"Steak" with Mushroom Sauce, Greens & Quick Root Crisps

“Steak” with Mushroom Sauce, Greens & Quick Root Crisps

Braai, Dinner
Beginner

Level up your plant-based dinner game with this elegant & easy “steak-and-sides” dish. Our Smash Burgers transform into savoury, golden “steaks,” served with a rich, garlicky mushroom sauce that tastes like it came straight from a bistro kitchen. Add a crisp, fresh rocket-and-watercress salad and homemade root vegetable crisps for crunch, colour and wholesome goodness.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cooking Time: 30–40 mins

Ingredients

Plant-Based “Steak”

4 Fry’s Smashed Burgers, defrosted
300 g mushrooms, sliced
1 shallot, diced
2 thyme sprigs
1 garlic clove, minced
30 ml margarine
30 ml lemon juice
60 ml cream (optional)

Root Vegetable Crisps

1 sweet potato, thinly sliced
1 potato, thinly sliced
1 butternut, peeled & thinly sliced
500 ml oil for deep frying
Salt, to season

Greens & Salad

80 g rocket & watercress mix
1 carrot, julienned
½ cucumber, sliced
30 ml olive oil
20 ml lemon juice
Salt, to taste

Method

Root Vegetable Crisps

Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy-based pot. Thinly slice sweet potato, potato and butternut.
Once the oil is hot, deep fry vegetables in batches until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, season immediately, and transfer to a kitchen paper-lined tray.

Mushroom Sauce

Heat 60 ml oil in a pan and sauté mushrooms undisturbed for 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and cook for another 4 minutes.
Add shallots and sauté for 3–4 minutes. Add thyme and garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
Deglaze with lemon juice, then add margarine and cream if using. Cover and remove from heat while you cook the “steaks.”

Plant-Based “Steak”

Pan-fry the Fry’s Smashed Burgers for 8–10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

Greens & Salad

Combine rocket, watercress, carrot and cucumber in a bowl. Mix olive oil, lemon juice and salt until dissolved, then dress the salad.

To Serve

Serve the plant-based “steak” with mushroom sauce, side salad, and root vegetable crisps.

What is a good plant-based steak alternative?

A great plant-based steak alternative are Fry’s Smash Burgers served as “steaks” – they’re high-protein, satisfying, and develop a delicious caramelised crust when pan-fried. Their firm texture holds up beautifully to sauces like creamy mushroom gravy, making them an easy and flavourful swap for traditional steak.

How do I make quick vegetable crisps at home?

Deep fry thinly sliced sweet potato, potato and butternut in hot oil until crispy. Drain on kitchen paper and season immediately.

What sides go well with a plant-based “steak”?

A fresh rocket-watercress salad with lemon dressing and homemade root vegetable crisps pair perfectly with the mushroom “steak.”