- Flank Steaks
- Thai
- Grilled Steaks
- Summer Mains
Grilled flank steak marinated in a sweet and spicy Thai-style sauce.
By
J. Kenji López-Alt
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kenji-lopez-alt-9e7ff3ba54e24328a853d774a05fd4b8.jpg "Thai-Style Marinated Flank Steak and Herb Salad Recipe (1)")
Updated August 09, 2018
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Why It Works
- A sweet and spicy Thai-style sauce is both the marinade and dressing for the grilled flank steak and herb salad.
- A two-zone fire gives you more control when you're grilling. Sear over the direct side, then finish cooking over the indirect side.
When summer comes, the best way to cook a flank steak is on the grill. In my recipe for steakhouse-style grilled marinated flank steak, I wrote:
With their large surface area, they're made for picking up nice char, smoky flavors, and the types of dishes they transform into seem perfect for al fresco dining.
Take a read if you're looking for tips when shopping and grilling these steaks, as well as some flavoring suggestions like this steak fajitas.
My absolute favorite way to marinate flank steak is with asweet and spicy Thai-style sauce. I make mine with palm sugar (brown sugar will do fine), dried Thai chile flakes, fish sauce, garlic, and lime juice, which I then split in half, reserving half to toss with the meat after cooking, and adding some oil to the other half to use as a marinade.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__20110502-texas-beef-council-marinated-grilled-flank-steak-7-df3249ee8f7448a584b183e7176398e1.jpg "Thai-Style Marinated Flank Steak and Herb Salad Recipe (3)")
Once the meat is cooked, rested, and sliced, I toss it all together with some reserved marinade, and a big herb salad with shallots and bean sprouts. It gets an awesome caramelized, charred crust on the grill from all the sugar, and the great thing is that it's delicious even when cold, making it the perfect dish for potlucks or relaxed backyard parties.
May 2011
Recipe Details
Thai-Style Marinated Flank Steak and Herb Salad Recipe
Serves6to 8 servings
Ingredients
For the Marinade:
1/2 cup palm sugaror brown sugar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/3 cup lime juice
2 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane zester
1 tablespoon Thai chile powder (or red chile flakes)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 whole flank steak, about 2 pounds (see notes)
For the Salad:
1/2 cup loosely packedmint leaves
1/2 cup loosely packedcilantro leaves
1 small bunch chives, cut into 1 1/2-inch segments
1/2 cup loosely packedbasil
4 shallots, thinly sliced
1 to 2cups mung bean sprouts
Directions
Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until completely dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl, add fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chile powder and stir to combine. Transfer half to a small container and reserve until step 4. Add oil to remaining half and whisk to combine. Place flank steak inside a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag with marinade. Press out air, seal bag, and allow meat to marinate, turning occasionally, for at least 1 hour and up to 12.
Remove steak from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Light one chimney full of charcoal and wait until they're covered in grey ash. Spread evenly over 1/2 of grate, leaving other half empty. Put cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Cleanand oil grilling grate, then place flank steak over hot side of grill, cook until well charred, about 3 minutes. Flip steak and continue to cook until second side is well charred, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer steak to cooler side of grill, cover, and cook until center of steak registers 125°F (52°C) on an instant-read thermometer for medium-rare, or 135°F (57°C) for medium, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and allow steak to rest for at least 5 minutes. Proceed to step 4.
Alternatively, to finish indoors: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add steak and cook, turning frequently, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125°F for medium-rare or 135°F for medium, reducing heat as necessary if steak smokes excessively or starts to burn. Transfer to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and allow to rest 5 to 10 minutes.
Thinly slice beef against the grain and transfer to a large bowl. Add herbs, shallots, bean sprouts, and reserved marinade, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you're using a gas grill, set half of the burners to high and leave the others off for two-zone grilling.
An equivalent weight of skirt, flap, or hanger steak can be used in place of flank steak.
Read More
- Steakhouse-Style Grilled Marinated Flank Steak
- Grilled Marinated Flank Steak Fajitas
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 360 | Calories |
| 16g | Fat |
| 20g | Carbs |
| 33g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6to 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 360 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 16g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 22% |
| Cholesterol 90mg | 30% |
| Sodium 600mg | 26% |
| Total Carbohydrate 20g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 5% |
| Total Sugars 16g | |
| Protein 33g | |
| Vitamin C 9mg | 44% |
| Calcium 50mg | 4% |
| Iron 3mg | 16% |
| Potassium 559mg | 12% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
