Destination Everyday Recipes – Aotearoa - Meat - Beef

Some weeks the menu plans itself. This was one of those weeks.

With fresh fish coming home from a successful day out on the water, I knew what I’d be eating — but Craig, despite being the one who caught the fish, still isn’t a massive fan. He is getting better, slowly breaking that “fishy tasting” stereotype by trying different cooking methods and flavours, but this time beef was the safer bet.

That’s how these beef escalope meals came about — quick, comforting, and packed with flavours that feel unmistakably Aotearoa.

Beef escalope is perfect for everyday cooking: thinly sliced, quick to cook, and brilliant at soaking up marinades. It is one of those underrated cuts that suits everyday cooking perfectly — quick, tender, and adaptable.

I’d been inspired by the way friends have cooked marinated beef in the past, along with flavours I’ve enjoyed on restaurant menus — simple dishes that let good-quality New Zealand beef shine while weaving in familiar Kiwi and Māori elements.

Recipe1: Classic Pan-Fried Beef Escalopes with Lemon & Garlic

A simple, speedy dish that lets tender beef shine with bright lemon and aromatic garlic.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• 4 beef escalopes (thinly sliced steaks)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

  
  

Method

1. Season the beef escalopes with salt and pepper on both sides.

2. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

3. Add the garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

4. Add the escalopes and cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through.

5. Remove from the heat, squeeze lemon juice over the beef, and sprinkle with lemon zest and parsley.

Serve with: 

Steamed seasonal greens or a crisp green salad.

Recipe 2: Oven-Baked Beef Escalopes with Rosemary & Kūmara

An easy, hands-off meal that pairs tender beef with sweet roasted kūmara and fragrant rosemary.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

• 6 beef escalopes

• 2 medium kūmara, peeled and cut into wedges

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped

• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

  
  

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F).

2. Toss kūmara wedges with 2 tablespoons olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking tray and roast for 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, brush beef escalopes with remaining olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

4. Remove tray from oven, add beef escalopes, and return to oven for another 8–10 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.

Serve with: 

Steamed greens or a fresh salad to balance the richness.

Recipe 3: Māori-Inspired Marinated Beef Escalopes

This dish draws on traditional Māori flavours, using horopito and mānuka honey for a distinctly New Zealand finish.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

• 4 beef escalopes

• 2 tablespoons mānuka honey

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free)

• 1 teaspoon crushed horopito (or cracked black pepper)

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

  
  

Method

1. Combine mānuka honey, soy sauce, horopito, garlic, and olive oil in a bowl.

2. Add beef escalopes, turning to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours in the fridge).

3. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and cook escalopes for 2–3 minutes per side until caramelised and cooked through.

   
   

Serve with: 

Roasted vegetables or kūmara mash for a hearty, grounding meal.

These beef escalope dishes show how everyday meals can still reflect place, season, and local ingredients — uncomplicated food that fits real life while celebrating Aotearoa flavours.

These beef escalope recipes are all about keeping everyday meals simple, flexible, and rooted in the flavours of Aotearoa. Whether you’re cooking around different tastes at home or just looking for something quick and satisfying, there’s always room to play with local ingredients and make them your own.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment in the Destination Everyday Recipes – Aotearoa series, where I’ll be sharing more easy, flavour-led dishes inspired by life, seasons, and food at home in New Zealand.