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Grilled Lime-Marinated Flank Steak with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

Source of Recipe

Chris Schlesinger


Recipe Introduction

The flank is not the tenderest cut of beef, but it may be the most flavorful. To make it tenderer, I marinate it and slice it against the grain very thin on the bias after cooking it. So what you start with is very thin steak, and what you end up with is large thin slices of char-flavored meat that resembles roast beef. The acid in the lime marinade is very complementary to the char flavor of the meet. Marinated it anywhere from 4 to 6 hours: Any longer than that, and the lime juice will actually cook the steak, leaving you with gray meat.

List of Ingredients

For Steak and Marinade:
2 1/2 lbs flank steak, choice grade
1 canned chipotle chile, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1/4 cup vegetable oil
10 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 5 limes)

For Sauce:
3 canned chipotle chilis, pureed
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons brown mustard
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt
fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
4 slices crusty French bread, cut at an angle



Recipe

TO MARINATE STEAK: Place the steak in a large dish or baking pan.
Mix together the chipotle, garlic, cilantro, vegetable oil, and lime juice in a bowl and pour over the steak.
Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours (do not marinate longer), turning occasionally.
Prepare the grill.
FOR SAUCE: Combine the chipotles, honey, peanut oil, vinegar, mustard, lime juice, garlic, and cumin in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.
TO PREPARE STEAK: Remove the steak and season with salt and pepper.
Grill over high heat for about 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare, 7 minutes on each side for medium, or to the desired doneness.
Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest for about 4 minutes.
With a sharp knife, thinly slice the steak across the grain and at a sharp angle.
TO SERVE: Serve the steak on top of a slice of the French bread and accompany each serving with several tablespoons of the sauce.