You've fired up the barbecue.  There's a good piece of steak, ready to be cooked. A green salad, maybe even some potatoes. Fresh, simple food and yet it's all looking a bit bland?  If you want to try something different, but don't want to spend hours cooking, here are three simple ways to spruce up your steak:

 

 

Lovely idea from blogger Smi tten Kitchen. You rub the steak with a spice combination including paprika and cayenne pepper, cook it on the barbecue and then serve with a tart and tangy tomato salad. Onion, vinegar, celery, Worcestershire, olives, tomatoes - all the elements of a Bloody Mary are there, without the alcohol.

 

 

 

While originally meant as a Valentine's Day meal, this would work any day of the year. Mash fresh rosemary, pink peppercorns and lemon zest into softened butter. Then cook your steaks and top with a pat of this flavoured butter, to make an instant sauce.  A simple and tasty idea from Scrumptious South Africa.

 

 

 

A herby, tangy sauce that's full of flavour, this salsa verde is made by mixing together fresh herbs, garlic, capers, anchovies and lime juice. You could even add in a chilli for some extra kick. Simply season your steaks with salt and pepper, cook them on the barbecue and then serve with greens and the salsa verde drizzled over the top. A floury tortilla and some slices of avocado would be delicious additions.