Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Chimichurri Dressing Recipe

by 28 Comments

Grilled Flank Steak Recipe with Chimichurri Dressing

Chimichurri. This Argentinean sauce, made with chopped parsley, minced garlic, red or white wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil, is traditionally served with grilled meats and is a must-have in any cook’s arsenal. Quite honestly, I’d be happy to drown my ice cream in it. When I first tasted this fresh, spicy sauce, I broke out into a rendition of Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina, the hit song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita, which which based on the life of Eva Perón, Argentina’s first lady from 1946 until 1952. I’ve decided that if I eat enough chimichurri, then Madonna will be beg to play me in a movie, too. Either that, or I’ll just have a nasty case of heartburn.

Evita was one of the first in a long string of musicals that my parents took me to see throughout my youth. I was mesmerized by the lights, the sets and, mostly, the music. Even now, you can catch me singing a mean One (A Chorus Line) or Hard-Knock Life (Annie) in the shower (okay, sometimes in front of the mirror, with jazz hands a-fluttering). My husband is still astounded that, after 14 years of being together, I can still burst out with songs that he has never heard me sing. The well runs deep. Imagine my excitement when one of my friends, Cara Hunter, was cast as Eponine in the Canadian touring company of Les Misérables. As she stood in the middle of stage and belted out On My Own, I wept like a small child who had lost their favorite teddy bear. I also weep during Oprah shows, at sporting events, and at my boys’ school programs. The well runneth over.

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar… 

2 tablespoons water, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt…

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes…

…and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves.


Pulse until the parsley and oregano are finely chopped, but not completely smooth, scraping down the sides after every few pulses.

With the food processor running, slowly pour in 1/4 cup olive oil.


Pour the dressing into a bowl and set aside.


Preheat a grill to high heat.

Brush both sides of a 1 1/2 pound flank steak with a generous amount of olive oil. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Place the steak on the grill and cook for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until the steak is rare to medium-rare.


Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Cut the steak, across the grain, into thin slices. Arrange over a bed of romaine lettuce and sliced red bell pepper. Drizzle with a generous amount of the chimichurri dressing.


Other recipes that use fresh herb sauces:

Bitten’s Soupe au Pistou

Daily Unadventures in Cooking’s Seared Scallops with Ginger Cilantro Cream Sauce
Closet Cooking’s Penne with Pumpkin & Sage Sauce


Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri Dressing

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp water
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning steak
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning steak
1/2 tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano leaves
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing steak
1 1/2 pound flank steak
Romaine lettuce
Red bell peppers
In a food processor or blender, combine chopped parsley, red wine vinegar, water, minced cloves of garlic, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, dried hot red pepper flakes, and chopped oregano leaves. Pulse until the parsley and oregano are finely chopped, but not completely smooth, scraping down the sides after every few pulses. With the food processor running, slowly pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. Pour the dressing into a bowl and set aside.
Preheat a grill to high heat. Brush both sides of a 1 1/2 pound flank steak with a generous amount of olive oil. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the steak on the grill and cook for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until the steak is rare to medium-rare. Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Cut the steak, across the grain, into thin slices. Arrange over a bed of romaine lettuce and sliced red bell pepper. Drizzle with a generous amount of the chimichurri dressing.

Serves 4.

 

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Comments

  2. Alta says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    There is an El Salvadorean (sp?) restaurant around here, and they serve a grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce. It's so delicious…and I bet yours is even more so! I'll have to recreate this soon!

    I'm right there with you on the musicals thing (and the singing in the shower). I was in choir in middle and high school and immersed myself in musicals, Les Miserables being one of them. Liked Evita a lot too. And I too cry at just about anything…there are commercials (like the ASPCA ones) that nearly cause me to weep!

    Reply

  5. Citronetvanille says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Chimichurri, one of my favorite sauces! yes definitely a Chef's must have sauce! now you made me hungry.

    Reply

  8. Claudia says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Love the sauce and will definitely make it this week. Your versions sounds grand. In the olden days, I was an actress and my friend originated Fantine in LES MIZ on Broadway. You brought back some mighty fine memories!

    Reply

  11. bonvivant says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    I've heard of this sauce many times but somehow never got round to experimenting with it – I didn't realize how easy it is to prepare! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  12. Cooking Mama says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    Chimichurri . . .yum! I've been meaning to make that here recently. Thanks for the inspiration. And btw, Madonna wouldn't do you justice. You're much better than that! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Jenn says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I love musicals. It's been a while since I've been to a show. I need to check out what currently in town.

    Awesome looking flank steak. I need to make some chimichurri sauce tonight.

    Reply

  14. Pierce says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    Looks good but I wanted to ask…. does the red pepper flakes make it too terribly spicy? I like a small kick, but heartburn has me wary of too much spice (sadly)

    Reply

  15. Jessie says

    Aug 17, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    I love chimichurri simply because of all of the great flavors it contributes to steak. your flank steak looks really tender and juicy, perfect!

    Reply

  16. Katerina says

    Aug 18, 2009 at 12:09 am

    Yum! Flank Steak is my absolute favorite I really shoudl try it with chimichurri, thanks for the link!

    Reply

  20. Karen says

    Aug 18, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    Oooo! I'm grilling a top round tonight, and I have oregano in the garden. Just need to pick up some parsely and I've got dinner!

    Reply

  21. Lana says

    Aug 19, 2009 at 12:48 am

    Love chimichurri and this one looks fabulous! I'll be trying your recipe next time we grill steaks. Thanks!

    Reply

  24. Kim (@ Paper Apron) says

    Aug 20, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    I've never made chimichurri sauce before, in fact, I guess I've never tasted it! I need to get this on my to-do list. The recipe looks wonderful and you've made it seem effortless.

    Reply

  25. Dror H. says

    Aug 26, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    I LOVE Chimichurri. I go to a restaurant where they make this wonderful sauce. They put more vinegar in it. It's great with a beef steak.

    Reply

  26. Caitlin says

    Aug 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    I made a very similar recipe using flat iron steak from a local farm…try locally grown, grass fed aged beef and forget Madonna, you will be singing like Nacha Guevara!

    Reply

  28. Girl Foodie says

    May 26, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    For me, this is the kind of dish that just SCREAMS Summer. I think this is what grills were invented for.

    Reply

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