Mishkaki-style Strip Steak With Kachumber

Kachumber, or kachumbari, is a tart cucumber-based side salad that often accompanies heavier dishes like pilau and biryani in Swahili cuisine. Here it serves as a fresh counterpoint to a marinated, well-marbled New York strip steak. The marinade, borrowed from the flavors of my favorite East African grilled beef skewers, mishkaki, features flavorful garam masala and a lot of garlic. The sugar provides balance to the savoriness of the spices and ensures a nice, dark crust on the meat. If the weather is cooperating, grill the steaks for even more flavor.