Steak sandwich with spicy harissa-lime sauce

What does it take to make a really great sandwich? Not much, but the secret to greatness is that each element must be the very best version of itself.

For this steak sandwich with spicy harissa-lime sauce, start with good bread, a baguette or ciabatta loaf. Soft, leafy lettuce. Steak, any cut you like, grilled just the way you like it. (I use flank steak, which cooks quickly and slices easily.) And a good slathering of this simple yet spectacular sauce, made with real mayonnaise, which is the key to this sandwich. That's it. That's all you need. 

Steak sandwich with spicy harissa-lime sauce

From the pantry, you'll need: mayonnaise, harissa, lime, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4; can be multiplied.

Ingredients

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp harissa paste, or more to taste
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
Bread or rolls for 4 sandwiches
Lettuce leaves for 4 sandwiches
4-8 oz thinly sliced grilled steak, any cut (flank, skirt, sirloin, etc.), or store-bought roast beef

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, harissa, lime juice and black pepper. Set aside.

Assemble the sandwiches: smear each top and bottom of the bread with sauce. On the bottom piece, layer some lettuce and steak.

Close the sandwiches, and serve.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More great sandwiches:
Green Goddess bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, from The Perfect Pantry
Corned beef, Swiss cheese, and caramelized onion Reuben sandwich, from The Perfect Pantry
Grilled eggplant and pesto sandwiches, from Love and Lemons
Lemony broccoli, chickpea and avocado pita sandwiches, from Cookie + Kate

Steak sandwich with spicy harissa-lime sauce

From the pantry, you'll need: mayonnaise, harissa, lime, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4; can be multiplied.

Ingredients

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp harissa paste, or more to taste
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
Bread or rolls for 4 sandwiches
Lettuce leaves for 4 sandwiches
4-8 oz thinly sliced grilled steak, any cut (flank, skirt, sirloin, etc.), or store-bought roast beef

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, harissa, lime juice and black pepper. Set aside.

Assemble the sandwiches: smear each top and bottom of the bread with sauce. On the bottom piece, layer some lettuce and steak.

Close the sandwiches, and serve.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More great sandwiches:
Green Goddess bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, from The Perfect Pantry
Corned beef, Swiss cheese, and caramelized onion Reuben sandwich, from The Perfect Pantry
Grilled eggplant and pesto sandwiches, from Love and Lemons
Lemony broccoli, chickpea and avocado pita sandwiches, from Cookie + Kate

Comments

The sauce sounds wonderful. In one of my previous lives I was a cocktail waitress in a place that served Steak on a Bun (The S.O.B.) and it was exactly the elements in this sandwich, perfect grilled steak, a bun, lettuce, and spicy mayo! I used to eat that all the time!

Kalyn, if I could, I'd probably eat this every day in the summer for lunch. It's a great way to jazz up leftover grilled steak.

I love a good sandwich! You're right -- all elements must be at their best. 2nd rate bread is the pits.

Oooh what a delicious sounding sauce! I'll try making it this weekend. Thanks for the recipe

Natasha, second rate anything ruins it all! Good bread is key.

Tasteaholics, you are welcome! The sauce makes the sandwich.

First, the sauce on a sandwich, then amped up some balsamic vinaigrette. Tasty, tasty!

Susan, what else was on the sandwich? Not steak, I know!

Lettuce, tomato, a bean and pepper spread I make... not the best combo. The salad (?) was melon, blueberries, tomatoes, cukes and lettuce. (I got a fabulous red leaf lettuce just picked at a nearby farm stand. It is huge, and I'm dutifully working on not wasting a single leaf.)

Yummy !! You made me hungry :)