Harissa-Rubbed Steak & Carrot Salad

Preparation

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. (No grill? See Broiler Variation.)
2. Whisk lemon juice, oil, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a microwave-safe medium bowl. Add carrots; stir to coat. Cover and microwave on High until the carrots are tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Uncover. (Alternatively, steam carrots over 1 inch of boiling water in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss the carrots with the spice mixture.)
3. Rub both sides of steak with harissa and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Grill the steak 1 1/2 to 3 minutes per side for medium. Transfer to a clean cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes, then thinly slice across the grain. Serve with the spiced carrots, garnished with parsley (or cilantro), if desired.

Tips & Notes

• Note: Depending on your region, skirt steak may not be something your supermarket regularly carries—call ahead to make sure it’s available or ask your butcher to order it for you. It’s usually sold in about 1-pound cuts up to 18 inches long and 5 inches wide, but just 1/4 inch thick. Before cooking, cut the steak with the grain into several portions to make the long piece more manageable on the grill or in a skillet. Once cooked, be sure to slice it across the grain for maximum tenderness. Hanger steak, flat-iron and flank steak can all be used as substitutes for skirt steak in most recipes.
• Harissa is a fiery Tunisian chile paste commonly used in North African cooking. Find it at specialty-food stores, mustaphas.com or amazon.com. Different brands of harissa vary in heat, so taste it and add accordingly.
• Broiler Variation: Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Coat a broiler pan or large baking sheet with cooking spray. Broil steak on the prepared pan, turning once, 2 to 4 minutes per side for medium.

Nutrition