1 Shallot or small onion cut 1 pn Mace
-into small pieces 1 lg Steak (just over 1 lb), at
Freshly ground black pepper -least 1 1/4 inches
((Note: Per Horst Scharfenberg, this recipe originated in the town of
Idar-Oberstein in the 19 th century, when gemstone prospectors
returning from South America created their own version of
gaucho-grilled steaks. The dish was then further refined by
Scharfenberg’s mentor August Goerg. K.B.))
Per person: thick, trimmed
Mix together the shallot or onion with the pepper and mace. Insert a
few shallot pieces into the steak using the point of a small knife.
Coat the steak with the shallot mixture, pressing it in so it will
adhere.
Remove the loose shallot pieces and grill the steak (over a fire of
oak logs, says August Goerg, from which the bark has been removed).*
Take the steaks off the grill while they are still pink inside.
Sprinkle them with salt.
*Note: A special grill is used, suspended with 3 chains from an iron
tripod and constantly swinging through the flames.
Yields
6 servings