Marinated Flank Steak

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4 Servings
100% would make this recipe for Marinated Flank Steak again.

Marinated Flank Steak is tender, delicious and very simple to prepare. Flank steak is a lean, flat cut of beef that's only somewhat tender but extremely flavorful. Properly marinated, it's a wonderful steak to grill or broil. In this recipe the flank steak is marinated overnight in a flavorful combination of red wine, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, parsley and pepper, grilled quickly over high heat to medium-rare, and sliced thinly against the grain and on the bias to produce a steak with fabulous taste and a texture that virtually melts in your mouth. Because the flank steak needs to marinate ahead of time, it can form the basis of a fast weeknight dinner; try it with a simple green salad and a side of grilled vegetables or a good rice dish.

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Marinated Flank Steak Ingredients

1 beef flank steak (about 1-1/2 to 2 pounds), trimmed of fat and silver skin1/2 cup soy sauce
Kosher salt, to taste1/4 cup olive oil
Coarsely-ground black pepper, to taste4 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
-- Marinade -- 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup dry fruity red wine (I use Beaujolais, Chianti, Merlot or Pinot Noir) Coarsely-ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions for Marinated Flank Steak

Score surface of steak by making shallow diagonal cuts across the grain about 1 1/2-inches apart to create a diamond-shaped pattern; repeat on second side of steak. In a small bowl, whisk together wine, soy sauce, oil, garlic, parsley and pepper until well combined. Place steak and marinade in a large heavy-duty zip-lock plastic bag. Press out as much air as possible from bag, seal, and massage lightly to distribute marinade and coat steak thoroughly. Place bag in a shallow dish and marinate in refrigerator for at least 8 hours, overnight, or up to 24 hours, turning and massaging occasionally.

Preheat grill with high, direct heat. Grill is sufficiently hot when you can only hold your hand at grill level for only 2 or 3 seconds. While grill is preheating, remove steak from refrigerator and let come to room temperature before grilling (helps ensure meat cooks evenly). When ready to grill, remove steak from marinade, pat dry with paper towels, and season both sides liberally with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (pressing seasonings into meat with your fingers). Clean grill grate well with wire brush and, to prevent sticking, brush with a light coating of oil.

Place steak on prepared grill grate over a solid bed of hot coals or direct high heat on a gas grill. If using a gas grill, or if your grill has a lid, close it to allow smoke to add it's flavor. Grill steak about 3- to 4-inches* from heat source, for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare and 6 to 7 minutes for medium (grilling time varies with meat thickness). If desired, to create crosshatch marks, turn steak 45 degrees halfway through grilling on each side. Flank steak is best eaten medium-rare and nicely seared on the outside; flank steak cooked beyond medium will be tough. Do NOT overcook!

To Broil (optional): Position oven rack about 4-inches from heat source, place broiling pan on oven rack, and heat broiler. When ready to broil, remove steak from marinade, pat dry with paper towels, and season both sides liberally with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (pressing seasonings into meat with your fingers). Place flank steak on hot broiling pan, coated with cooking spray. Leave oven door ajar, and broil 6 to 7 minutes on each side for medium-rare, 9 minutes on each side for medium.

When steak is done to your liking, remove from grill and place on cutting board. Double check doneness by thermometer (rare - 130 to 140 degrees F, medium-rare - 140 to 150 degrees F, medium - 150 to 160 degrees F), or by touch (very rare feels soft and squishy, rare is soft to the touch, medium-rare yields gently to the touch, while medium yields only slightly to the touch and is beginning to firm up). Cover steak loosely with foil and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes (five minutes per inch of thickness), allowing meat juices to redistribute and settle. To serve, slice thinly on the bias (at a sharp angle) and across the grain, and arrange on warmed platter or plates.

* Note: Set distance between heat source and steak according to thickness of meat -- 3-inches or less for a steak 1-inch thick or thinner, 3- to 6-inches for thicker steaks. Thinner steaks require intense heat to form desirable crust before heat has a chance to penetrate and overcook meat, whereas thicker cuts need less heat and longer time to allow middle to cook without burning exterior.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Safety Note: Doneness is an issue of personal preference. However, it is recommended that beef be cooked to medium-rare doneness, the internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F to ensure that harmful bacteria have been destroyed. Beef that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, may be removed from the grill or oven, loosely covered, and allowed to rest a few minutes. The temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees F, reaching proper doneness.

Main Ingredient: BeefCuisine: American

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Ingredient Insight - look inside this recipe

Nothing says summer quite like a barbecue, and this is a recipe for the grill that I really like and make often. It's super easy, but does require a little time to let the marinade do its work...anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. Flank steak is fairly lean, yet full of flavor. It can be tough if overcooked, but when cooked properly (no more than medium-rare) and sliced properly (thin and against the grain on a bias) it is tender, juicy and has tons of flavor. This recipe illustrates that. For a wonderful dinner, we served the steak with grilled zucchini and locally grown sweet corn, and boiled red potatoes with salt and butter. Yummm!

BigOven member

sgrishka
on Jul 19 2008 2:59AM

To add more flavor, try adding presoaked chunks of natural hardwoods like Hickory or Mesquite to the grill, or add 1 tablespoon liquid smoke to marinade. [I posted this recipe.]

BigOven member

sgrishka
on Feb 8 2008 9:02PM