Before I tried this Argentinian sauce, I’ve never taken the steak covered in a green-colored sauce seriously. Steak served in a red, wine-based sauce (or some sort of demi-glace)? Bring it on. Steak smothered in something green and garlicky? I did have some initial reservations about that. Well, what do you know, the flank steak with Chimichurri sauce is now one of my favorite ways to eat steak. I’ve introduced this dish to several other people in my life: my husband, in-laws, friends (none of them ever had a steak with Chimichurri sauce before), and each time I encountered the same reaction: a little skepticism about green sauce turned into curiosity to try something different on steak, and next thing you know everybody is in love with this dish.
Chimichurri sauce is actually a very popular traditional Argentinian sauce, widely used with grilled steak, chicken and other meats. If you’ve never tried it, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover the whole new array of flavors that you can serve with your steak.
Another reason I highly recommend flank steak with this sauce is because it’s so easy to make! To make Chimichurri sauce, you just place all ingredients in the food processor and that’s it! To prepare the flank steak, you just sear it on high heat on stove top in spices for a total of 10 minutes – and it’s done! This is my go-to dish during the weekdays, when I have a lot of work to do during the day and don’t have time to fuss in the kitchen in the evening.
Flank steak is also one of the cheapest steak cuts, and when it’s spiced up as in this recipe and served with this green sauce – it becomes a very tasty and good-looking meal without a lot of strain on your wallet.
Flank steak and Chimichurri sauce
Prep time: 40 minutes
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients for Chimichurri sauce:
- 1/2 large bunch parsley, washed and rinsed. You can also use spinach (washed and rinsed) in place of parsley
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (salt to taste)
Ingredients for flank steak:
- 1 pound flank steak
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon sage
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon curry
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon basil
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coriander
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- salt and pepper
To make Chimichurri sauce:
Place all ingredients for the sauce in the food processor and blend for about 4 minutes until you get pesto-like sauce. Using spatula, transfer sauce into a bowl.
To make flank steak:
Mix all spices together in a small bowl. Rub spices on both sides of flank steak, scatter chopped garlic over steak. Heat a large skillet on high heat until very hot, add 1/4 cup olive oil (it should sizzle). Add flank steak (with spices and garlic) and sear it on high heat about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer cooked flank steak onto the large platter and slice it into thin strips.
To serve:
Place strips of flank steak in the middle of each plate, top with a spoonful of Chimichurri sauce. You don’t need much sauce for each serving, because it has a pretty strong flavor. I love to serve the thin strips of flank steak over mashed potatoes.
You even make meat look great..Such a good photographer:)
Yummy! Chimichurri is not only a popular sauce in Argentina but in Southern Brazil as well. It is the South America’s pesto. Have you tried in sandwiches? I have made this so many times and incorporated in so many different dishes but I never get tired of it.
Can’t wait to light my grill for this recipe!
I, too, don’t usually think of a green sauce with steak (wine sauce? Of course!). But I’ll bet the chimichurri sauce works well – it sure looks good. And I know variations of this sauce are popular in so many cuisines. Really nice recipe, and a good post. Thanks so much.
I’ve never made chimichurri sauce but I love anything with crushed red pepper flakes!
I found your blog after you left a very nice comment on mine and I am so glad you did because your photographs are just beautiful!
I love steak with chimichurri! But I know what you mean. My husband’s first reaction to the green sauce was “what’s THAT?” He, too, ended up loving it tho. Beautiful dish!
We don’t eat beef, but dare I say that looks delicious? Especially the sauce!
I love, love, love chimichurri sauce! It is nice to have an acidic counterpart to red meat, which is typically quite rich.
Wow ! That meat looks so juicy and succulent and especially flavousome with that chimmichurri – gotta put this on my to do list!!