Don't be Scared of Ghost Chilis: Flatiron Steak Sandwich

29 Nov 2011
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Flatiron Steak Sandwich With Cucumber, Ginger Relish & Ghost Chili Aioli

Ghost Chilis are (supposedly, arguably, possibly) the hottest pepper in the world. In 2007 The Guiness Book of World Records deemed them 401.5 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. Since then, the Naga Viper Pepper, Infinity Chilli, and the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper have been bred to (supposedly, arguably, possibly) surpass the ghost pepper on the Scoville scale, which (supposedly, arguably, possibly) measures the heat level in chili peppers.

Not that the semantics matter when you taste one– because they are hot. Damn hot. Too hot for me (supposedly, arguably, possibly). But that doesn't mean I can't find a way to cook with them. Take this Flatiron Steak Sandwich With Cucumber, Ginger Relish & Ghost Chili Aioli. I took a great sandwich recipe from Tom Colicchio and adapted to include this Ghost Chili Aioli.

I have been wanting to do something with Ghost Chilis for about a year. You see Marx Foods sent me some dried Ghost Chili samples and they have sat in my pantry this past year zinging me with the promise of a heat so hot as to be (supposedly, arguably, possibly) inedible.

Inedible. Heat so Hot. Those are fightin' words in my house. I'll eat anything, and I'll scar my tongue just to prove it if I have too.

ghost chili from Marx FoodsBut guess what? I don't have to. Because I know a few tricks in the kitchen and I know I can tame the heat in these peppers. I'm not saying that what I make won't be hot. Damn hot. But I swear (supposedly, arguably, possibly) it won't be so hot as to be inedible.

Removing the seeds (while wearing gloves and possibly even glasses) will go a long way in controling the heat. Rehydrating the chili and then discarding the water helps too. I also diluted the heat somewhat without losing flavor by mixing the ghost chili into an aioli. This way you can decide just how hot you want it. Because, I'll be honest, this aioli was (supposedly, arguably, possibly) the hottest thing I ever made. GREG

Flatiron Steak Sandwich With Cucumber, Ginger Relish & Ghost Chili Aioli

serves 4 CLICK here for a printable recipe

  • 1 dried ghost chili
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 10 oz canola oil
  • 1 lb flat iron steak
  • 1 pn each salt and pepper
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 4 ciabatta rolls
  • 1 c seedless cucumber, cut into 2-inch julienne
  • 2 T fressh ginger, peeled and cut into 2-inch julienne
  • 1 c cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges

In a small bowl cover the chili with very hot water. Let sit about 1 hour until softened. Discard water, dry the chili, remove its seeds (optional) and roughly chop it. Be careful as this chili is very hot.

In a blender, add egg yolk, egg, lemon juice and chili (these little peppers pack a lot of heat, so add as much as you can stand). Blend until fairly smooth. While the blender is on, drizzle in canola oil until the aioli emulsifies and thickens to your liking (you might not use all the oil) then add a pinch of salt to taste.

Season the meat on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet set over high heat, until very hot. It must be an iron skillet to retain as much heat as possible.

Place steak in the hot pan. Let sear for 2 to 3 minutes until well browned. Flip to the other side and let sear for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the steak continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak. 120°F for very rare, 125°F for rare, or 130°F for medium rare. When the desired temperature is reached, remove the steak from the pan to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice the meat against the grain.

Slice the ciabatta rolls in half, scoop out some of the soft interior bread, creating a well. Spread some of the ghost pepper aioli onto the top halves of the rolls. Layer the sliced meat on the bottom halves of the rolls followed by a generous amount of the cucumber, ginger and cilantro. Drizzle with lime juice. Close the sandwiches and serve with more aioli and lime wedges.

Greg Henry writes the food blog Sippity Sup- Serious Fun Food, and contributes the Friday column on entertaining for The Back Burner at Key Ingredient. He's active in the food blogging community, and a popular speaker at IFBC, Food Buzz Festival and Camp Blogaway. He’s led cooking demonstrations in Panama & Costa Rica, and has traveled as far and wide as Norway to promote culinary travel. He's been featured in Food & Wine Magazine, Los Angeles Times, More Magazine, The Today Show Online and Saveur’s Best of the Web. Greg also co-hosts The Table Set podcast which can be downloaded on iTunes or at Homefries Podcast Network.

