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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Chris Kimball’s Reverse-Seared Steak with Chimichurri

4 to 6 Servings

1 hour 15 minutes active, plus refrigeration

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This recipe uses the gentle, controlled heat of the oven to replicate the “reverse sear” technique Argentinians use when grilling beef. Rather than start the steak over high heat to brown, then finish over low heat, the steaks start in a cool oven, then finish with a quick sear in either a blistering-hot cast-iron skillet or on a grill. The result is steak with a deep, flavorful crust that's evenly cooked throughout, not overdone at the surface and just-right at only the core. Either strip steaks (also called strip loin or New York strip) or bone-in or boneless ribeyes work, as long as they're 1½ to 2 inches thick. We learned to season cuts of beef with nutmeg at La Cabrera in Buenos Aires; the spice doesn't leave a distinct flavor of its own but enhances the steaks' meatiness and smoky notes.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don't use preground nutmeg. For best flavor, purchase whole nutmeg and grate it yourself. You could use a grater made specifically for nutmeg, but a wand-style grater also works well.

1 hour

15 minutes active, plus refrigeration

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 1

    tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg (from 2 whole nutmegs)

Directions

Reviews
JOANN H.
July 4, 2026
Chris Kimball's Reverse-seared steak with Chimichurri.
I made this for dinner tonight. It was excellent!! I was concerned about the rub fresh nutmeg and sugar but it was fabulous. It brought out the flavor of the steak. The Chimichurri was good but my husband did not want to use it because he loved the flavor of the steak with the rub. I used it and it enhanced the flavor. I will definitely make this again.
Heather B.
June 24, 2025
Perfect steak,
Perfect medium rare steak
Tamara P.
March 1, 2025
Great cooking technique! Restaurant results
Absolutely delicious. I am from Argentina and this was a big surprise. Perfect cooking technique for steaks, we prepared it with rump cap or sirloin cap (picanha) The nutmeg adds a deep flavour and the end sear is just perfect. I prepared a chimichurri mayo, just mixed the chimi churri, some mayo and water for a quick sauce for the meat. Unfortunately we can't share pictures here, but my dish was absolutely delicious
Judith Y.
December 27, 2024
I like red meat and I can not lie!
I rarely (no pun intended) make red meat, so when I decided to make a special holiday meal for my carnivore son, I needed a recipe. This was delicious! My steaks were REALLY thick, so needed a little longer in the oven, but the end sear really did produce a wonderful crust, and the chimichurri was delish!
Ruby K.
August 22, 2024
Not sure about the nutmeg...
But the reverse sear is my new go-to. I think just a teaspoon of nutmeg is what I will do next time. That whole tablespoon just overpowered the steak.

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