Beef flank is known to be slightly costly. This is because it is a highly prized beef cut. It is known for its chewiness and bold flavor, understandably so. It is a cut from the abdominal muscles of the cow. It is not a very tender beef cut but it does a pretty good job at soaking in marinades, this makes it very suitable for food choices like stews or fajitas.
Any cooking method preferred works well in cooking beef flank but most people prefer it seared in a nonstick pan or cooked over a grill.
One of the best things about steak is how it takes a regular meal from ten to a hundred. Everything immediately looks ten times fancier with a plate of steak. Next time you’re hosting a dinner party or you have something grand to celebrate but you would rather stay home, whip up one of these delicious beef flank steak meals. These are recipes that promise to be crowd-pleasers.
Pepper-stuffed grilled flank steak
It looks like a beef sushi. The pepper-stuffed grilled flank steak is a creative way of adding a spicy twist to your steak. This meal particularly requires no expertise. It combines simple steps of cutting, filling, and grilling. Oven baking is also an option for people who may not be keen on using a grill.
Peppers are not the only thing you can stuff into a flank steak. Feel free to explore other ingredients like vegetables and even mashed potatoes.
Flank steak fajitas
Flank steak is the best cut for a fajita. With grilled flank steak, onions, and pepper, a fajita never tasted better. This Tex-Mex cuisine is usually served on a tortilla. One can imagine the unique flavor it gives.
This is a healthy dinner option made from a mixture of meat and vegetables. Its high protein and fiber content make it suitable for a busy, energy-demanding day.
Flank steak salad
It’s a salad option for meat eaters and a great lunch idea. Flank steak salad is prepared from chopped flank steak and vegetables. It is similar to a flank steak fajita, but unlike the fajita, it is not cooked. It is often made from vegetables that are readily eaten, like cabbages, carrots, and cauliflower.
Extra virgin olive oil or vinegar can be used as a dressing for this salad, keeping its calorie content low and healthiness high.
Pan-seared flank steak
If you’re up for something fancy yet not so grand for a dinner party, pan-seared flank steak is the way. Not only does this recipe bypass the need for a grill, it also requires no culinary skills. This means even if you’re not a gifted hand in the kitchen, no one has to know.
The simple procedure for this meal is to sear the flank steak in a skillet or grill pan. Using a nonstick pan may also work but may take longer.
Pan-seared flank steak can be served with some boiled potatoes or avocado spread. You can also have it as a side for rice or pasta.
Mulitas de Asada
Mulitas de Asada is made from crunchy tortillas stuffed with beef and gooey cheese. Typically, any meat goes well with this recipe. But everything is twice as good with flank steak. Make sure to give the steak a proper marination before making this meal. This allows the flavors to flow richly and avoid making bland mulitas de asada.
It can pass for appetizers while you whip up a nice pasta meal, or, if you prefer, it can also be the main course.
Carne asada
This simply means grilled meat. Many chefs prefer to use the flank steak for this recipe, hence why it made it to this list. With this meal, you can develop other recipes, such as the mulitas de asada or flank steak salad.
The carne asada is more about what you pair it with than the meal itself. Tacos, nachos, or potato wedges are standard options for what to pair this meal with.
It can also be frozen for up to three months and warmed whenever needed.
Marinating your flank steak
The key to making delicious flank steak recipes is proper marination. The marinade is usually based on preference, but a good one consists of garlic and or onions, a little amount of vegetable oil, and some salt. Some people also add umami, which makes it all the better.
It is ideal to leave your flank steak to soak up the marinade flavors for up to 12 hours. But if you cannot wait that long, at least an hour or two is recommended.
Balsamic vinegar, lime, or lemon juice also add a bit of tanginess to your flank steak. Better still, they are useful for tenderizing flank steak, allowing an easier steak-cutting process.