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Hot!

You, sir, are one brave man! I'm impressed, and also intrigued. I wonder - if you are serving someone with an (ahem) slightly weaker palate, would you be able to tone it down even more - say, with more aioli, less chili? Or is the fire pretty much there no matter how you try to simmer it down?

Also - I just want to say I love flat iron steaks. Possibly my favorite cut of beef at the moment. So easy to cook, and always tender and juicy.

Cheers!

Jeanne @JollyTomato (not verified) | Dec 8th, 2011 at 5:06 pm | Reply

Thanks for your tips on

Thanks for your tips on "taming these devilish creatures" that I love Oh! so much....

Your sandwich? What can I say...I'm Argentinean....tears in my eyes! 

Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris (not verified) | Dec 3rd, 2011 at 12:53 am | Reply

Intriguing--I want to eat this!

I'm intrigued. I've seen ghost chiles occasionally at my local market; now I'm kicking myself for not having tried them. I bet a good hunk of beef would be a great foil for that hotness. Next time I see them, I know what I'm going to do with them!

Felicia (not verified) | Dec 1st, 2011 at 7:32 pm | Reply

I've graduated to serrano but

I've graduated to serrano but these puppies scare me. Which at the same time challenges me...if you can do it and like it then I can too...seems a great way to bring a bit of mild to the Ghost Pepper Greg and the sandwich looks, yes, yummaliciouss!

Barbara | Creative Culinary (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Reply

Holy moly...

I'm super impressed! These chilis do scare me a little. You are brave. :)

Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 6:11 pm | Reply

Piss fire and save matches!

Very smart move to break out the cucumber to help tame the heat. 

As far as the difference between the bhut jolakia and the trinidad scorpion, I think that is like the difference between having 50 million or 60 million dollars.  I can't comprehend either, so the difference is negligible. 

I think this recipe rocks because I love flank steak and the heat is easily scalable by selecting different chiles.  I'd probably go with a tolerable jalapeno/habanero blend. 

Chris (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 5:58 pm | Reply

I'm scared.

Really.  

Sis Boom. (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 5:23 pm | Reply

Too Hot for this Guy!

Sounds exciting, but I had to work hard on eating food with black pepper. I know what you're thinking. "And you're from Texas"!? I'm a real wimp when it comes to eating food that's way too hot. (Defined as inedible!)

That flat iron steak sure looks mighty tssty though. Perfectly cooked!

Curt (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 4:40 pm | Reply

THIS IS AWESOME!

As someone who lives for heat, this is on my list of things to make. Stat. Like, yesterday, preferably.

Sarah (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:18 am | Reply

Great tips on making these

Great tips on making these chilis milder. I like the idea of the aioli. Were these chilis flavorful and just not *hot*?

Karen (not verified) | Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:16 am | Reply

Ghost Taste

They certainly do have a flavor. A lot like habenero (maybe not as fruity) with a hint of citrus. Mine were dried so I also tasted a slightly smoky quality (not that they were smoked). GREG

jgreghenry | Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:26 am | Reply

Deadly

Perhaps they are called the ghost pepper for their ability to induce a heart attack from so much heat.  My husband would LOVE it!

Krista (not verified) | Nov 29th, 2011 at 4:41 pm | Reply

Love this!  Just curuous --

Love this!  Just curious -- how much of the pepper did you add to this recipe? 

Valentina (not verified) | Nov 29th, 2011 at 4:24 pm | Reply

Ghost Chili

I added one small whole dried, then reconsituted and seeded ghost chili to the aioli master recipe. Then used just a tiny, thin spread on the sandwich. It was quite hot, but in no way too hot. GREG

jgreghenry | Nov 29th, 2011 at 4:40 pm | Reply

Ghost pepper

Wow, you are brave - I remain in fear.

Lizthechef (not verified) | Nov 29th, 2011 at 12:19 pm | Reply

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