Wasabi-Miso Marinated Steak

My adventures in vegan meat continue.  Having become a fan of the vegan pork, chicken, and crab from Match meats, tonight I wanted to try their beef.  If the recipe was a success, it meant I could start to make things like "beef tenderloin" or "London broil" or "beef wellington" for my carnivorous fiance, who is rapidly becoming a convert of the new plant-based meats on the market.  Tonight's dish gets a two-hour stint marinating in a strong mix of wasabi and miso.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup yellow miso*
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/4 cup vegan dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon wasabi powder
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 12 ounces Match beef, thawed
• Cooking spray

1. Combine the miso, mirin, white wine, wasabi, and rice vinegar in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.  Transfer to a zip-top plastic bag and add the Match beef; seal and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.

2. Place the marinated beef on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil for about 5-6 minutes on each side, basting occasionally with the marinade.

Note: in nice weather, you could also try this recipe on the grill, in which case grill for an equal amount of time on each side. 

3. Slice the beef into thin slices, and serve.  Good side dishes for this entree include white sticky rice or mashed potatoes.

*For a more thorough run-down on miso paste, see my post from earlier this month for Miso Soup with Spring Greens.

Nutrition Info:
4 servings (3 ounces beef), Calories 252 

Tasting Notes:
First, let me just say that Match beef met all my expectations, having tried the company's other products.  As for the marinade, I was surprised that it wasn't spicier, even though there was a great taste of wasabi coating the outside of the beef - you might consider using a baster with an injection tip, so the marinade penetrates beyond the outer layer, or serving some extra marinade spooned on top, to up the heat quotient.  Although the Match beef didn't slice as nicely as I hoped, this still made a yummy meal, and it cooked great under the broiler.

Rating:
3.5