Name: Grilled Flank Steak with Charred Sweet Onion Relish
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds); Salt and pepper; 1 red onion , peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rounds (see note); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Why This Recipe Works

Firing up the grill just to cook steaks seems like a waste of flame, so we decided to use the existing heat to make a flavorful relish to accompany the flank steaks. We grilled onions to give them a nice char that would create a smoky flavor for the relish. We found that skewering the onions made it easier to flip them on the grill. To add brightness to the relish, we used red wine vinegar to accentuate the onions. To make the flank steak more tender and easier to eat, we cut the cooked steak against the grain to shorten the tough, chewy fibers. This recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Charred Sweet Onion Relish is easy and simple, and is a great way to utilize the heat of the grill.

Before You Begin

Spearing the onion rounds with a metal or soaked wooden skewer helps them stay together on the grill.

Instructions

Pat steak dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Brush onion rounds with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Grill steak over hot fire until well browned and cooked to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill onion until charred and soft, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer steak and onion to cutting board and tent with foil.

When cool enough to handle, chop onion coarsely. Heat remaining oil in small saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, vinegar, sugar, cayenne, and any accumulated beef juices and simmer until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Off heat, stir in parsley. Slice steak thinly against grain. Serve steak with relish.