Pounded Flank Steak with Zucchini Salsa

September 5, 2017

Image may contain Dish Food Meal Platter Plant and Lunch

Photo by Alex Lau

A little meat-mallet action transforms this tough cut of beef into a quick-grilling all-star. We cribbed the pounding technique from Chris Fischer's amazingThe Beetlebung Farm Cookbook.

Ingredients

4 servings

1 1/2 pounds zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (about 5 cups)

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon coarsely chopped oregano, plus leaves for serving

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for steak

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 (1 1/2-pound) piece flank steak

Step 1
Toss zucchini, vinegar, chopped oregano, and 1/4 cup oil in a medium bowl to combine; season zucchini salsa with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 2
Prepare a grill for high heat. Meanwhile, flatten your steak. Cover a cutting board with a long piece of plastic wrap and set steak on top; fold plastic over steak to cover. Using the smooth side of a meat mallet, pound steak to about 1/2" thick. (Don’t hold back; you want it good and roughed up.) Pat steak dry with paper towels; season generously with salt and rub a bit of oil all over. Grill until browned, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare. (You might not get that much color on this steak because it’s so thin, but you don’t want it to be overcooked.) Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest 5–10 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise with the grain, then slice thinly against the grain.
Step 3
Arrange steak on a platter and spoon half of reserved salsa along with some juices over steak. Top with oregano leaves. Serve remaining salsa alongside.
Do Ahead
Step 4
Zucchini salsa can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.