I love the way the hot steak wilts the arugula, and how the meat’s juices mingle with the dressing. You could make this with any steak (or, for that matter, chicken or pork), but rib eye is the classic choice. Whichever cut, it’s vitally important to let the cooked meat rest before carving, so the juices redistribute and settle, keeping your meat moist and tender.

　　

Ingredients

4 main-course servings

　　7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

　　2 rib-eye steaks (about 1 pound each and 1 inch thick)

　　1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

　　1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

　　3 cups fresh arugula, washed and spun dry

　　1 1/2 cups sliced roasted red bell peppers (page 51), rinsed and patted dry

　　2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

　　1 small block of Parmesan cheese (about 8 ounces)

　　

Step 1

Rub 2 tablespoon of the oil over the steaks, then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the steaks and fry until seared on the outside and cooked to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare (in order to help create a good, crusty sear, do not move or pierce the meat as it cooks on each side). Using tongs, transfer the steaks to a large plate and let rest for 10 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Line a large platter with the arugula. Tear the roasted peppers into large pieces and scatter over the arugula. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil, the balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and any juices from the steaks that have accumulated on the plate. Season the dressing with more salt and pepper to taste.

　　

Step 3

Cut the steaks across the grain and diagonally into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices. Lay the slices atop the arugula and peppers, and drizzle with the dressing. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the Parmesan cheese over and serve immediately.

　　Reprinted with permission from Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2005 by Giada De Laurentiis. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Food Network's Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and then worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago, before starting her own catering and private-chef company, GDL Foods. The granddaughter of movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada was born in Rome and grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives.