America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Pan-Roasted Flank Steak with Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Marinade

By Cook's Illustrated

Published on August 21, 2007

Time

40 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Pan-Roasted Flank Steak with Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Marinade

Ingredients

Marinade

4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)2 medium scallions, minced (about 3 tablespoons)3 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 3 tablespoons)

Steak

1 flank steak (about 2 pounds), patted dry with paper towels2 teaspoons kosher salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Before You Begin

Although it may seem that a 2-pound steak will not fit in the skillet, it will. The steak will initially slope up the sides of the pan, but it will shrink as it cooks to fit the skillet. Resting after pan-roasting this steak is crucial—it allows the steak to continue cooking to the proper temperature (130 degrees for medium-rare) and lets the juices become evenly redistributed throughout the steak.

Instructions

    for marinade

  1. Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth, scraping down blender jars as needed.
  2. for steak

  3. Using dinner fork, poke steak about 20 times on each side. Place on rimmed baking sheet or in large baking dish; rub both sides of steak evenly with salt and then with paste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
  4. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 450 degrees. Using paper towels, wipe paste off flank steak; season both sides of steak evenly with pepper. Heat oil in 12-inch heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Set steak in skillet and cook until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, flip steak; sear until second side is well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Place skillet in oven and roast until slightly less done than desired, about 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare. Using potholders to handle skillet, transfer steak to cutting board, tent loosely with foil, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Using sharp chef's knife or carving knife, slice steak about 1/4 inch thick against grain on bias. Serve immediately.
Pan-Roasted Flank Steak with Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Marinade
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Pan-Roasted Flank Steak with Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Marinade

Headshot of Cook's Illustrated
By Cook's Illustrated
Save

Time

40 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

Marinade

4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
2 medium scallions, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 3 tablespoons)

Steak

1 flank steak (about 2 pounds), patted dry with paper towels
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

Marinade

4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
2 medium scallions, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 3 tablespoons)

Steak

1 flank steak (about 2 pounds), patted dry with paper towels
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

Marinade

4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
2 medium scallions, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 3 tablespoons)

Steak

1 flank steak (about 2 pounds), patted dry with paper towels
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted to develop a fresh marinade without acid for our grilled flank steak recipe—a marinade that would really boost flavor without overtenderizing the meat. Because fat carries flavor so well, we knew oil would be a key ingredient in our marinade—the challenge was to infuse the garlic, ginger, and sesame into the oil and then into the steak. We developed two key steps. First, we minced the aromatics and combined them with the oil in a blender to create a marinade paste. Next, we pricked the steak all over with a fork, rubbed it first with salt and then with the marinade paste, and then refrigerated it for up to 24 hours.

Before You Begin

Although it may seem that a 2-pound steak will not fit in the skillet, it will. The steak will initially slope up the sides of the pan, but it will shrink as it cooks to fit the skillet. Resting after pan-roasting this steak is crucial—it allows the steak to continue cooking to the proper temperature (130 degrees for medium-rare) and lets the juices become evenly redistributed throughout the steak.

Instructions

    for marinade

  1. Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth, scraping down blender jars as needed.
  2. for steak

  3. Using dinner fork, poke steak about 20 times on each side. Place on rimmed baking sheet or in large baking dish; rub both sides of steak evenly with salt and then with paste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
  4. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 450 degrees. Using paper towels, wipe paste off flank steak; season both sides of steak evenly with pepper. Heat oil in 12-inch heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Set steak in skillet and cook until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, flip steak; sear until second side is well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Place skillet in oven and roast until slightly less done than desired, about 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare. Using potholders to handle skillet, transfer steak to cutting board, tent loosely with foil, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Using sharp chef's knife or carving knife, slice steak about 1/4 inch thick against grain on bias. Serve immediately.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.