Flank Steak with Grilled Tomatoes & Cucumber Herb Relish

From: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016

Ingredients

Flank Steak & Tomatoes

  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons paprika
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1½ teaspoons granulated garlic
  • 1½ teaspoons ground pepper
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1½ pounds flank steak
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 6 small firm tomatoes, halved lengthwise
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
  • 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh thyme

Cucumber Herb Relish

  • 2 medium cucumbers, seeded and diced ( ¼ inch)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preparation

  1. To marinate steak: Combine 1 tablespoon sugar, paprika, cumin, granulated garlic, pepper and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over both sides of steak. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 day.
  2. To prepare relish: Combine cucumbers and ¾ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes. Stir in scallions, mint, parsley, garlic, oregano, sugar, crushed red pepper, ⅓ cup oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour more.
  3. To grill steak & tomatoes: About 30 minutes before you’re ready to grill, remove the steak from the refrigerator. Preheat grill to high.
  4. Brush the steak with 2 tablespoons oil. Toss tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, thyme and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
  5. Grill the steak 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill the tomatoes, cut-side down (without turning), until softened and lightly marked, 3 to 4 minutes. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes; thinly slice against the grain (see Tip). Serve the steak and tomatoes with the cucumber herb relish.

For tender sliced steak, particularly from tougher cuts like skirt and flank steak, thinly slice it crosswise against (or “across”) the grain. The grain is literally muscle fibers and looks like long, thin grooves in the meat.