Seared Beef Tenderloin Tips with Lime

Step 1

Place the beef on a cutting board and pat it dry with paper towels—this helps it brown better.

Step 2

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper evenly over all the beef pieces.

Step 3

Cut each lime in half crosswise with a sharp knife, so you have four lime halves for squeezing.

Step 4

Pour 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil into a 10-inch skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 90 seconds, until the oil shimmers and slides quickly when you tilt the pan.

Step 5

Add the beef pieces to the hot skillet in a single layer—do not stir for the first 2 minutes so they brown deeply.

Step 6

Stir the beef with a wooden spoon, breaking up any pieces stuck to the bottom, and cook for another 2 minutes until the surfaces are browned.

Step 7

Squeeze the juice from both lime halves directly into the skillet and stir once to coat all the beef.

Step 8

Remove the skillet from heat and scatter the cilantro over the top.