Dinner Tonight: Skirt Steak with Homemade Steak Sauce Recipe

Updated August 09, 2018

Steak sauce is a controversial subject: some love it, and some judge those who use it. Even at mighty steakhouses like Peter Luger in Brooklyn, where some of the best beef in the country can be found, they always bring it out. But to some a steak sauce is a crime: Why cover up the taste of great beef with a sugary ketchup-like goop? If you have good beef, leave it alone with just salt and pepper, and leave the condiments to the lesser joints.

Still, I had to trust a recipe from a book called Steak with Friends by celebrated Chicago chef Rick Tramonto. He augments the ketchup base with umami-rich dried shitake mushrooms, soy sauce, dry mustard, and dark brown sugar, plus a few more secret ingredients. Everything simmers together for 45 minutes, which is enough time to roast some oven fries and cook the steak with time to rest. The result is round and rich, sweet and tangy, and quite balanced.

If you like steak sauce, this is a serious winner. And it might make a few converts, too.

The Best Inexpensive Steak for the Grill, Part 2: Skirt Steak

Recipe Details

Dinner Tonight: Skirt Steak with Homemade Steak Sauce Recipe

Cook 60 mins

Total 60 mins

Serves 4 servings

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 to 2 1/2 pounds skirt steak, preferably outside cut, trimmed of excess fat
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the ketchup, water, mushrooms, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and vinegar in a saucepan. Whisk to combine, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for 45 minutes, until the sauce is thick and pourable and the flavors have melded. Strain out the solids.
Rub the steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill or broil the steaks, turning once, for 7 to 10 minutes for medium rare, depending on thickness. Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes, then slice across the grain. Serve with the sauce on the side, or spoon it over.

This Recipe Appears In

The Best Inexpensive Steak for the Grill, Part 2: Skirt Steak

Skirt Steaks

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
641	Calories
39g	Fat
28g	Carbs
44g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	641
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 39g	50%
Saturated Fat 12g	60%
Cholesterol 101mg	34%
Sodium 1619mg	70%
Total Carbohydrate 28g	10%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 11mg	55%
Calcium 63mg	5%
Iron 6mg	34%
Potassium 971mg	21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.