As the rain drenched our garden beds and lawn on Mother's Day afternoon, all we wanted was to be nestled inside together, but the dinner hour was looming. Earlier in the day, we prepared a marinade for the tri-tip steaks we bought the day before and we were determined to grill them, despite the falling cats and dogs. My husband, determined that I should lift a minimal number of fingers on Mother's Day, braved the weather for the sake of a well-cooked steak. Now that is what I call dedication.
The marinade is rich with the flavors of molasses, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and chili powder. Truthfully, it would make dirt taste good, but I recommend trying it with steak, chicken thighs or pork tenderloin. Once the steaks are grilled, the reserved marinade and juices from the cooked steak are boiled into a sweet and savory thickened sauce that can be drizzled over the meat upon serving.
Tri-tip steaks are particularly popular in California, but the reputation of this tender and flavorful cut is gradually spreading eastward. It is a small triangle that is cut from the bottom sirloin and is similar to, or can be found under the name of triangle, Santa Maria, Newport or culotte steak. If none of these are available, flank steak can be substituted.
The recipe:
In a large glass bowl or container, whisk together brown sugar, molasses, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger and chili powder until the sugar is dissolved.
Place tri-tip steaks in the marinade and turn until completely coated. Let marinate for about 1 hour, covered, turning the steak occasionally.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat and brush with canola oil.
Place the steaks on the grill (do not discard the marinade) and cook until desired degree of doneness is reached, about 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the steaks. Remove steak from the grill and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Transfer the marinade and any juices collected from the cooked steaks to a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil and let cook for about 10 minutes. Serve with the steak.
Other grilled steak recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Chimichurri Dressing
Cookin' Canuck's Soy-Ginger Marinated Flank Steak
Guilty Kitchen's Skirt Steak Fajitas
Eclectic Recipes' Margarita Marinated Grilled Steak
For the Love of Cooking's Grilled Steak with Avocado Sauce
Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Molasses Chili Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 5 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
- 1 tablespoon peeled and chopped fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds tri-tip steaks
Instructions
- In a large glass bowl or container, whisk together brown sugar, molasses, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, chili powder and freshly ground black pepper until the sugar is dissolved.
- Place tri-tip steaks in the marinade and turn until completely coated. Let marinate for about 1 hour, covered, turning the steak occasionally.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat and brush with canola oil.
- Place the steaks on the grill (do not discard the marinade) and cook until desired degree of doneness is reached, about 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the steaks. Remove steak from the grill and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
- Transfer the marinade and any juices collected from the cooked steaks to a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil and let cook for about 10 minutes. Serve with the steak.
Nutrition
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
Ooo, I love the sound of a molasses and chili marinade! Sounds - and looks - too good for words. Thanks for sharing and making me crave a big hunk of meat at 10AM, haha! 🙂 I'll be pocketing this recipe for sometime this summer.
Tracy
You know, I have never grilled steak before but you make it sound easy, and delicious!
Lucy
I love soy sauce and garlic in a marinade, and this one sounds delicious. Will definitely try it on flank steak.
Belinda @zomppa
As if the steak wasn't enough, that marinade sounds like ultimate perfection.
Linda
This may truly become my summer favorite marinade! Looks absolutely delicious! Sweet, sticky and flavorful! yumm!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
We have steak often and I will have to try this marinade, it looks like it really coats the meat and I think it would taste fantastic.
Marla
This tri tip sounds wonderful - what I like even more is that your hubs braved the cats and dogs to make sure it came out just right! Glad to read you ha a happy Mother's Day! xo
Pretty. Good. Food.
That marinade sounds ridiculously good!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker
YUM! That marinades sounds delicious!!
Cathy
I made Tri-Tip, too--I love it! Costco is about the only place I've seen it here in Minnesota. Your marinade looks to die for...:)
foodwanderings
Dara, This is such a fantastic recipe. My son is coming back from college this week and boy he would love this. Great recipe, love the photos as always. That potato dice, gorgeous!!
Kathy - Panini Happy
"...it would make dirt taste good." Well, that sounds like a marinade I need to try! The steak looks gorgeous. Hope you had a nice Mother's Day!
Kalynskitchen
I just bought some tri-tip at Costco, love it. Your marinade sounds great.
Mary @ Delightful Bitefuls
This looks so juicy! My hubby will love this! Bookmarked!
Tracey
Your marinade sounds phenomenal Dara! We only eat steak in the summer when we can grill it, and I'm excited to try this one.
Squash Blossom Babies
Oh, this looks tasty!!! 🙂 I want it for dinner tonight!
EatLiveRun
molasses chili marinade sounds beyond delicious!
Cathy/ShowFoodChef
Good Gosh that looks good! I can almost taste that perfectly grilled steak with that sweet, sticky marinade sauce - I blame you for making me go back to the store just for a Tri-tip roast.
Laura @ Family Spice
We live in San Diego and my family loves tri-tip! I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it, too! It's a fabulous cut of meat, very flavorful and easy in the oven or grill. Hope you had a great Mother's Day!
Sukaina
Dara....when I saw the first photo, it reminded me of the Mongolian beef I eat at PF Changs.....I'm definately trying this at home! And lucky you that you didn't have to lift a finger on Mother's day- wish that happened everyday hey!