Make an amazing dinner in no time with this Simple Coffee-Rubbed Steak. Perfect for date night or any special occasion.
Sometimes less is more, especially when you really want your ingredients to shine. Find a great steak, like New York strip (a.k.a. shell steak), make a quick and flavorful rub, and you’ve got a meal that will hold up to any occasion: anniversary, birthday, date night, you name it. And we’ve made this recipe just for two, since we think it’s a bit romantic and indulgent. The secret? A rub that uses pantry staples but combines them in a way that’s slightly unexpected. Coffee gives it a depth and earthiness that plays nicely with the richness of steak, while cocoa adds complexity. Chili powder gives it mild heat, while coconut sugar adds sweetness that rounds out the flavors.
And the greatest news? There’s so little to do for this mouthwatering meal—and very little cleanup!—that you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the evening. Or spend that extra time making a special dessert or fancy sides. And although we’ve written the recipe for two, you can easily scale it up for four or six.
Is This Simple Coffee-Rubbed Steak Healthy?
This steak recipe can definitely be a part of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation. On the plus side, steak is a good source of protein, vitamins, and important minerals like iron. It’s gluten-free and low-carb, and if you seek out grass-fed beef, it’s also Paleo. The recipe uses just a simple rub, no rich sauces, which helps keep calories in check. That said, red meat is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, both of which are associated with some health risks. Trimming visible fat from the steak, as this recipe directs, helps lower fat and calories, as does keeping portions on the smaller side. So, for most people, enjoying a recipe like this every now and then is perfectly fine.
How To Know When Steak Is Done
The degree of doneness you crave in your steak is personal, but since getting it to that temperature is critical, we recommend you use an instant-read thermometer and follow the temperatures below. But if you don’t have a thermometer, no worries: You can always use the finger test: A rare steak will be squishy when you press it in the center gently, a medium steak will offer a fair amount of resistance and be a bit springy, and a well-done steak will be firm to the touch. Still, an instant-read thermometer is the most accurate. Insert it into the center of the steak, and within a few seconds you’ll get the inside story—no poking or prodding needed. Here are the numbers to know:
Rare: 120-125°F
Medium Rare: 130-135°F
Medium: 140-145°F
Medium Well: 150-155°F
Well Done: 160°F
And while how you like your steak cooked is up to you, we should mention that the USDA recommends cooking it to 145°F, a pretty conservative medium. You make the call!
How To Make Ahead And Store
You can make the spice rub up to 2 weeks ahead and store it in a sealed jar in a cool, dark place. Season the steak and refrigerate it for up to 1 day before cooking. Leftover cooked steak is excellent on salads or in sandwiches (or for amazing steak and eggs!). You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days. It’s best at room temperature, but you can also reheat it briefly in a pan on the stovetop or in an air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
A perfect celebratory meal is easy to put together with this steak as the centerpiece. Your favorite colorful salad is all you really need, but you could also add a quick grain. If steak and potatoes warms your heart, we recommend serving it alongside Mashed Red Potatoes or Whole30 Mashed Potatoes. For a hot vegetable, some faves are bright Cumin Roasted Carrots and the popular Oven-Roasted Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts. And just about anyone would want Easy Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Brownies to round off the meal. Or, if it’s a really special occasion, go for the impressive Paleo Chocolate-Avocado Cake, a beautiful layer cake that’s all about decadence.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon finely ground coffee
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of pepper
- 1/2 pound New York strip steak
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine the coffee, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, chili powder, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cut any large, visible chunks of fat off the steak, then coat it with the rub. Really get in there and make sure the steak is well covered.
- Cover the steak and let it sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, preferably up to a day to really infuse it with flavor.
- Spray a grill pan (or a regular pan) with cooking spray and heat over high heat. Also, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the steak until it is nice and seared on each side, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Turn down the heat to medium and continue cooking until it has reached the desired level of doneness or to 135 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare.
- Once the steak is cooked, transfer it to a plate and cover with tinfoil to rest for 5-7 minutes.
- While the steak is resting, toast the coconut flakes on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Watch closely as they only take 1 or 2 minutes to get nice and and golden.
- Serve the steak topped with the toasted coconut flakes.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
The rub really didn’t add any flavor to the meat. I am going to try to marinate the meat overnight and see if that helps because marinating the meat for only one hour gave the meat no flavor.
Hi Sarah, I’m sorry to hear that. Marinating the meat overnight should definitely help infuse more flavor into the steak. Make sure to massage the rub well into the steak to ensure even coverage. I hope that marinating overnight and making these adjustments will lead to a more flavorful result. Enjoy!