Name: Tallarines Verdes (Peruvian Green Noodles with Steak)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Peruvian
Ingredients: 180 g Pasta, spaghetti-style pasta if available; 220 g Beef Sirloin, two thin steaks; 1 cup Sweet Basil, fresh leaves; 1 cup Spinach, fresh leaves; 70 g Queso Fresco, crumbled; ⅓ cup Evaporated Milk, unsweetened; 2 tbsp Walnuts, lightly toasted; 2 clove Garlic, one for sauce, one for steak; ¼ cup Onion, finely chopped; 1½ tbsp Neutral Oil, divided; ¾ tsp Salt, divided; ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper, freshly ground if possible

Tallarines Verdes (Peruvian Green Noodles with Steak)

45 mintotal

Prep 20 min · Cook 25 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Spice: Mild

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Method

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 0.25 cup pasta water, then drain.
Blanch the spinach for 20 seconds in the pasta water, then remove and squeeze lightly.
20 sec
Blend sweet basil, spinach, queso fresco, evaporated milk, walnuts, one garlic clove, 0.25 tsp salt, and a little reserved pasta water into a smooth green sauce.
Season the beef sirloin with the remaining salt, ground black pepper, and the second garlic clove.
Heat 1 tbsp neutral oil in a pan and sear the steaks for 2–3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Rest for 5 minutes.
2–3 min5 min
In another pan, heat the remaining oil and cook the onion until soft.
Add the green sauce and warm gently for 1–2 minutes. Do not boil hard.
1–2 min
Toss in the pasta, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed. Serve with the sliced steak on top.

How to tell it's done

The noodles should be glossy and coated in green sauce, while the steak should be browned outside and juicy inside.

Getting it right

Tip

Warm the green sauce gently; high heat can dull the fresh basil color and make the dairy split.

What to serve it with

Serve immediately with sliced steak and a simple tomato-onion salad.

Substitutions

Queso Fresco — Use a mild fresh cheese if queso fresco is unavailable.
Beef Sirloin — Use chicken breast or omit the steak for a vegetarian-style pasta, but update diet and allergens accordingly.

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Ingredients