Name: Mishkaki-style Strip Steak With Kachumber
Total time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings
Ingredients: 6 garlic cloves; 3 red Thai chiles, 2 coarsely chopped, 1 thinly sliced; 1 1½" piece ginger, peeled, coarsely chopped; 1½ tsp. sugar; 3 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided; 1 Tbsp. double-concentrated tomato paste; 1½ tsp. garam masala; 4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided; 2 1"-thick boneless New York strip steaks (about 12 oz. each); 1 small red onion, finely chopped; 1 small Persian cucumber, very thinly sliced; 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil; Unsalted butter (for serving); Flaky sea salt

A serving of sliced MishkakiStyle Strip Steak topped with cucumber salad on a white plate

Photograph by Yudi Ela Echevarria, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Sean Dooley, Special thanks to Frank's House

Kachumber, or kachumbari, is a tart cucumber-based side salad that often accompanies heavier dishes like pilau and biryani in Swahili cuisine. Here it serves as a fresh counterpoint to a marinated, well-marbled New York strip steak. The marinade, borrowed from the flavors of my favorite East African grilled beef skewers, mishkaki, features flavorful garam masala and a lot of garlic. The sugar provides balance to the savoriness of the spices and ensures a nice, dark crust on the meat. If the weather is cooperating, grill the steaks for even more flavor.

What you’ll need

Mortar and Pestle
$30 At Amazon
Cast Iron Skillet
$40 At Amazon
Instant-Read Thermometer
$35 At Thermoworks

Recipe notes

Oxtail Guisado

A slow-simmering, comforting braise delivering healing to both body and soul.

Pork Dinakdakan

Braise tender pork belly in soy and vinegar, then grill with shishito peppers and toss with ginger and a tangy dressing for bold, savory Filipino dinakdakan.

Juicy Bison Burger With Cucumber–Red Onion Slaw

Upgrade any cookout—or keep the cooking on the stovetop—with these smashed cast-iron bison burgers, then stack with lemon mayo and a crisp cucumber-onion slaw.

Steak With Cherry Tomato Chutney

A steak dinner that’s more about the sauce than the meat.

Crispy Salmon With Avocado Sauce

You’ll want to put this creamy (but dairy-free) green sauce on everything and it’s particularly sublime under crispy-skinned salmon.

Nihari (Spiced Beef Stew)

This one-pot South Asian dish is simple and celebratory.

Green Chutney Chicken

Cilantro and a handful of basic spices brings vibrant green color and rich flavor to broiled chicken thighs. Served with rice or naan, this is a weeknight win.

Minty Chicken Meatballs

Who says ground chicken is boring? Two whole bunches of mint and some aromatics give these chicken meatballs their bracingly herby flavor.