Dirty Steak Cooked Straight on the Coals (Buschbeck Method)

The first time I threw a steak straight onto the coals, my neighbour thought I'd dropped dinner. No grill, no pan, just meat on embers. That's the whole trick of dirty steak on the Buschbeck: you strip away every bit of equipment and let the fire do the work.

The crust that forms is unlike anything you get from a pan. It's deep, almost charred in the best way, and the inside stays properly pink if you pull it at the right moment. The ash brushes straight off, so don't let the idea of "dirty" put you off.

This is the kind of cook that makes people gather round the fire and watch. It's quick, it's a bit theatrical, and it tastes incredible. Once you've done it once on your Buschbeck, you'll be looking for excuses to do it again.

Serves 2 · Fire: hot, ashed-over coals · Cook: 10 min

Ingredients

• 1 thick sirloin or rib-eye steak, about 600 g (1¼ lb)
• 2 tsp flaky sea salt
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small handful parsley, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated
• ½ lemon

Method

1. Burn hardwood down to a flat bed of glowing coals with a light coat of white ash. Season the steak well with salt.
2. Mix the oil, parsley, garlic, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Set aside.
3. Lay the steak straight onto the coals for 3–4 min. Flip onto a fresh patch of coals for another 3–4 min for medium-rare.
4. Lift out with tongs, tap off any embers and brush away the ash. Rest for 5 min, slice and spoon over the herb oil.

Fire note: Only do this with hardwood coals that have burnt right down, never with flames still licking. The fire grate makes it easy to rake a flat, even bed.

Buschbeck kit: Fire Grate & Ash Pan · Heat-Resistant Gloves

How to cook dirty steak on a Buschbeck

The whole method hinges on your coal bed, so get that right first. Burn hardwood right down until the flames have gone and you're left with a flat, glowing bed covered in a light coat of white ash. Flames licking at your steak will just give you soot and bitterness, not flavour, so be patient here.

Use the fire grate to rake the coals into an even, flat layer. This is the one bit of kit that makes a real difference, because an uneven bed means uneven cooking. Keep your heat-resistant gloves handy too, as you'll be working close to serious heat with tongs and bare coals.

Season your steak well before it goes anywhere near the fire, then lay it straight onto the coals. Give it 3-4 minutes, then flip it onto a fresh patch of coals for the same again if you're after medium-rare. Watch for the crust darkening and the edges of the meat tightening up, that's your cue.

Lift it out with tongs, tap off any stray embers and brush away the ash before it rests. If you've already got a feel for reading heat zones from grilling steak or doing rotisserie on your Buschbeck, this is just the next, slightly wilder step.

What to serve with dirty steak on the coals

Keep the sides simple so the steak stays the star. A loaf of wood-fired rosemary focaccia is perfect for mopping up the herb oil, or go rustic with damper on a stick cooked over the same fire. A sharp green salad or some fire-blistered vegetables on the side rounds it out nicely.

FAQs

Is it safe to cook steak directly on coals?

Yes, as long as you're using hardwood coals that have burnt right down with no flames and a light coat of ash. Avoid charcoal with chemical starters, and always use heat-resistant gloves when handling the meat.

Won't the steak taste like ash?

No, the ash simply sits on the surface and brushes off easily once the steak is cooked. It doesn't penetrate the meat or affect the flavour.

What's the best cut for dirty steak on a Buschbeck?

A thick sirloin or rib-eye works best, as the thickness gives you a good crust while keeping the centre pink. Thin steaks can overcook before a proper crust forms.

Do I need any special equipment for this method?

Not much. A fire grate helps you rake an even, flat coal bed, and heat-resistant gloves are essential for safely placing and flipping the steak.

Get all 89 recipes in The Wood Fire Kitchen

Dirty Steak Cooked Straight on the Coals is one of 89 recipes in my cookbook, The Wood Fire Kitchen: Recipes for your Buschbeck outdoor fireplace. It covers everything from lighting and reading the fire to pizza, grilling, the rotisserie, camp-oven dinners and desserts baked in the embers, with a Buschbeck kit note on every recipe so you know exactly which accessory to reach for.

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