Name: Desert Rubbed Strip Steaks
Ingredients: 4 ea . (24–32 ounces ) New York strip steaks , 1–1¼ inches thick; Olive oil; ¼ tsp freshly-ground cumin; 1 tbsp freshly-ground coriander seeds; 2 tsp dried rosemary; 1 tbsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp freshly-ground black pepper; 1 tsp ground ginger

Why it works: Cumin and coriander match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,866 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓

Desert Rubbed Strip Steaks

Time4–5 minutes per side

Ingredients

4 ea . (24–32 ounces ) New York strip steaks , 1–1¼ inches thick
Olive oil
¼ tsp freshly-ground cumin
1 tbsp freshly-ground coriander seeds
2 tsp dried rosemary
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
1 tsp ground ginger

Directions

Prepare

Brush steaks with olive oil.
Combine seasonings in a small bowl.
Pat mixture into both sides of steaks.
Refrigerate steaks as long as possible.

Grill and rest

Preheat kettle grill with a chimney starter.
Add steaks and cook about 4–5 minutes per side for medium rare, or to desired doneness.
Remove steaks to a plate.
Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
Let rest about 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

147Calories

1 gProtein

15 gFat

5 gCarbs

Counts 7 of 9 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 7 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Olive Oil	1 tbsp (14g)	119
Cumin	1 tsp ground (2.1g)	8
Chili	1 tsp (2.7g)	8
Black Pepper	1 tsp ground (2.3g)	6
Rosemary	1 tsp dried (1.2g)	4
Ginger	1 tsp grated fresh (2g)	2
Salt	1 tsp (6g)	0
Coriander	not in our table	0
Seed	not in our table	0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Wikibooks Cookbook.

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

Cumin + coriandertop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,866 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Coriander + gingertop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,505 recipes

Shared aroma: trans-2-decenal (waxy, orange).
Cumin + gingertop 2% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together1,733 recipes

Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
Cumin + rosemarytop 3% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together99 recipes

Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
Olive + rosemarytop 3% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together2,590 recipes

Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

New york strip steaks: Provide the main meat, whose fat and connective tissue give juiciness and flavor when seared.
Dried rosemary: Adds a resinous, aromatic herbal flavor that complements the beef.
Red pepper flakes: Add heat and a pungent, savory bite to the spice rub.
Coriander seeds: Contribute a citrusy, warm aroma to the rub.
Ground ginger: Adds warm, pungent aromatic notes to the spice rub.

The step that matters

Let the steaks rest after grilling. Juices are pushed toward the center during cooking; resting lets the muscle fibers relax and redistribute them, so the steak stays juicier when cut instead of spilling out onto the plate.

Swap the ginger

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, cumin, coriander, rosemary, pepper):

Oreganofits better
Thymefits better
Turmericfits better
Gingerthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against olive, cumin, coriander, rosemary, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

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Desert Rubbed Strip Steaks