Prep Time

　　1 hour

　　Active Time

　　10 minutes

　　Total Time

　　1 hour, 10 minutes

　　Chef Julia had never heard of a Prego Roll before she met Dean. Even after he explained it, the sandwich sounded way too simple: garlic, butter, bread, and steak. Like peri peri, the Prego Roll is of Portuguese descent. On the streets of Lisbon and outside any nightclub or bar in Johannesburg, you’ll find vendors grilling steak and slathering garlic butter on a soft bun—heaven. The key to this mouth-watering street food is finding a soft, airy roll to absorb the steak juices. If there is a Portuguese market near you, you’re in luck! If not, look for a soft roll dusted with flour at your local bakery.

　　

Ingredients

4 sandwiches

　　

For the garlic butter:

6 garlic cloves

　　1 tablespoon packed flat-leaf parsley leaves

　　Pinch of kosher salt

　　8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

　　

For the sandwich:

1 pound skirt steak, trimmed of excess fat

　　5 garlic cloves

　　8 to 10 parsley sprigs

　　1/4 cup soy sauce

　　1/4 cup olive oil

　　4 Portuguese rolls

　　1/2 cup garlic butter

　　

For the garlic butter:

Step 1

Mince the garlic and finely chop the parsley leaves. Mix the garlic, parsley, and salt into the butter until very well combined. This will keep, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.

　　

For the sandwich:

Step 2

Cut the steak into 4 equal portions. Smash the garlic cloves using the side of your knife. Pick the parsley leaves and coarsely chop them; set aside. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, olive oil, and smashed garlic. Pour over the steak, cover, and marinate for 1 hour or up to 12 hours.

　　

Step 3

In a very hot cast-iron skillet, sear each side of the steak, cooking to your preference. (Skirt steak cooks very quickly; for medium, cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.) Transfer to a plate when finished. While the meat is resting, wipe out the skillet and set it over low heat.

　　

Step 4

Cut each roll in half and liberally butter each side with garlic butter. Toast the rolls, cut side down, until golden brown in color.

　　

Step 5

On a cutting board slice the steaks across the grain (lengthwise) into 1-inch strips or pieces. Lay the meat on a roll and top with chopped parsley.

　　Text excerpted from JACK'S WIFE FREDA © 2016 by Maya and Dean Jankelowitz. Recipes by Julia Jaksic. Reproduced by permission of Blue Rider Press, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.