme for about 10 minutes. When the mushrooms have softened and soaked up that extra flavor, add a cup of dry red wine. Once the wine has reduced by half, give it 3-4 minutes, stir in a few tablespoons of butter. Pour this succulent sauce over your steaks for a rich, new tradition at the dining table.

Seasonal Salt

Add some holiday sparkle with Himalayan pink, chunky sea salt, or another gourmet salt variety, to make your New York strip extra savory. Rather than being cooked off at high temperatures, high-quality salts absorb and amplify the steak’s flavor profile. Season both sides of your steak with salt of choice before it hits the heat.

Cheerful Cheese

Enhance your holiday table with blue or Gorgonzola cheese. Toss it on right before your steak is done—on the grill or under the broiler—and allow it to melt slightly, delivering a new dimension of decadence to your steak. For an extra-rich topper, try blue cheese mixed with butter, garlic, and rosemary.

A Peppery Present

Create depth of flavor by patting both sides of your New York strip with rough-crusted peppercorns in any variety. Try:

• Green peppercorns for a fresher flavor
• Pink peppercorns for a light taste
• White peppercorns for an earthier flavor

Evergreen Elevation

Add some jolly green flair to your meal with a chimichurri sauce for a simple, yet powerful burst. Common ingredients include parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and shallot—a highly flavorful combination requiring surprisingly low effort. Easily combine ingredients in a food processor, or, if you’d like a more dynamic texture, chop everything and combine in a bowl.

Festive Flavored Butter

Yet another quick way to add rich, creamy flavor to your New York strip: mix your favorite combination of garlic, fresh herbs (such as parsley, oregano, thyme, and/or rosemary), salt, and/or pepper with a stick of softened butter to easily enhance your steak. Top your steak with the compound butter as it rests for the ultimate flavor experience.

Jingle Bell Jam

Bacon jam, that is. Start by chopping up a package of bacon, then sautéing in a skillet. Remove bacon and set it aside to drain. Next, sauté a yellow onion in the same skillet using a tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat. Once the onions are soft, add the bacon, ½ cup of water, ¼ cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of red wine vinegar, and season with thyme, black pepper, and cayenne. Cook for 13 minutes until caramelized, then add two teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and two teaspoons of olive oil. Spread this bacon jam like holiday cheer for a whole new way to enjoy New York strip steak.

Debating between Natural Angus New York strip or ribeye? We serve up the facts about both in this ultimate steak showdown.

Winter Wonderland—and Sea

Surf and turf is a surefire way to appeal to a variety of tastes. Coat shrimp in light olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook them in a skillet (or on skewers if you’re grilling) while your New York strips are cooking. Top the steaks with shrimp and herb-garlic butter.

Here’s to the Holidays

Looking for other cuts of Aspen Ridge® Natural Angus beef to serve to your friends and family this season? View our unparalleled USDA Prime and Choice Angus Beef products, with no antibiotics or added hormones—ever.

For another decadent holiday centerpiece, check out our Black Pepper and Porcini Natural Beef Rib Roast with Porcini Wine Sauce recipe.