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Pesto Steak is the perfect quick and easy meal for the family or for entertaining. You only need four ingredients and 15 minutes!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This recipe for Pesto Steak is so easy, I almost feel like it shouldn’t be called a recipe. You only need four ingredients and about 15 minutes and you can have a delicious dinner that the family will love and that will impress your dinner guests.
Flank steak is one of my favorite cuts of meat to grill. It is fairly reasonably priced and so easy. It works great with a marinade or without.
What is Flank Steak?
Flank Steak is a lean cut of meat that I use for pesto steak, the cut comes from the cow’s belly muscle. It is flavorful and lean, with almost no fat and if cooked correctly, it can be very tender. It is typically about 12 inches long by 1 inch thick.
Ingredients Needed
Flank steak. You can substitute flat iron steaks or skirt steak. Skirt Steak is a tougher cut of meat and should be marinated first. My favorite way to steak marinade is this recipe.
Pesto Sauce. You can buy pesto at the store or make your own using this pesto recipe.
Vinegar. Use white vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Water. Does this even count as an ingredient???
How Do You Cook Flank Steak?
My favorite way to cook flank steak is to grill it. It only takes about 5-7 minutes on each side for a perfectly cooked flank steak. Flank steak is best cooked medium (140-145 degrees F) to even medium-rare (125-130 degrees F). If you prefer your meat more well done I would definitely use a marinade to help make it more tender. (See above for favorite marinade)
You can also cook this in a grill pan on the stove top.
Tips from Leigh Anne
- Allow meat to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat, do not slice into the meat to see if it is done. This releases all those yummy juices and will dry out the meat.
- Always slice your flank steak against the grain.
How to Make Pesto Steak
- Mix together the pesto, vinegar and water
- Sprinkle both sides of meat with coarse salt and allow steak to sit at room temperature for 30-40 minutes before grilling
- Grill to desired temperature. We like our meat medium which is 140-145 Degrees F. Depending on the thickness of your steak it will be about 5 minutes per side.
- Brush both sides with pesto a few minutes before it is done.
- Remove from grill and allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Slice going against the grain.
- Drizzle the remaining pesto mixture over the meat after slicing and before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use another cut of beef?
Skirt Steak is a good substitute for flank steak.
What if don’t have a grill?
You can cook the meat in a grill pan or cast iron skillet on the stove top.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve with pesto steak are:
Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.
Pesto Steak
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb flank steak
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 2 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Mix together the pesto, vinegar and water
- Sprinkle both sides of meat with coarse salt and allow steak to sit at room temperature for 30-40 minutes before grilling
- Grill to desired temperature. We like our meat medium which is 140-145 Degrees F. Depending on the thickness of your steak it will be about 5 minutes per side.
- A few minutes before it is done brush both sides with pesto.
- Remove from grill and allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes or so
- Slice steak against the grain and drizzle with remaining pesto mixture.
Tips & Notes:
- Allow meat to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat, do not slice into the meat to see if it is done. This releases all those yummy juices and will dry out the meat.
- Always slice your flank steak against the grain.
Nutrition Facts:
Valerie A. H. says
This was really good. The white vinegar really added to the flavor.
kristen duke photography says
yum yum yum!