Thai-Style Marinated Flank Steak and Herb Salad Recipe

Grilled flank steak marinated in a sweet and spicy Thai-style sauce.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated August 09, 2018
A plate of Thai-style marinated flank steak and herb salad

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Why It Works

  • A sweet and spicy Thai-style sauce is both the marinade and dressing for the grilled flank steak and herb salad.
  • A two-zone fire gives you more control when you're grilling. Sear over the direct side, then finish cooking over the indirect side.

When summer comes, the best way to cook a flank steak is on the grill. In my recipe for steakhouse-style grilled marinated flank steak, I wrote:

With their large surface area, they're made for picking up nice char, smoky flavors, and the types of dishes they transform into seem perfect for al fresco dining.

Take a read if you're looking for tips when shopping and grilling these steaks, as well as some flavoring suggestions like this steak fajitas.

My absolute favorite way to marinate flank steak is with a sweet and spicy Thai-style sauce. I make mine with palm sugar (brown sugar will do fine), dried Thai chile flakes, fish sauce, garlic, and lime juice, which I then split in half, reserving half to toss with the meat after cooking, and adding some oil to the other half to use as a marinade.

Close up view of Thai-style marinated flank steak and herb salad.

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Once the meat is cooked, rested, and sliced, I toss it all together with some reserved marinade, and a big herb salad with shallots and bean sprouts. It gets an awesome caramelized, charred crust on the grill from all the sugar, and the great thing is that it's delicious even when cold, making it the perfect dish for potlucks or relaxed backyard parties.

May 2011

Recipe Details

Thai-Style Marinated Flank Steak and Herb Salad Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 90 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

  • 1/2 cup palm sugar or brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce

  • 1/3 cup lime juice

  • 2 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane zester

  • 1 tablespoon Thai chile powder (or red chile flakes)

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 whole flank steak, about 2 pounds (see notes)

For the Salad:

  • 1/2 cup loosely packed mint leaves

  • 1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves

  • 1 small bunch chives, cut into 1 1/2-inch segments

  • 1/2 cup loosely packed basil

  • 4 shallots, thinly sliced

  • 1 to 2 cups mung bean sprouts

Directions

  1. Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until completely dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl, add fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chile powder and stir to combine. Transfer half to a small container and reserve until step 4. Add oil to remaining half and whisk to combine. Place flank steak inside a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag with marinade. Press out air, seal bag, and allow meat to marinate, turning occasionally, for at least 1 hour and up to 12.

  2. Remove steak from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Light one chimney full of charcoal and wait until they're covered in grey ash. Spread evenly over 1/2 of grate, leaving other half empty. Put cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate, then place flank steak over hot side of grill, cook until well charred, about 3 minutes. Flip steak and continue to cook until second side is well charred, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer steak to cooler side of grill, cover, and cook until center of steak registers 125°F (52°C) on an instant-read thermometer for medium-rare, or 135°F (57°C) for medium, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and allow steak to rest for at least 5 minutes. Proceed to step 4.

  3. Alternatively, to finish indoors: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add steak and cook, turning frequently, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125°F for medium-rare or 135°F for medium, reducing heat as necessary if steak smokes excessively or starts to burn. Transfer to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and allow to rest 5 to 10 minutes.

  4. Thinly slice beef against the grain and transfer to a large bowl. Add herbs, shallots, bean sprouts, and reserved marinade, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

If you're using a gas grill, set half of the burners to high and leave the others off for two-zone grilling.

An equivalent weight of skirt, flap, or hanger steak can be used in place of flank steak.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
360Calories
16gFat
20gCarbs
33gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories360
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g21%
Saturated Fat 4g22%
Cholesterol 90mg30%
Sodium 600mg26%
Total Carbohydrate 20g7%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 9mg44%
Calcium 50mg4%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 559mg12%
*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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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