Garlic-Chile Flank Steak

From EatingWell: June/July 2005 — Subscribe Now!

Serve this great-tasting, tender steak as part of a taco party or with a mixed green salad and sliced avocados.

8 servings, about 1.5 ounces each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including 1 hour marinating time)

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper, (see Ingredient note)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1 1/4 pounds flank steak, trimmed of fat

Preparation

Whisk garlic, vinegar, oil, ground chile, oregano, cumin and salt in a small bowl. Place steak in a shallow baking dish and pour marinade over it, turning to coat both sides. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning once, or overnight.
Preheat grill to high heat. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the steak until desired doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice the steak very thinly across the grain. Serve warm or chilled.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Marinate steak in the refrigerator for up to 1 day and/or refrigerate cooked steak for up to 1 day. Slice just before serving.

To oil a grill: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.) When grilling delicate foods like tofu and fish, it is helpful to spray the food with cooking spray.
Ingredient note: Ancho chile peppers, one of the most popular dried chiles used in Mexico, are dried poblano peppers. They have a mild, sweet, spicy flavor. Ground ancho chile pepper can be found in the specialty-spice section of large supermarkets, or substitute ground chili powder with a pinch of cayenne.

Nutrition

Per serving: 105 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 22 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein; 0 g fiber; 28 mg sodium; 137 mg potassium.

Exchanges: 2 lean meat