Steak with warm tomato and artichoke salad

Not my best photo, I know. But bear with me. This took about 15-20 minutes from start to finish, and was just what I wanted on a home alone night (while Alex is working late). Followed by a piece of this tres leches cake (really? You haven't made it yet? Do it! It keeps really well in the fridge and is oh so good), I'm in for a good evening of lying on the couch.

Steak with warm tomato and artichoke salad
The salad should maybe be called warm tomato and artichoke and gooey mozzarella and steak juice salad, but whatever. 


a piece of flank steak (mine was about 1 lb, and no I didn't eat it all)
salt and pepper
1 T olive oil or coconut oil*
a few big handfuls of cherry tomatoes (we grew ours!)
a few artichoke hearts, drained from whatever liquid they were in
a few basil leaves
a little handful of mozzarella balls, I like the little ones

Leave your steak out for a while so it comes to room temperature. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and heat up the oil in a pan over medium-high heat until shimmery but not smoking. Cook the meat for about 3-5 minutes on each side (depending on how thick your meat is). While the meat is cooking, slice the tomatoes in half and cut the artichokes into strips. When the meat is cooked to your liking, remove it from the pan to a plate and let rest while you finish the salad. If you're not sure if your meat is done, take a sharp thin knife and cut a little tiny hole in the thickest part of the meat to see if it's cooked enough for you.

While the meat rests, toss the tomatoes, artichokes, and basil into the hot pan. Let cook on medium-high for 30-45 seconds, then toss in the pan and cook without stirring for another 30-45 seconds. Pour the salad into a bowl and toss in the mozzarella balls, which will start to melt. Slice up the meat, and serve!

*I've been cooking in coconut oil because it's healthy and full of good fats, but you don't have to. However, if you are curious about coconut oil and thinking Ew won't that make my steak taste like coconut? The answer is no. I cook almost all the meat I eat in coconut oil and Alex hasn't noticed, unless he comes in the kitchen when I'm heating up the pan with the oil - when you can smell the oil. But the taste isn't there.