What I cook when I’m eating alone

You know that saying that goes something like, character is who you are when nobody is watching? I like to think that is also true when it comes to how we cook for ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I am not judging nights in which Cup Noodles eaten in front of Game of Thrones feels like a victory. I am talking about what you crave when you have the opportunity to make something special, just for yourself.If this article is any indication, I am a 40-something cat-and-human dad who rocks out to ’80s power ballads while cooking a single, perfect steak. It’s true! My nights of cooking and eating alone are so rare that the occasion sends me on a joyous tear through my kitchen to make dishes I know I am going to love.

I push flavors to where my family would be unlikely to follow me. Spicier, funkier, umami-er. I don’t worry about things “not going together.” Cinnamon-raisin bagel and smoked salmon? Tahini Caesar salad with leftover soy-braised short ribs in a wrap? Brutally spicy fried rice with a perfect square of American cheese on top? Super garlicky collards seasoned with instant dashi powder for good measure? It’s all on the menu for me and only me. (Okay and an occasional scrap tossed to the cat.)

Solo cooking is how some of my favorite ideas have come about, like combining oyster sauce and brown butter for a speedy pan sauce for my steak. Or box-grating firm tofu as a stand in for beef in a soy and scallion-laced rice bowl that is just fast enough to pull off for a work-at-home lunch.

Steak With Dashi Greens for One is the kickoff recipe for a new series called Me, Myself, and Dinner. Dreamed up by my colleague Nina Moskowitz, this single-serve column will focus on what Bon Appétit staffers and contributors cook for themselves. Look for unexpected, fun, and totally delicious recipes that reveal how each of us approaches cooking as self-care. Because sometimes the best dishes come from the fact that you are hungry, have an empty kitchen, and want to cook like nobody is watching.

To celebrate the start of the series, my steak recipe is free for everyone—save it and make it! To get ALL of our recipes, please consider subscribing to Bon Appétit so you have full access to our archive and app. Our team puts a huge amount of care into every recipe, and we’d love to help you get dinner on the table. I am off for vacation until the first week of August and will resume office hours afterwards.

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