Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Adapted from: Simply Recipes (simplyrecipes.com)

Marinate Time: 2 hours to overnight | Grill Time: 8–12 minutes | Serves: 6

Flank steak is a lean, flavorful cut that rewards a good marinade and a hot, fast grill. The soy-honey-garlic marinade here tenderizes and glazes simultaneously. The critical finishing step — thin slices against the grain at a slight diagonal — is what makes the difference between tender and tough.

Ingredients

Marinade:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

The Steak:

• 2 lbs flank steak
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Score the surface of the steak with shallow 1/4-inch-deep cuts about an inch apart, running across the grain. This helps the marinade penetrate deeper.
2. Combine all marinade ingredients and place in a large freezer bag with the steak. Coat well, seal, and place the bag in a bowl. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
3. When ready to cook, brush the grill grate with oil soaked into a paper towel. Preheat grill to high, direct heat — it's ready when you can hold your hand one inch above the grate for only about one second.
4. Remove the steak from the marinade. Sprinkle generously on all sides with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
5. Place on the hot grill. Grill 4–6 minutes per side for medium-rare, rotating the steak 90° halfway through each side for crosshatch grill marks.
6. Test for doneness with your finger: a very rare steak feels quite squishy; a well-done steak feels firm like the tip of your nose. Flank steak is best at medium-rare — well done will make it tough.
7. Remove from the grill and place on a cutting board. Cover with foil and rest 10 minutes.
8. Slice very thin, against the grain, at a slight diagonal so the slices are wide.

Pro Tip: Take the excess marinade, bring it to a full boil, simmer several minutes to cook through, and serve alongside the steak as a sauce. Also excellent with salsa or horseradish sauce.

Shop This Recipe: A two-zone grill setup or a heavy cast iron grill pan, a sharp carving knife, and a cutting board with a juice groove are the tools for perfect flank steak. Browse our collection at The Kitchen Wins.