If your only experience with salisbury steak is from an old school TV dinner or greasy spoon diner, it’s time to get a new perspective on it. My version features melt-in-your mouth beef smothered and covered in sauteed onions and gravy.
Not really a steak at all, Salisbury steak is simply ground beef formed to look like a steak. The good part is you don’t have to worry about any bones or grizzle in it, each bite is tender and juicy like a steak, and it soaks up the juices and gravy really well.
My friend Paul actually tipped me off to Salisbury steak because I had always thought it was just a low quality version of a steak that I only remembered from TV dinners growing up as a kid. Not the best introduction to a dish that can be super tasty when prepared the right way. After giving it a try I had to come up with my own version, one that was completely Paleo friendly.
The ground beef of course didn’t have to be swapped out, but we had to lose the bread crumbs that show up in most recipes. It’s funny just how much you can get rid of without changing the overall flavor of the meal when you update a traditional recipe.
Since Salisbury steak is often served up next to a side of mashed potatoes, it’s best to serve this with a side of cauliflower mash so you get the same effect. There’s something about the smoothness of the mashed cauliflower that goes nicely with the tenderness of the steak, it just works so why mess with a classic?
But of course you don’t have to go with cauliflower mash, and this dish lends itself well to just about any veggie side you can dream up.
One thing you’re sure to love about this meal is how easy it is to get it onto the table. It’s one of those meals where you don’t have to worry too much about getting it right, because it’s hard to get it wrong. If you overcook the steak it still tastes great, unlike an actual steak where if you miss your preferred doneness you might not enjoy it as much.
If you’re like me you’re always on the lookout for easy-to-make meals that everyone can agree on. The beefy nature of this meal, the way that it’s a cross between a hamburger and a steak, means that kids and adults like it just about the same. If you’re serving it up to the kids try skipping the sauteed onions and gravy and serving it up with some Paleo ketchup, meatloaf style.
This has made it into our regular weekly rotation and now it’s Salisbury Sundays unless something else is going on. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family does.
