Upside-Down Sandwich

...or just a Steak Sandwich with Cilantro Spread. The reason I call it an Upside-Down Sandwich, is because when I made these for the first time over the weekend, I accidentally put all the meat, cheese, etc. on the top half of the bun, and the spread on the bottom half. When Aaron put his sandwhich together, it was up-side down. No, we don't have a picture because Aaron quickly turned it over and I didn't care because we were both way too hungry. 

Upside-Down Sandwich

2, 4-oz. Top Round Steaks
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/2 tsp.-ish garlic powder
1/2 tsp.-ish dried parsley
Generous pinch of Red Pepper Flake
Generous pinch of Kosher Salt
Generous pinch of Black Pepper
1 ripe avocado
1 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 Tbsp. Cilantro pesto.
1 -2 Roma Tomatoes, sliced
4 slices of a good, triple cream cheese, such as Bergenost.
Half loaf of Ciabatta bread.


In a mixing bowl or zip-lock bag, combine your steaks, Olive Oil, garlic powder, dried parsley, red pepper flake, salt and pepper. Let it sit for at least 4 hours at (a cool) room temperature. 

Mash, or process until smooth,the avocado and water. Add the cilantro pesto. Set aside.*

  Preheat oven to a broil. Slice the half loaf, cross-wise into another half. Then slice the bread into a top-of-the-sandwich half and a bottom-of-the-sandwich half. 

Grill up your steaks: Warm your BBQ. Over medium high heat, cook for 6 minutes on one side and 4 minutes on the other side (for medium-well done steaks). Remove from grill and tent with foil for 10 minutes to let rest. 

While meat is resting. Sprinkle your tomatoes with a little salt and a little pepper. Grill on each side for about 4 minutes or until you see delicious grill marks.

Assemble your sandwich, by thinly slicing your steak and laying it on the "bottom" half of your sandwich. Continuing layering with a couple slices of cheese and a few slices of tomato. Place all bread, layered and "empty" under the broiler and watch closely for about a minute. Once the cheese is melted and bubbling, remove promptly from the oven. On the top "empty" half, spread generously with avocado spread and top off the sandwich. 

Enjoy!

* The cilantro avocado spread, also makes an incredible dip for veggies and pita bread.