Oven-grilled Steak (mark Bittman)

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/2-2 lbs new york strip steaks or 1 1/2-2 lbs rib eye steaks
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to its maximum, 500° or more, for at least 20 minutes; if it is equipped with a pizza stone, so much the better.
• 2 about 10 minutes before you are ready to eat, put a cast-iron or other ovenproof heavy skillet large enough to hold the steaks over high heat.
• 3 wait 2-3 minutes, until the pan is beginning to smoke.
• 4 add the steaks and let them sit on top of the stove as long as you can before the smoke is intolerable—probably no more than 1 minute.
• 5 immediately transfer the pan to the oven; roast the steaks for about 4 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom, then turn and cook on the other side for another 3-4 minutes, until done.
• 6 sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.